Château du Riau

To make a day of it

Château du Riau stands in Villeneuve-sur-Allier (Allier), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 16th century, 17th century, 18th century). Adult admission costs 10 EUR. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

At Villeneuve-sur-Allier, the Riau château sits within a water-filled moat, its main house, outbuildings and a polychrome-brick dovecote arranged around a courtyard shaded by a lime tree. The building retains its 15th-century keep of red and black brick, flanked by two turrets guarding the entrance. Inside, visitors can see paintings by Emmanuel de La Villéon, an impressionist painter and ancestor of the present owners. A short walk away, outside the moat, the tithe barn with its timber framing and patterned brickwork is also worth a look.

Written from Château du Riau

What to know

• The adult entry fee is 10 euros.
• The château is a privately occupied building, only part of which is open to visitors.
• The visit takes in the courtyard surrounded by moats, including the main house, outbuildings, dovecote and tithe barn.
• Opening hours, accessibility and parking are not specified here, so it is worth checking in advance.
• The visit includes the collection of paintings by Emmanuel de La Villéon kept inside the château.

Practical information

Visit duration

Not verified

Wheelchair access

Not verified

Dogs

Not verified

Parking

Not verified

Where this château is

Villeneuve-sur-Allier · Allier · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Le Riau, 03460 Villeneuve-sur-Allier

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

Get directionsView on a map

Château phone number

+33 4 70 43 34 47

CallCopy

The safest check before setting off: today’s hours, guided-tour availability, where to park.

4.6 / 5from 22 Google reviews

Heritage status

Listed historic monument (classé)

Mérimée record PA00093372

Period of construction

16th century, 17th century, 18th century

Base map © IGN, Géoplateforme

In pictures

Frequently asked

Château du Riau: how much is admission?

Adult admission is €10. Child: free. Free for: children under 12.

Can you visit the whole Riau château?

No, it is a privately occupied residence, and only certain parts are open to the public.

How old is Riau château?

The main house dates from the 15th century, while the outbuildings and dovecote date from the 16th and 18th centuries.

What can be seen inside Riau château?

A collection of paintings by impressionist painter Emmanuel de La Villéon, an ancestor of the current owners.

What is the tithe barn at Riau?

A timber-framed building with polychrome brickwork standing outside the moat, with a roof frame dated 1584.

Sources

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

• This entry in Markdown
• Wikidata Q2971811
• Mérimée PA00093372
• Official website

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