The châteaux of the Loire Valley number over three hundred,[2] ranging from practical fortifiedcastles from the 10th century to splendid residences built half a millennium later. When the French kings began constructing their huge châteaux in the Loire Valley, the nobility, drawn to the seat of power, followed suit, attracting the finest architects and landscape designers. The châteaux and their surrounding gardens are cultural monuments which embody the ideals of the Renaissance and Enlightenment. Many of the châteaux were built on hilltops, such as the Château d'Amboise, while the only one built in the riverbed is the Château de Montsoreau. Many had exquisite churches on the grounds or within the château.
With the Hundred Years' War concluded, Charles VII, Louis XI, and their successors preferred to spend the bulk of their time in the "garden of France" along the banks of the Loire. In the late 15th century Tours, then Blois, and later Amboise became the preferred locations of the French royal court. Many courtiers bought dilapidated castles built by the medieval Counts of Blois and of Anjou, and they had them reconstructed in the latest Italianate fashion. Leonardo da Vinci and other Italian artists arrived to design and beautify these residences.
In the 16th century, Francis I moved his main residence back to the Louvre, in Paris. With him went the great architects, but the Loire Valley continued to be the place where French royalty preferred to spend their time when not in the capital. Toward the end of the 17th century, Louis XIV made the Île-de-France the permanent locale for great royal residences when he built the Palace of Versailles. Nonetheless, those who gained the king's favour, as well as the wealthy bourgeoisie, continued to renovate existing châteaux or build lavish new ones in the Loire Valley as summer residences.
The French Revolution saw a number of the great châteaux destroyed and many ransacked, their treasures stolen. The overnight impoverishment of many French noble families, usually after one of their members lost his or her head to the guillotine, saw many châteaux demolished. During World War I and World War II, various chateaux were commandeered as military headquarters. Some of these continued to be so used after the end of World War II.
Today, the remaining privately owned châteaux serve as homes and some of them open their doors to tourists, while others operate as hotels or bed-and-breakfasts. Many others have been taken over by local governments, and the grandest, like those at Chambord, are owned and operated by the national government and are major tourist sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
List of châteaux of the Loireedit
Though there may be no universally accepted definition for the designation, the main criterion is that the château must be situated close to the Loire or one of its tributaries (such as the Maine, Cher, Indre, Creuse or Loir). Châteaux further upstream than Gien are generally not included, with the possible exception of the Bastie d'Urfé for its historical significance.
Tuffeau, principal building material of the Loire Valley
Referencesedit
^The Loire Valley: A Phaidon Cultural Guide. New York: Prentice Hall Press. 1986. ISBN9780135401217.
^"Six Enchanting Castles to Visit in the Loire Valley". 18 August 2017.
