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Chambord was built, in 1519, at the request of François Ier , it is located at the south of the Loire to about fifteen kilometers of Blois. Its dimension and its scale are impressive. It was built in several times and required a building site of almost 2000 workmen during more than 12 years. It was completed under Henri III .

This castle is the work of several architects of which Jacques Sourdeau and his nephew, Pierre Neveu, like Jacques Coqueau. It sheltered many royal stays under Henri II , François II , Charles IX and Louis XIII.
In 1746 the King Louis XV gave it to the Marshal of Saxony in reward of the services rendered to France.

The construction of the castle was carried out at four times. Initially it rests on the old feudal castle of the Counts de Blois. Louis XII made build the north-eastern wing between 1498 and 1508 with the direction of Colin Biart, the architect of the Castle of Amboise.
The architect of the north-western wing ,known as François I, is Dominique de Cortone, it is marked by the Italian Renaissance. The frontage on court is decorated with a famous Gothic staircase.
The northern frontage (left photo) dominates the old valley of Arrou and comprises many galleries and windows. The south-western wing is due to Gaston of Orleans, it remained unfinished.
The castle of Blois was often used as royal residence in XVIth century, it is there that the assassination of the Duke of Guise took place in 1588.
The mother of Louis XIII, Marie de Médicis was exiled there during two years in 1617.

Cheverny is located at approximately 12 km in the south of Blois. It is a beautiful architectural example of the XVIIth century (the castle was completed in 1634). The interior decoration of this time is preserved.
It was built for Henri Hurault by Boyer architect in Blois. It always belongs to the family Hurault de Vibraye.

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The Castle of Chaumont was built on the remainders of an old feudal fortress. In XIth century that one was kept by Guelduin of Saumur, faithful Counts of Blois against the Counts of Anjou. To XVth century Chaumont belongs to the family of Amboise.
Pierre d' Amboise having adhered to the Ligue du Bien Public, the King of France Louis XI confiscates his domain and makes dismantle the Castle feodal. Pierre d' Amboise recovered thereafter his property and him and his/her son Charles I made build since 1469 the current castle.

The southern wings and east were built between 1501 and 1511. In 1560 Catherine de Médicis gave it to Diane of Poitiers in exchange of Chenonceau. It is into 1739 that the northern wing was destroyed to open the sight on the Loire river.

The castle of Amboise has also been built on the remainders of an old feudal fortress which dominated the city and the Loire river. Its transformation was started by Charles VIII and was completed by Louis XII and François I.
This castle was frequently a royal residence during the XVIth century. It is there that the Conspiracy of Amboise was subdued, many prisoners were hung at the large balcony of the castle.

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This castle was built since 1513 by the Receiver of Finances of Louis XII and François I, Thomas Bohier for his wife Catherine Briconnet.
From 1547, Chenonceau was one of the places where Diane of Poitiers, the favorite one of King de France Henri II liked to stay. It is her which made build the Bridge on Cher river on which later Catherine de Médicis made raise the two stages of the Large Gallery.

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The Royal Home was built close to the feudal fortress of Loches whose imposing remainders subsist.
This Home was built by Charles VII, who remained there like Louis XI, Charles VIII and Louis XII. It is here that at the beginning of June 1429, Jeanne d' Arc came to press Charles VII to go to be made crown King de France in Rheims.

The castle is located at half way between Loches and Montrichard, in full shift in the medium of drills, meadows and brooks.
It was built on the site of an old strong castle in XVth century by the Lords of Prie. One of these Lords, Aymar was Chambellan of the King Charles VIII.
He currently contains the Musée de la Chasse, devoted in particular to the hunt.

The castle of Villandry was built by Jean the Breton one, Secrétaire of François I , since 1532, it is the last castle built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. It is decorated by gardens which form mosaic colors. A square keep is the only remainder of the initial feudal castle.
During the Middle Ages Villandry was called Colombiers. It is there that at the end of XIIth century Henri II Plantagenet and Philippe-Auguste signed a peace treaty. Henri II was to die a few days later in Chinon.

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It is Louis XI who made build the castle since 1465, under the supervision of Jean Bourré who became its Governor. May be this castle was intended to protect Tours on the western side, from where its character of fortress with in particular a long covered way. The interior frontage is less austere and has the first effects of the Renaissance times.
The marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany was made there in 1491.

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At this place was a feudal fortress destroyed by the Dolphin (future Charles VII) in 1418.
The castle has been built from 1518 to 1529 by Gilles Berthelot, Trésorier of Finances of François I. It is his wife Philippe Lesbahy who directed the works.

It is in fact an unfinished castle, two other wings were to supplement these what exist to form a quadrilateral. For as much it is be the Loire castle which has,may be, the most charm.

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This castle has been built on the site of a medieval fortress by Jean de Bueil during the second half of XVth century. It illustrates the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance times. The northern wing was destroyed in order to release the opening towards the Indre and Loire rivers.
Jean de Bueil sold it in 1485 to Jean d' Espinay, Chambellan of the Kings Louis XI and Charles VIII.
The castle was used as model by Charles Perrault for the tale La Belle au Bois Dormant.

This castle, which dates from the medium of XVth century, is located downstream from the confluence of the Vienne river and the Loire river. It was built by Jean de Chambes, adviser of Charles VII. It keeps a rather marked medieval character.
Alexandre Dumas locates here the intrigue of one of his novels: "La Dame de Montsoreau".

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The castle has been built on the site of an old feudal fortress of which it keeps the pace with its four turns of angle.
The building of the XIVth century (represented in the Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry - September -) was altered by the King of Naples René of Anjou during the XVth century. In XVIth the north-western wing was destroyed to open a sight on the Loire river.

Discover Saumur

The castle was built above the Thouet on the site of an old strengthened camp of Gallo-Roman times. Its thirteen towers make it very caracteristic. It was the head office of Baronnie which, at the Middle Ages, oscillated between Anjou and Poitou.
Part of the castle was built at the end of XVth century.

The castle of Lude was built in the place of an old feudal fortress for Jean de Daillon Chambellan of the King Charles VII, it keeps of its origin four big round towers. Work began in 1458, directed by Jean Gendrot, architect of King René of Anjou. The Eastern frontage was completed only at the end of the XVIIIth century.