If you ever get the chance to travel through the exquisite vineyards of the Loire valley in France, you may get the chance to come across medieval manors, which the French call Chateaux.
Riddled with these castles which display the best in French and Gothic architecture, the Loire is home to a total of 80 recorded Chateaux. The beautifully preserved and restored Chaumont-sur-Loire is one of our favorites from this region.
Related Post: See a list of the top 10 Loire Valley Chateaux.
Brief History of the Chaumont Castle
Formerly a fortress, the Chaumont-sur-Loire was built in 1000 CE to keep watch over the border between the counties of Blois and Anjus.
Owned and restored into a Renaissance-style ornamented chateau by Charles II d'Amboise, after Louis XI had it burned to the ground in 1465, it soon passed into the hands of Catherine de Medici in 1550. She in turn soon passed it on to Diane de Poitiers in 1560.
The king's former favorite gave it its current appearance, like the parapet walkways of the tower-flanked entrance and the Saint-Nicolas tower.
In 1750, Jacques-Donatien Le Ray ordered the destruction of the north wing which opened up a magnificent view of the Loire.
In 1875, Marie-Charlotte-Constance Say purchased the château and married Prince Henri-Amédée de Broglie; she then decorated its rooms with Renaissance furniture and tapestries.
In 1938 the chateau was ceded to the state by Princess of Orleans and Bourbon and finally given to the Public Establishment of Cultural Cooperation (EPCC) on January 2008.
Watch our Video of the Chaumont Chateau
Here is a video to show you how stunning this castle really is. Keep watching to see footage of our other two favorite castles as well: Chenonceau & Chambord.
Love our videos? Click here to quickly subscribe to our channel!Top Things to Do at Chaumont-sur-Loire Château
We absolutely loved our visit to Chateau de Chaumont, but I must be in honest in saying that the inside of the castle was a slight disappointment. The beauty of this castle lies on the outside with the sensational storybook architecture.
Therefore I would recommend skipping the audio tour for this castle and simply enjoy a quick stroll around the interior. One of the things to look out for is the art gallery.
Apart from a well-maintained art gallery, the chateau offers its visitors an incredible panoramic view of the Loire through the once 'north wing.'
Once you are done exploring the castle, enjoy walking around the beautiful castles and checking out some of the other buildings, such as the stables, that are found scattered around the picturesque grounds.
How to Get to Castle Chaumont
via Car
Less than 200 kilometers south of Paris, nestling between the cities of Tours and Blois, the natural oasis of Chaumont-sur-Loire is quite easy to reach.
By Train
Catch the train from Paris to the Loire Valley. There are daily trains from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz on the Orleans - Tour line. Get off at Onzain and then take a taxi from there.
Opening Hours & Price of Entry
The château is open all year long, except for the days of 1st January and 25th December.
Opening Hours
Opening hours are from 10.00 AM to 6.30 PM.
Cost of Entry
Annual domain pass- Individual pass card: 50 euros
- The Duo pass card: 80 euros
- Family pass card: 110 euros
- The friends of Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire: 500 euros
- Children's rate: 10 euros
- Reduced rate: 20 euros
- Full price: 30 euros
Further Reading:Chateau Chaumont is one of our top favorite castles in all of France. To me this castle is just such a picture-perfect castle that it reminds me of fairy tales, such as Sleeping Beauty.
Originally from South Africa, now living in Australia, Jolene is a wife and a mother to three beautiful daughters. Together with her family, she is embarking on a journey towards changing her current stress-filled life to one focusing on her dreams and her passion for travel. She wants to share her stories in the hope to inspire you to chase your own dreams!
