Château de Durtal

A strategic lock on the Loir Valley, this formidable fortress protected Anjou, a remarkable architectural synthesis of monumental constructions in the Loire Valley in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Private château and guided tour only (duration 1 hour), open every day from 8 June to 31 August: guided tours at 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 2.30 pm, 3.30 pm, 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm.

Built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Loir, this 11th-century structure, begun by Foulque Nerra and Geoffroy Martel, grew over the course of the 15th, 11th and 18th centuries to become the sumptuous palace-fortress where the kings of France liked to stay, a huge 6000 m2 building with almost 100 rooms!

A remarkable example of the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and a true lesson in architecture, the proud château of the Counts of Anjou still protects the town of Durtal. History has it that the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre was instigated here.

After Henri II, Charles IX, Catherine de Médicis and Louis XIII, come and discover the splendour of the Château de Durtal: its former kitchens, its 40-metre-long gallery revealing its paintings with a breathtaking view of Durtal and the Chambiers forest in the distance. There's also a covered walkway, the "engoulants" room, the "devil's room", the "logis seigneurial", the 15th-century roof structure and the second-largest fireplace in France in the basement! So many rooms that impress as much as they charm.

This is an opportunity to take a closer look at the history of this château, listed as a Historic Monument since 1901 and subsequently given to the town of Durtal after being looted during the Revolution. A wartime hospice until the end of 1945, it then became a retirement home until 1996, when it was bought by private individuals and since 2007 has belonged to the Suguenot family.

The entrance is at the top left of Place des Terrasses, not on the church side but above the gate on Rue de la Primaudière, where there is a large black gate. Wait for the tour to start at the entrance gate.

*Numerous stairs in the château, no lift.

Guided tours for groups are available all year round by appointment.