^ abcdefghiPeregrine, Anthony (21 May 2014). "The best chateaux of the Loire Valley, France". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
^ abLounes, Allison (4 December 2012). "Chateaux spectacular: 5 best Loire Valley castles | CNN Travel". CNN. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
^Gleadell, Colin (23 June 2015). "Largest Collection of Radical Conceptualists ART & LANGUAGE Finds a Home in French Chateau | artnet news". artnet. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
External linksedit
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châteaux, loire, valley, châteaux, loire, valley, french, châteaux, loire, part, architectural, heritage, historic, towns, amboise, angers, blois, chinon, montsoreau, orléans, saumur, tours, along, river, loire, france, they, illustrate, renaissance, ideals, d. The chateaux of the Loire Valley French chateaux de la Loire are part of the architectural heritage of the historic towns of Amboise Angers Blois Chinon Montsoreau Orleans Saumur and Tours along the river Loire in France They illustrate Renaissance ideals of design in France 1 Chateaux of the Loire ValleyChateau de MontsoreauLocationFrance Centre Pays de la Loire BuiltRenaissance periodArchitectural style s French Renaissance architectureUNESCO World Heritage SiteTypeCulturalDesignated2000Part ofThe Loire Valley between Sully sur Loire and ChalonnesReference no 933CountryFranceRegionEurope and North AmericaThe chateaux of the Loire Valley number over three hundred 2 ranging from practical fortified castles from the 10th century to splendid residences built half a millennium later When the French kings began constructing their huge chateaux in the Loire Valley the nobility drawn to the seat of power followed suit attracting the finest architects and landscape designers The chateaux and their surrounding gardens are cultural monuments which embody the ideals of the Renaissance and Enlightenment Many of the chateaux were built on hilltops such as the Chateau d Amboise while the only one built in the riverbed is the Chateau de Montsoreau Many had exquisite churches on the grounds or within the chateau Contents 1 History 2 List of chateaux of the Loire 2 1 Royal chateaux 2 2 Chateaux of the nobility 2 3 Other chateaux 3 Map 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editWith the Hundred Years War concluded Charles VII Louis XI and their successors preferred to spend the bulk of their time in the garden of France along the banks of the Loire In the late 15th century Tours then Blois and later Amboise became the preferred locations of the French royal court Many courtiers bought dilapidated castles built by the medieval Counts of Blois and of Anjou and they had them reconstructed in the latest Italianate fashion Leonardo da Vinci and other Italian artists arrived to design and beautify these residences In the 16th century Francis I moved his main residence back to the Louvre in Paris With him went the great architects but the Loire Valley continued to be the place where French royalty preferred to spend their time when not in the capital Toward the end of the 17th century Louis XIV made the Ile de France the permanent locale for great royal residences when he built the Palace of Versailles Nonetheless those who gained the king s favour as well as the wealthy bourgeoisie continued to renovate existing chateaux or build