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.

Free parking on the side

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

Gorgeous

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.