Five Underappreciated Loire Chateaux
When you’re planning a trip to see the chateaux of the Loire Valley, it’s easy to head straight for the famous offerings, such as Chenonceau and Chambord, but with anywhere between 150 and 1500 chateaux (depending on the definition that you choose to follow) dotted throughout this sunny French region, sticking to just big names could mean missing some very nice specimens.
To help you get off the beaten track, here are our five favorite under-appreciated Loire chateaux.
Château de Gien
Gien is a city known for its beautiful painted porcelain, but it’s also home to a former medieval castle. The only remaining element of this chateau is the square tower – the ‘Tour Charlemagne’ – at the south face of the modern château. Built in the 15th century by Anne de Beaujeu, the countess of Gien and the oldest daughter of Louis XI, it’s a spectacular sight. King Henri II later lived here with his wife, Catherine de Medici.
Built on the site of an old hunting ground, today’s chateau is home to the international hunting museum, which was created in 1952. Pay special attention to the hunting weapons owned by Napoleon, as well as prehistoric hunting tools.
Château de Nitray
The château de Nitray is a beautiful building constructed during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today, it is owned privately by a family that continues the centuries-old local wine-making tradition. A museum showing the old wine-making methods is part of the visit, as is the pigeonnier, a former pigeon house. The small château is opened for visits all year long, though in the winter weekend visits must be scheduled in advance.
Chateau de Troussay
The Château de Troussay is one of the Loire’s smallest chateaux, but it’s no less impressive than some of its larger counterparts. It’s located in Cheverny, where building began around 1450. Some of the château is therefore built in the Renaissance style, though it was expanded in the 17th century. A beautiful formal garden was added at this time.
In 1828, Louis de la Saussaye, a Loire château historian, acquired the property and restored it to its former glory. Highlights include the beautiful façade (called François I), which is similar to that of nearby Chambord, and the 19th century park, home to diverse trees from all over the world. You’ll also find the Sologne museum, which displays agricultural elements native to this region.
Chateau de la Ferté de la Ferté-Saint-Aubin
The château de la Ferté is a beautiful 16th century structure that is best known today for hosting a selection of fascinating festivals. The fête des plantes takes place on the 1st weekend of May, bringing a variety of different stands selling plants and flowers, and there’s also a wonderful temporary flea market that comes in September. Christmas also brings special decorations and events that span the first three weekends of December. Even during a lull in these special activities, you can always visit the sublime French gardens, kept as they were in the 17th century.
Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire
Because of its distance from the other Loire chateaux, visits of the Loire valley rarely include the chateau of Sully-sur-Loire. Some even contest its inclusion in the list of official Loire chateaux, but we think it’s one of the finest regional offerings. As the name suggests, it is located right on the edge of the Loire River, and it’s one of the oldest chateaux in the region, first mentioned in 1102, when it controlled a bridge that has since disappeared.
The chateau has the rare honor of only having belonged to three families throughout its lifetime: the first lords of Sully, the Trémouille family and the Béthune family. The château as it stands today was built in 1396 by Guy de la Trémouille and has been host to several illustrious figures, including a young Louis XIV and the influential writer Voltaire.