lavish new ones in the Loire Valley as summer residences The French Revolution saw a number of the great chateaux destroyed and many ransacked their treasures stolen The overnight impoverishment of many French noble families usually after one of their members lost his or her head to the guillotine saw many chateaux demolished During World War I and World War II various chateaux were commandeered as military headquarters Some of these continued to be so used after the end of World War II Today the remaining privately owned chateaux serve as homes and some of them open their doors to tourists while others operate as hotels or bed and breakfasts Many others have been taken over by local governments and the grandest like those at Chambord are owned and operated by the national government and are major tourist sites attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year List of chateaux of the Loire editThough there may be no universally accepted definition for the designation the main criterion is that the chateau must be situated close to the Loire or one of its tributaries such as the Maine Cher Indre Creuse or Loir Chateaux further upstream than Gien are generally not included with the possible exception of the Bastie d Urfe for its historical significance Royal chateaux edit Chateau Commune Departement Coordinates Historic Events ImageAmboise Amboise Indre et Loire 47 24 47 N 0 59 9 E 47 41306 N 0 98583 E 47 41306 0 98583 Chateau d Amboise Accidental death of Charles VIII 1498 3 Amboise conspiracy 1560 Edict of Amboise with the Calvinists 1563 nbsp Angers Angers Maine et Loire 47 28 12 N 0 33 36 W 47 47000 N 0 56000 W 47 47000 0 56000 Chateau d Angers Location of the Apocalypse Tapestry nbsp Blois Blois Loir et Cher 47 35 8 N 1 19 51 E 47 58556 N 1 33083 E 47 58556 1 33083 Chateau de Blois Assassination of Henry I Duke of Guise 1588 3 nbsp Chambord Chambord Loir et Cher 47 36 58 N 1 31 2 E 47 61611 N 1 51722 E 47 61611 1 51722 Chateau de Chambord Considered the most magnificent Loire chateau Treaty of Chambord 1552 3 nbsp Chenonceau Chenonceaux Indre et Loire 47 19 31 N 1 4 13 E 47 32528 N 1 07028 E 47 32528 1 07028 Chateau de Chenonceau Owned by Diane de Poitiers 1547 1559 et Catherine de Medicis 1559 1589 3 nbsp Chinon Chinon Indre et Loire 47 10 5 N 0 14 10 E 47 16806 N 0 23611 E 47 16806 0 23611 Chateau de Chinon Meeting between Charles VII and Joan of Arc 1429 3 nbsp Langeais Langeais Indre et Loire 47 19 29 N 0 24 22 E 47 32472 N 0 40611 E 47 32472 0 40611 Chateau de Langeais Marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany 1491 nbsp Loches Loches Indre et Loire 47 7 29 N 0 59 48 E 47 12472 N 0 99667 E 47 12472 0 99667 Chateau de Loches Captured by Richard the Lionheart 1194 3 Residence of Agnes Sorel 1443 1450 nbsp Plessis lez Tours La Riche Indre et Loire 47 22 57 N 0 39 38 E 47 38250 N 0 66056 E 47 38250 0 66056 Chateau de Plessis lez Tours Treaty of Tours 1444 Death of Louis XI 1483 Death of Francis of Paola 1507 founder of the Order of MinimsTreaty of Plessis les Tours 1580 Meeting between Henry III and the king of Navarre future Henry IV who allied against the Catholic League 1589 nbsp Saumur Saumur Maine et Loire 47 15 22 N 0 4 21 W 47 25611 N 0 07250 W 47 25611 0 07250 Chateau de Saumur Chateau d amour of the king Rene of Anjou 1454 1472 Place of sanctuary for Protestants 1589 nbsp Tours