Regions of France

A symbol of the town of Saumur, the château is an old fortress that was converted into a palace by the Dukes of Anjou (14th and 15th centuries), including King René. It then became the residence of the town’s governors, a prison, then a depot for arms and munitions. In 1906, the town bought the château from the State to house its municipal museum, which has since earned the Musée de France label. The château gardens offer exceptional panoramic views of the Loire and the town. château de SAUMUR Situated on an island in the middle of the Indre, the château of Azay-le- Rideau seems to rise straight out of the waters of the river, which reflect the castle's façades so that the château appears to float in its own image. The writer Balzac, who lived nearby and was occasionally a guest at the château, deeply admired the building, describing it as 'a faceted diamond, set in the Indre'. This striking setting has helped Azay-le-Rideau to become one of the most famous of the Loire's many châteaux. Château D’Azay-le-rideau Splendidly storied and glamourous at every turn. The chateau was built between 1912 and 1929 for wealthy French perfumier, François Coty, who ripped down the existent manor house to create a mirror image of 18th-century Château de Champlâteux, north of Paris. Versailles inspired the interior and the chapel in the grounds – a carbon copy of the one at Versailles, albeit a quarter of the size. The parties Coty threw in the 1930s in the stunning frescoed rotunda were legendary. And it is this splendid old-timer pomp that the luxurious five-star hotel recreates so fabulously well today. Château d’Artigny A member of Grandes Étapes Françaises hotel-restaurant collection Montbazon, Loire Valley Château deVerrières Saumur, Loire Valley Pascale and Francois Hamelin are the owners of the most meticulously preserved Belle Epoque mansion in the heart of Saumur. They have created one of the most authentic 5-star hotels where attention to detail and period furnishing is central to the marvellous experience of spending some days in the historic town of Saumur. Designed under Napoleon III, Verrieres has kept its elegance and remains an authentic testimony of the 19th century lifestyle and entertaining art. 44