Top 20 Castles in Centre-Val de Loire

Beautiful little castle where Leonardo da Vinci lived. Some of his artworks and inventions can be admired. Worthwhile.

Here you are in front of the 'Sleeping Beauty Castle'. Once upon a time there was a castle with a magical aura, overlooking the Indre and the Loire… so beautiful that it inspired Charles Perrault to write his Sleeping Beauty. Young and old, immerse yourself in castle life and the scenes from this fairy tale come to life before your eyes. Follow in the footsteps of Vauban, Perrault, Chateaubriand, Le Nôtre and the Blacas family, who still live in this illustrious castle in the Loire Valley.

Once upon a time, there was a castle with a magical aura, overlooking the Indre and the Loire… so beautiful that it inspired Charles Perrault to write Sleeping Beauty. Young and old, immerse yourself in castle life and the scenes from this fairy tale come to life before your eyes. Follow in the footsteps of Vauban, Perrault, Chateaubriand, Le Nôtre and the Blacas family, who still live in this illustrious castle in the Loire Valley. PREPARE YOUR VISIT: 2025 From 15 February to 31 March: 10am – 6pm. From 1 April to 30 September: 10am – 7pm. From 1 October to 11 November: 10am – 6pm. Prices: Adult (+ 16 years): € 14.50 Child from 8 to 16 years: € 7.50 Child (under 8 years): Free

At first glance, it may seem surprising that a park here in the French Loire Valley was named after the Italian polymath LEONARDO da VINCI (1452 to 1519). But you have to know that he spent the last years of his life in the neighboring castle Le Clos Lucé at the invitation of the French king and died there on May 2, 1519. His grave is believed to be in the Hubertus Chapel - see https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/958658 - but it is not certain whether his remains are actually there.

On the banks of the Loire the boats

Built in a Classical style, the Cherveny castle has belonged to the same family for more than six centuries, the Huraults, financiers and officers in the service of several kings of France. The current castle was built around 1625 by Henri, son of Philippe Hurault, and his wife Marguerite Gaillard de la Morinière. They launched the construction of the current castle and entrusted the execution of the work to the architect Jacques Bougier. He uses “Bourré stone”, a stone from the Cher valley which has the particularity of whitening and hardening as it ages. Sobriety and symmetry characterize the Château de Cheverny, a precursor of the French style which established itself under the reign of Louis XIV. The work is of such magnitude that it will not see the end of the project. Their daughter Elisabeth, Marquise de Montglas, completed the interior decoration which was entrusted to Jean Monier. During the following hundred and fifty years, the Château de Cheverny changed owners several times. In 1825, Anne Denis Hurault, Marquis de Vibraye, bought the property from her ancestors. The Château de Cheverny, which has always been inhabited, presents remarkably well-preserved pieces of furniture and interior fittings. The first floor apartments bear witness to the French art of living. An English-style park and gardens surround the Château de Cheverny. Visitors can discover the Jardin des Apprentis, a contemporary designed garden created in 2006 which was inspired by the found plans of an old French garden and the vegetable garden, designed by the Marquise de Vibraye, it combines the use original of different colored materials, vegetables and flowers. The Garden of Love, created in 2019, presents six monumental statues by Gudmar Olovson which reflect Love in all its forms. Cheverny constitutes a heritage of stones, land but also of tradition with venery or hunting with hounds. The Cheverny crew was founded in 1850 by the Marquis de Vibraye. Nowadays, in the Cheverny forest and neighboring forests, the crew harvests exclusively deer. Every day, from April to September 14, subject to reservations, at 11:30 a.m., visitors can attend the dog meal. The Château de Cheverny inspired the Château de Moulinsart to the Belgian comic book author, Hergé. The Domaine de Cheverny and the Hergé Foundation have joined forces to create and set up a permanent exhibition on the theme: the secrets of Moulinsart.

Overlooking the Indre and the Loire, Ussé stands majestically like a fairytale castle. Its history begins well before the construction of the current monument, under the leadership of Gelduin I who had the first stronghold built more than a millennium ago. A new building, more solid and more sumptuous, was built in the second half of the 15th century by Jean V de Bueil, victorious in the Hundred Years' War and captain of King Charles VII. The elegance and finesse of the Renaissance will soon further embellish the Château d’Ussé. Over the centuries, the rooms have been decorated and richly furnished. The visit allows you to discover, after passing through the entrance hall, a unique guard room: the splendid 17th century trompe l'oeil ceiling imitating marble covers a beautiful collection of weapons and oriental objects. The refinement of Ussé reaches its peak in the 17th century salon, a completely renovated room which bears the evocative name of Vauban, the famous Marshal whose daughter married the Marquis de Valentinay, son of the illustrious owner of the castle. Generations come and go while Ussé continues to tirelessly improve. The latest modifications date from the 19th century, when the Countess of La Rochejacquelin decorated the tops of the doors, installed the spiral staircase in the entrance hall and built a neo-Gothic gallery. The Château d’Ussé is a monument that leaves you dreaming both for its architecture and its history. The route along the walkway takes you into a completely different world: that of fantastic stories and fairy tales. Through beautiful depictions of wax figures, everyone is immersed in the world of Sleeping Beauty. We can of course see the fairy Carabosse, Prince Charming and the three benevolent fairies godmothers of Princess Aurore. A fun nod to Charles Perrault who, seduced by the Château d'Ussé, chose to make it the scene of his famous tale. The park of the Château d'Ussé is an exceptional setting, notably composed of the French garden designed by André Le Nôtre in 1664. In addition, the shadows of the cedars of Lebanon, offered by Chateaubriand to the Duchess of Duras in the 19th century, rub shoulders with the stones of the Sainte-Anne d'Ussé chapel can also be visited. Built between 1535 and 1538 at the request of Charles d'Espinay and Lucrèce de Pons, it retains an absolutely remarkable lintel. Ussé is a completely private estate belonging to the same family for more than two centuries. The Duke of Blacas invites you to browse the furnished rooms of his incredible home and to discover each year a new exhibition of costumes from various eras. From the underground to the attic, including the King's bedroom, the stables, the incredible grand staircase and the kitchens, this monument is an encouragement to delve into our history and to re-immerse ourselves in the most famous tales of our literature. .

Unfortunately you can only see something from the Loire without admission 😥