Tours Indre et Loire 47 23 49 N 0 41 34 E 47 39694 N 0 69278 E 47 39694 0 69278 Chateau de Tours Marriage of the future Louis XI and Margaret of Scotland 1436 Imprisonment of Charles Duke of Guise 1588 1591 nbsp Chateaux of the nobility edit Chateau Commune Departement Coordinates Notes ImageAzay le Rideau Azay le Rideau Indre et Loire 47 15 33 N 0 27 58 E 47 25917 N 0 46611 E 47 25917 0 46611 Chateau d Azay le Rideau Masterpiece of the first French Renaissance 4 nbsp Armaille Loches Indre et Loire 47 07 47 N 0 00 10 E 47 12972 N 0 00278 E 47 12972 0 00278 Chateau d Armaille Loches Chateau of Count Arthur de Marsay nbsp Beauregard Cellettes Loir et Cher 47 32 13 N 1 23 3 E 47 53694 N 1 38417 E 47 53694 1 38417 Chateau de Beauregard Art gallery nbsp Breze Breze Maine et Loire 47 10 28 N 0 03 27 W 47 17444 N 0 05750 W 47 17444 0 05750 Chateau de Breze Artifacts of Troglodytes under the chateau Deepest moats in France nbsp Brissac Brissac Loire Aubance Maine et Loire 47 21 11 N 0 26 59 W 47 35306 N 0 44972 W 47 35306 0 44972 Chateau de Brissac Tallest chateau in France nbsp Chanteloup Amboise Indre et Loire 47 23 28 N 0 58 13 E 47 39111 N 0 97028 E 47 39111 0 97028 Pagode de Chanteloup Property of Duke of Choiseul 1760 1785 nbsp Chateaudun Chateaudun Eure et Loir 48 04 15 N 1 19 25 E 48 07083 N 1 32361 E 48 07083 1 32361 Chateau de Chateaudun Property of Jean de Dunois 1439 1468 nbsp Chaumont sur Loire Chaumont sur Loire Loir et Cher 47 28 45 N 1 10 55 E 47 47917 N 1 18194 E 47 47917 1 18194 Chateau de Chaumont sur Loire Property of Catherine de Medici 1550 1559 et Diane de Poitiers 1559 1566 nbsp Cheverny Cheverny Loir et Cher 47 30 1 N 1 27 29 E 47 50028 N 1 45806 E 47 50028 1 45806 Chateau de Cheverny Inspiration for Herge s Marlinspike Hall nbsp Clos Luce Amboise Indre et Loire 47 24 36 N 0 59 31 E 47 41000 N 0 99194 E 47 41000 0 99194 Clos Luce Home to Leonardo da Vinci 1516 1519 3 nbsp Meillant Meillant Cher 46 46 59 N 2 30 15 E 46 78306 N 2 50417 E 46 78306 2 50417 Chateau de Meillant Contains the famous Tour du Lion nbsp Montsoreau Montsoreau Maine et Loire 47 12 56 N 0 03 44 E 47 21556 N 0 06222 E 47 21556 0 06222 Chateau de Montsoreau Only Chateau in the Loire Valley constructed in the Loire riverbed Chateau de Montsoreau Museum of Contemporary Art has the world s largest holding of Art amp Language works 5 nbsp Richelieu Richelieu Indre et Loire 47 00 26 N 0 19 33 E 47 00722 N 0 32583 E 47 00722 0 32583 Chateau de Richelieu Property of Cardinal Richelieu 1621 1642 nbsp Sully sur Loire Sully sur Loire Loiret 47 46 4 N 2 22 31 E 47 76778 N 2 37528 E 47 76778 2 37528 Chateau de Sully sur Loire Property of Maximilien de Bethune Duke of Sully 1602 1641 nbsp Usse Rigny Usse Indre et Loire 47 14 59 N 0 17 28 E 47 24972 N 0 29111 E 47 24972 0 29111 Chateau d Usse Inspiration for Charles Perrault s Sleeping Beauty 4 nbsp Valencay Valencay Indre 47 9 27 N 1 33 48 E 47 15750 N 1 56333 E 47 15750 1 56333 Chateau de Valencay Property of Talleyrand 1803 1838 3 nbsp Villandry Villandry Indre et Loire 47 20 26 N 0 30 51 E 47 34056 N 0 51417 E 47 34056 0 51417 Chateau de Villandry Famous for its French formal gardens 3 nbsp Other chateaux edit Chateau Commune Departement Coordinates ImageArgy Argy Indre 46 56 20 N 1 26 08 E 46 93889 N 1 43556 E 46 93889 1 43556 Chateau d Argy nbsp Azay le Ferron Azay le Ferron Indre 46 51 04 N 