- Type
- Castle
- Built
- c. 1462 · 15th century
- Location
- Centre-Val de Loire, France
- Style
- French Renaissance
- Heritage
- part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an old town or a valley, for example)
- Coordinates
- 47.2497°, 0.2911°
History
A stronghold of the Sainte-Maure family stood on the bluff above the Indre as early as the 11th century. The present castle was begun around 1462 by Jean V de Bueil, a comrade-in-arms of Joan of Arc, who had bought the estate a few years earlier. In the late 15th century it passed to the d'Espinay family, who completed the building and added a Renaissance chapel in the first half of the 16th century. In the 17th century it belonged to Louis Bernin de Valentinay, Vauban's son-in-law, who opened the courtyard towards the valley and laid out terraced gardens. The castle remains in private hands to this day.
What to see
The white walls with towers, machicolations and a forest of turrets are best seen from the bridge over the Indre. Inside are Flemish tapestries, period furniture and a bedchamber prepared for a royal visit, while one tower stages scenes from Sleeping Beauty with wax figures. The Renaissance chapel stands in the park, and the terraces overlook the Indre and Loire valleys.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q185479
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