CASTLES DÉPARTEMENT D'INDRE-ET-LOIRE

Château de Chenonceau, the second most visited castle in France after Versailles, is a Renaissance masterpiece spanning the River Cher in Indre-et-Loire. Built with distinctive white facades and five-arched bridge architecture, it earned the epithet 'Château des Dames' due to women's significant influence on its development and design. Originally given by King Henry II to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, it subsequently passed to Queen Catherine de Médicis, whose rivalry shaped its history. The château showcases master paintings, 16th-century Flemish tapestries, and remarkable gardens including a unique European floral workshop, recognized as a Remarkable Garden and UNESCO World Heritage site.

Château d'Ussé is an emblematic Loire Valley castle in Indre-et-Loire, representing a distinctive blend of medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles. Originally fortified in the eleventh century overlooking the Indre Valley and the Chinon forest, the stronghold was built in 1462 by Jean V de Bueil, admiral of France, then embellished by subsequent owners throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle's romantic appearance inspired Charles Perrault to write 'Sleeping Beauty in the Woods.' An ancestral home of the Blacas family for over two centuries, the privately inhabited château remains open to visitors from February through November, offering an authentic experience of Loire Valley heritage.

Château-monastère de la Corroirie is a historic 13th-century Carthusian monastery set within the Forest of Loches near Montrésor in Indre-et-Loire. Originally consecrated in 1206, this feudal seat features a Plantagenet-style church, medieval mill, fortified 15th-century door, and interconnected buildings reflecting centuries of agricultural, spiritual and defensive functions. The estate's moats and surrounding parkland integrate seamlessly with the broader forest landscape, while contemporary offerings include five guest rooms, a spirits distillery producing hydrosols, and a Land Art trail that encourages exploration of the grounds.