1 04 12 E 46 85111 N 1 07000 E 46 85111 1 07000 Chateau d Azay le Ferron nbsp Bauge Bauge Maine et Loire 47 32 29 N 0 06 07 E 47 54139 N 0 10194 E 47 54139 0 10194 Chateau de Bauge nbsp Beaugency Beaugency Loiret 47 46 45 N 1 37 57 E 47 77917 N 1 63250 E 47 77917 1 63250 Chateau de Beaugency nbsp Boisgibault Ardon Loiret 47 47 18 N 1 52 00 E 47 78833 N 1 86667 E 47 78833 1 86667 Chateau de Boisgibault nbsp Boumois Saint Martin de la Place Maine et Loire 47 18 30 N 0 07 48 W 47 30833 N 0 13000 W 47 30833 0 13000 Chateau de Boumois Briare Briare Loiret 47 38 22 N 2 44 27 E 47 63944 N 2 74083 E 47 63944 2 74083 Chateau de Briare nbsp Cande Monts Indre et Loire 47 17 49 N 0 39 56 E 47 29694 N 0 66556 E 47 29694 0 66556 Chateau de Cande nbsp Chamerolles Chilleurs aux Bois Loiret 48 03 37 N 2 09 51 E 48 06028 N 2 16417 E 48 06028 2 16417 Chateau de Chamerolles nbsp Chateauneuf sur Loire Chateauneuf sur Loire Loiret 47 51 51 N 2 13 00 E 47 86417 N 2 21667 E 47 86417 2 21667 Chateau de Chateauneuf sur Loire nbsp Chemery Chemery Loir et Cher 47 20 43 N 1 28 48 E 47 34528 N 1 48000 E 47 34528 1 48000 Chateau de Chemery nbsp Chissay Chissay en Touraine Loir et Cher 47 20 13 N 1 08 11 E 47 33694 N 1 13639 E 47 33694 1 13639 Chateau de Chissay nbsp Courtalain Courtalain Eure et Loir 48 04 49 N 1 08 11 E 48 08028 N 1 13639 E 48 08028 1 13639 Chateau de Courtalain nbsp Fougeres sur Bievre Fougeres sur Bievre Loir et Cher 47 26 52 N 1 20 37 E 47 44778 N 1 34361 E 47 44778 1 34361 Chateau de Fougeres sur Bievre nbsp Gaillard Amboise Indre et Loire 47 24 47 N 0 59 09 E 47 41306 N 0 98583 E 47 41306 0 98583 Chateau Gaillard nbsp Gien Gien Loiret 47 41 06 N 2 37 54 E 47 68500 N 2 63167 E 47 68500 2 63167 Chateau de Gien nbsp Gizeux Gizeux Indre et Loire 47 23 26 N 0 12 22 E 47 39056 N 0 20611 E 47 39056 0 20611 Chateau de Gizeux nbsp Gue Pean Monthou sur Cher Loir et Cher 47 21 00 N 1 19 07 E 47 35000 N 1 31861 E 47 35000 1 31861 Chateau du Gue Pean nbsp La Bourdaisiere Montlouis sur Loire Indre et Loire 47 22 11 N 0 50 19 E 47 36972 N 0 83861 E 47 36972 0 83861 Chateau de La Bourdaisiere nbsp La Bussiere La Bussiere Loiret 47 44 50 N 2 44 52 E 47 74722 N 2 74778 E 47 74722 2 74778 Chateau de La Bussiere nbsp La Fariniere Cinq Mars la Pile Indre et Loire 47 21 08 N 0 28 29 E 47 35222 N 0 47472 E 47 35222 0 47472 Chateau de La Fariniere nbsp La Ferte Saint Aubin La Ferte Saint Aubin Loiret 47 43 35 N 1 56 36 E 47 72639 N 1 94333 E 47 72639 1 94333 Chateau de La Ferte Saint Aubin nbsp La Possonniere Couture sur Loir Loir et Cher 47 44 48 N 0 41 32 E 47 74667 N 0 69222 E 47 74667 0 69222 Chateau de La Possonniere nbsp Lavardin Lavardin Loir et Cher 47 44 28 N 0 53 01 E 47 74111 N 0 88361 E 47 74111 0 88361 Chateau de Lavardin nbsp Le Lude Le Lude Sarthe 47 38 45 N 0 09 14 E 47 64583 N 0 15389 E 47 64583 0 15389 Chateau du Lude nbsp Le Moulin Lassay sur Croisne Loir et Cher 47 22 09 N 1 36 34 E 47 36917 N 1 60944 E 47 36917 1 60944 Chateau du Moulin nbsp Nevers Nevers Nievre 46 59 18 N 3 09 30 E 46 98833 N 3 15833 E 46 98833 3 15833 Palais ducal de Nevers nbsp Le Plessis Bourre Ecuille Maine et Loire 47 36 3 N 0 32 40 W 47 60083 N 0 54444 W 47 60083 0 54444 Chateau du Plessis Bourre nbsp Le Rivau Lemere Indre et Loire 47 06 25 N 0 19 34 E 47 10694 N 0 32611 E 47 10694 0 32611 Chateau du Rivau nbsp Le Roujoux Fresnes Loir et Cher 47 26 01 N 1 