The 10 most beautiful castles in Loir-et-Cher
10 châteaux
Chosen among 124 recorded castles
What to see in Loir-et-Cher when you only have a weekend: the 10 most visited castles according to their visitors’ reviews, among those open to the public whose visiting conditions we checked on the official website. For each: what you see, the entry price, the link to the full entry.
Ranked by renown: how often their name is searched on Google each month, and how many reviews visitors have left. “Beautiful” is your word; what we measure is what visitors choose.
No. 1
Château de Cheverny (Cheverny Castle)
Cheverny
Built between 1625 and 1629 by the architect Boyer, the château de Cheverny has belonged to the same family, the Hurault de Vibraye, for more than six centuries, and they still live there today.
No. 2
Château de Chambord (Chambord Castle)
Chambord
Chambord is the largest of the Loire châteaux, begun in 1519 for François I within a forested estate enclosed by a 32 kilometre wall.
No. 3
Château de Blois (Blois Castle)
Blois
At the heart of the town of Blois, this royal castle brings together four centuries of French architecture, from medieval to classical, around a single courtyard.
No. 4
Castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire
Chaumont-sur-Loire
Standing on a bluff above the Loire between Amboise and Blois, the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire combines the defensive character of a 15th century stronghold with refinements added over the centuries by its various owners.
No. 5
Château de Beauregard, Loire Valley
Cellettes
A few kilometres from Blois, at the border of the Russy forest, stands the château de Beauregard, whose current appearance dates largely from the mid-16th century, when Jean du Thier, secretary of state to Henry II, had the gallery connecting the two living quarters built.
No. 6
Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre (Fougères-sur-Bièvre Castle)
Le Controis-en-Sologne
In the village of Fougères-sur-Bièvre stands a fortified château that has kept much of its 15th century appearance. Destroyed in 1356 during the Hundred Years' War, it was rebuilt from 1475 onwards by Pierre de Refuge, treasurer to King Louis XI, around the medieval keep that had survived.
Adult €7Hours, prices and access
No. 7
Château de Villesavin (Villesavin Castle)
Tour-en-Sologne
Built around 1537 for Jean Breton, finance secretary to King Francis I, the château de Villesavin stands at Tour-en-Sologne, close to Chambord, whose construction it is said to have accompanied.
No. 8
Château de Talcy (Talcy Castle)
Talcy
In Talcy, in the Loir-et-Cher region, a Florentine banker serving François I had an older manor rebuilt from 1520 onward, with royal permission to add fortified features. The 15th-century gatehouse tower and the gallery modeled on the one at Blois frame a courtyard dominated by a domed well, the site's emblem.
Adult €7Hours, prices and access
No. 9
Château de Vendôme (Vendôme Castle)
Vendôme
Perched on the hill overlooking Vendôme and the left bank of the Loir, the ruins of this fortified castle bear witness to several centuries of successive building campaigns, from the 12th to the 16th century.
No. 10
Château de Selles-sur-Cher (Selles-sur-Cher Castle)
Selles-sur-Cher
In Selles-sur-Cher, on the border between Berry and Touraine, this castle keeps a 13th-century tower, the remnant of a fortified complex raised in 1212 on a trapezoidal motte. The pavilions and gateway surrounding it today date from the early 17th century, when the estate belonged to the Béthune family.
Adult €10Hours, prices and access
Every castle in Loir-et-Cher (124)Which ones open this weekend?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most beautiful castle in Loir-et-Cher?
- The most visited in Loir-et-Cher is Château de Cheverny, first in this selection according to its visitors’ reviews. All 10 castles listed are open to visitors with checked hours.
- How much does a visit cost?
- The adult entry price is shown under each castle when the official website publishes it; 0 of these castles are free.
- How is this selection made?
- Among the 124 castles recorded in Loir-et-Cher, we keep those open to the public with a photo, then rank by number of Google reviews. No castle pays to appear.