Château de Menetou-Salon

To make a day of it

Château de Menetou-Salon stands in Menetou-Salon (Cher), in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: fourth quarter of the 19th century). Adult admission costs 11 EUR. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Located in Menetou-Salon, in the Cher department, this château combines traces of a medieval stronghold with a neo-Gothic reconstruction completed at the end of the 19th century. The lordship, first recorded in the 11th century, once belonged to Jacques Cœur before passing to the d'Arenberg family, who still live there today. Architect Paul-Ernest Sanson drew on the Jacques Cœur palace in Bourges when redesigning the south and east façades, while the west and north wings retained their earlier classical appearance. The carved decoration, by sculptor Antoine Margotin, blends with surviving elements of the older building.

What to know

• The château is privately owned and remains the residence of the d'Arenberg family, which shapes how it can be visited.
• The protected interiors include the entrance hall, the monumental staircase, the dining room, the library, the salons and the chapel.
• The building has been listed as a monument historique since 1989.
• The south and east façades show Sanson's neo-Gothic work, distinct from the classical-style west and north wings.

Practical information

Visit duration

90 min

Wheelchair access

Not verified

Dogs

Not verified

Parking

Not verified

Where this château is

Menetou-Salon · Cher · Centre-Val de Loire

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Menetou-Salon, Cher

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

Get directionsView on a map

Heritage status

Registered historic monument (inscrit)

Mérimée record PA00096845

Period of construction

fourth quarter of the 19th century

Base map © IGN, Géoplateforme

Frequently asked

Château de Menetou-Salon: how much is admission?

Adult admission is €11. Reduced: €9. Free for: invalides, enfants de moins de 7 ans, habitants de Menetou-Salon (sur présentation d'un justificatif).

Who built the château de Menetou-Salon?

The present building results from a neo-Gothic reconstruction carried out between 1884 and 1890 by architect Paul-Ernest Sanson, on the site of a medieval stronghold.

Does a family still own the château de Menetou-Salon?

Yes, it has remained the residence of the d'Arenberg family, who inherited it in the 18th century.

What is the connection between Jacques Cœur and the château de Menetou-Salon?

Jacques Cœur, treasurer to King Charles VII, once owned the estate before falling from favour and having his property confiscated.

Is the château de Menetou-Salon a listed historic monument?

It has been listed since 1989, covering its façades, roofs and several interior rooms including the library and chapel.

Sources

Identity, location and official references from Wikidata and the Mérimée register.

• This entry in Markdown
• Wikidata Q22940606
• Mérimée PA00096845
• Official website

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