Châteaux en France
(Links updated 2022)
(Links updated 2022)
• Annuaire des Chateaux, 1906-07 (old drawings of the châteaux, and lists owners name... search in the left side column, using the eyeglass)
• EXCELLENT RESOURCE! ExperienceLoire.com • Touraine Val de Loire FB page (frequent posts with labeled photos of châteaux dans le Val de Loire) • AussieInFrance--some great photos of top 10 châteaux • Châteaux de la Loire, en français-- liens vers d'autres infos aussi • Several châteaux--LeChâtelet-Loire Valley • Chateaux-France.com: Route de la Vallée des Rois • Various châteaux--travel blog • "Exploring Blois, Chambord, and Cheverny" (article from EUROPE UP CLOSE) PERSONAL ACCOUNTS WITH PHOTOS Someone's personal travel web page of 8 days in Loire Valley and Chartres --- many photos and links WCS • Another American in France (Walt)-- • All of his château posts • Le Val de Loir or La Vallée de la Loire ? What is the difference between et un fleuve and une rivière ? Why do we see the terms le Loir and la Loire ? It's all explained by Walt S.! Ken Broadhurst • Living the Life in Saint Aignan: • Montrichard with photos of chateau ruins • Amboise area • Montrichard and Blois area • Saumur and Chinon area • Loches and Montrésor area • Orléans area, including Château de Sully (médiéval) • In and around the town of Tours • Chambord photo • Includes photos of Chenonceau and Amboise • Photos du château de Cheverny John and Mary's Trip to Paris and Loire Valley: • Blois: château, hotel • Chenonceaux, Cheverny, Chambord DIAPORAMA: slideshow of aerial views over some of the major Loire Valley châteaux, here. |
ANGERS
• Plantagenet family began this site, later fortified by Louis IX (Saint Louis)... major forteresse - history and photo • info and photos (including interior of la chapelle) on French wikipedia • photo from air • vue depuis la rivière • photos/info en anglais on EXPERIENCELoire.com CHINON • good photos here on Montjoye.net -- scroll all the way down (and be sure to click on "suivant" to scroll through the three pages of shots). • some interesting Chinon photos • site officiel de la Forteresse de Chinon • Blog post which includes some interior shots of the Jeanne d'Arc room (thanks, Sue and Leon) • France This Way-Chinon images • Lots of photos, not great quality, but give a great idea of the size and layout MONTRICHARD - ruines de la forteresse médiévale, datant du 12e siècle (for this castle, there aren't really interior photos, so you can present "quelques photos des ruines" instead, or even views from the town) • France-Voyage photos… find other towns here, too. • Some town photos from Montrichard, from Ken Broadhurst's blog, Living the Life in Saint-Aignan • Some views of the town with the keep in the background, from the blog, Days on the Claise. LOCHES • Cité Royale de Loches • Good aerial view! TouraineLoireValley tourism website • Loches photos at "France Balade" • Loches images from a Joan of Arc website • Loches town views and the story of the famous Agnès Sorel (thanks to Ken B. at Living the Life in Saint Aignan) more town photos by Ken B. here - and here - and here - and here - and here -and here • A number of short blog posts with photos of Loches town and castle ruins (thanks to WCS: Another American in France) • Château Féodal et Ruine Médiévale • lists, maps, photos LANGEAIS: early medieval donjon here (current structure is from 15th siècle) THESE TWO, BELOW, ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR THE PROJECT... JUST HERE FOR INFO: GUÉDELON This is a special site: It's a chantier médiéval(medieval construction site) in Bourgogne, where work is currently being undertaken to build a château in the style of the 13th century, using the techniques and tools of that period. Visit thewebsite in English here. OZARK MEDIEVAL FORTRESS And another special note: A similar project is being undertaken right here in the USA, in Arkansas, not far from Branson, MO. Here are two links regarding it: • Ozark Medieval Fortress website • personal blog about Ozark Medieval Fortress |
FONTAINEBLEAU
• Site Officiel du musée/château • From Ken Broadhurst's personal blog AMBOISE A few very good photos from the land side of the château -- unusual views, from Ken Broadhurst • here • here • here • 2022 blog post, exterior • 2022 blog post, about Leonardo da Vinci at Amboise • 2022 blog post -- excellent photos from up at the château, looking down CHENONCEAU • Site Officiel de Chenonceau -- 1515 construction begun on first stage of current château • Exterior photos from different perspectives than you usually see, from Ken Broadhurst's blog, Living the Life in Saint Aignan. • More from Ken Broadhurst • Still more, from Ken B. • Reflections in the water, from Ken B. • Gardens at Chenonceau, from Ken B. • Google map aerial view... look for Château de Chenonceau down by the river, but zoom in where the town is, and you'll see lodgings! VILLANDRY •Site official du château de Villandry •From chateaux-de-la-loire • Includes interior photos • Walt's blog-- garden photos here and here LANGEAIS Original donjon was built by Foulques Nerra III, so that part is early médiéval (see links in the center column here). For links to the exterior, interior, and town of the current 15th siècle château (very late medieval): • a few with an interior tapestry also and a little video you could take screen shots from • The official website (click links at top and to the left) • on Wikipedia in English • Amy Plum's (short) 6-part blog post about working here as a tour guide, with a photo or two per page • Three 2022 blog posts from Ken Broadhurst, with great château and town photos: --here, --here, and --here CHAMBORD • Ken Broadhurst's blog, "Living the Life in Saint-Aignan"- excellent post about Chambord (pictures and info) and another of his with unique perspective photos more from Ken: kitchens ; the new outside gardens ; closeups of exterior areas; three Renaissance tapestries inside; • 5 more great photos from Ken Broadhurst, and more interior ones, including a painting of François Ier, and shots of a big tapestry • More photos from Ken Broadhurst • 6 unique and excellent interior and exterior photos of Chambord from Walt Streeter's blog, "WCS: Another American in France": interior 1 •unusual green light through windows • B&W great shot • interesting perspective • inner upper courtyard w piano • excellent roof closeups • great info about Chambord on Wikipedia (in English) • more info on Chambord EN FRANÇAIS on Wikipedia.fr BLOIS • Site Officiel du Château de Blois • Personal blog post with many good photos inside the castle • Description of different wings (en français) • Evolution of the château- fr.Wikipedia (en français) • Blois, from Ken Broadhurst's "Living the Life in Saint Aignan" CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE • Personal blog post with numerous very good shots • view from across the river, by Ken Broadhurst • closer view, by Ken Broadhurst • 2022 slideshow, from Ken Broadhurst • interior photos-- and here and here - - several lovely ones from WCS: Another American in France... another from WCS here, and here. AZAY-LE-RIDEAU • A little introduction to Azay-le-Rideau • Video with inside and outside shots • France with Véro video of Azay-le-rideau, outside, and some inside • For other photos, go to the multi-chateaux links in the first column Château de l'Islette • 20-minute video on France with Véro • Château de l'Islette, official website USSÉ • Susan and Simon's blog, "Days on the Claise": 2 great exterior photos here; interior here • 25 photos on TRIP ADVISOR (read the captions!) • Loire Valley Online- interior & history • Site officiel (click on CANCEL if it asks you for a login and password, and you'll get right to the website ---see links at bottom for more photos, history) • Ken Broadhurst blog photo (excellent view of the exterior): • Fodor's review CHEVERNY (Classical, not Renaissance... Classical is 1600s) • Site officiel (en français) Cliquez sur une pièce pour la voir en photo. • Château de Cheverny from Ken Broadhurst's "Living the Life in Saint-Aignan" (in English) • The hunting dogs at Cheverny (from Ken Broadhurst's blog) |