24 03 E 47 43361 N 1 40083 E 47 43361 1 40083 Chateau du Roujoux Les Reaux Chouze sur Loire Indre et Loire 47 14 54 N 0 8 52 E 47 24833 N 0 14778 E 47 24833 0 14778 Chateau des Reaux nbsp Luynes Luynes Indre et Loire 47 23 28 N 0 33 19 E 47 39111 N 0 55528 E 47 39111 0 55528 Chateau de Luynes nbsp Menars Menars Loir et Cher 47 38 36 N 1 24 34 E 47 64333 N 1 40944 E 47 64333 1 40944 Chateau de Menars nbsp Meung sur Loire Meung sur Loire Loiret 47 49 26 N 1 41 41 E 47 82389 N 1 69472 E 47 82389 1 69472 Chateau de Meung sur Loire nbsp Montgeoffroy Maze Maine et Loire 47 28 08 N 0 16 35 W 47 46889 N 0 27639 W 47 46889 0 27639 Chateau de Montgeoffroy nbsp Montigny le Gannelon Montigny le Gannelon Eure et Loir 48 00 54 N 1 14 07 E 48 01500 N 1 23528 E 48 01500 1 23528 Chateau de Montigny le Gannelon nbsp Montpoupon Cere la Ronde Indre et Loire 47 15 11 N 1 8 28 E 47 25306 N 1 14111 E 47 25306 1 14111 Chateau de Montpoupon nbsp Montresor Montresor Indre et Loire 47 9 21 N 1 12 35 E 47 15583 N 1 20972 E 47 15583 1 20972 Chateau de Montresor nbsp Montreuil Bellay Montreuil Bellay Maine et Loire 47 07 58 N 00 09 14 W 47 13278 N 0 15389 W 47 13278 0 15389 Chateau de Montreuil Bellay nbsp Montrichard Montrichard Loir et Cher 47 20 37 N 1 11 10 E 47 34361 N 1 18611 E 47 34361 1 18611 Chateau de Montrichard nbsp Sache Sache Indre et Loire 47 14 45 N 0 32 41 E 47 24583 N 0 54472 E 47 24583 0 54472 Chateau de Sache nbsp Saint Aignan Saint Aignan sur Cher Loir et Cher 47 16 10 N 1 22 30 E 47 26944 N 1 37500 E 47 26944 1 37500 Chateau de Saint Aignan sur Cher nbsp Saint Brisson Saint Brisson sur Loire Loiret 47 39 00 N 2 40 56 E 47 65000 N 2 68222 E 47 65000 2 68222 Chateau de Saint Brisson Selles sur Cher Selles sur Cher Loir et Cher 47 16 29 N 1 32 58 E 47 27472 N 1 54944 E 47 27472 1 54944 Chateau de Selles sur Cher nbsp Serrant Saint Georges sur Loire Maine et Loire 47 24 54 N 0 44 40 W 47 41500 N 0 74444 W 47 41500 0 74444 Chateau de Serrant nbsp Talcy Talcy Loir et Cher 47 46 11 N 1 26 39 E 47 76972 N 1 44417 E 47 76972 1 44417 Chateau de Talcy nbsp Troussay Cheverny Loir et Cher 47 29 29 N 1 25 29 E 47 49139 N 1 42472 E 47 49139 1 42472 Chateau de Troussay nbsp Valmer Chancay Indre et Loire 47 27 32 N 0 53 14 E 47 45889 N 0 88722 E 47 45889 0 88722 Chateau de Valmer nbsp Vendome Vendome Loir et Cher 47 47 21 N 1 03 55 E 47 78917 N 1 06528 E 47 78917 1 06528 Chateau de Vendome Villesavin Tour en Sologne Loir et Cher 47 32 48 N 1 30 51 E 47 54667 N 1 51417 E 47 54667 1 51417 Chateau de Villesavin nbsp Map edit nbsp Chateaux of the Loire ValleySee also editList of chateaux in France Tuffeau principal building material of the Loire ValleyReferences edit The Loire Valley A Phaidon Cultural Guide New York Prentice Hall Press 1986 ISBN 9780135401217 Six Enchanting Castles to Visit in the Loire Valley 18 August 2017 a b c d e f g h i Peregrine Anthony 21 May 2014 The best chateaux of the Loire Valley France The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 15 November 2016 a b Lounes Allison 4 December 2012 Chateaux spectacular 5 best Loire Valley castles CNN Travel CNN Retrieved 15 November 2016 Gleadell Colin 23 June 2015 Largest Collection of Radical Conceptualists ART amp LANGUAGE Finds a Home in French Chateau artnet news artnet Retrieved 24 April 2018 External links edit 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