Château d’Oiron: France’s Underrated Renaissance Masterpiece
Discover why this spectacular Renaissance castle with 1,600 painted coffers remains one of France’s best-kept secrets When most travelers plan their Loire Valley castle tours, they flock to Chenonceau, Chambord, and Azay-le-Rideau. But tucked away in the quiet farmland of western France lies a Renaissance masterpiece that rivals, and in some ways surpasses, these famous […]
Château de Gizeux: Where Fake Walls Hid Renaissance Art
Sometimes the most incredible stories hide in plain sight. During our private tour of Château de Gizeux in France’s Loire Valley, we discovered how clever villagers built false walls to protect Renaissance masterpieces during the French Revolution. What we learned reveals not just an amazing survival story, but why this particular château holds secrets that […]
France’s Château Economy Boom: Fueled by Foreign Creators
How digital storytelling and global interest are driving the château boom and revitalizing France’s historic countryside. Picture this: a crumbling French château sits behind rusted gates, its windows boarded up, gardens choked with weeds. The family that inherited it can’t afford the €200,000 annual maintenance costs. It’s destined for demolition… until a YouTube video changes […]
How to Live the Castlecore Lifestyle
Stone towers wrapped in morning mist. Ivy curling across weathered stone. Candlelight glinting against vaulted ceilings. For many, castlecore begins with the aesthetic—and rightfully so. It’s enchanting, evocative, and visually transportive. But there’s more to castlecore than what meets the eye. While the aesthetic draws people in, what keeps them there is something deeper. A […]
Chateau de Belebat
Home About Château de Belebat Château de Belebat is a Renaissance gem tucked away in the picturesque Loire Valley of France, in the commune of Assay. Dating back to the 1500s, it originally served as a hunting lodge for the wealthy Scolin brothers from nearby Loudun. The name “Belebat,” fashionable for recreational estates at that […]
Chateau de Cheverny
Home About Chateau de Cheverny Château de Cheverny is an elegant, symmetrical white limestone castle situated in the Loire Valley of France. Built between 1604 and 1634, it was designed by architect Jacques Bougier for the Count of Cheverny, Henri Hurault. Unlike many other Loire Valley châteaux, Cheverny has remained in the same family for […]
Chateau de Villandry
Home About Chateau de Villandry Château de Villandry is the last of the great Renaissance châteaux built on the banks of the Loire River. While its architecture is impressive, Villandry is world-renowned for its extraordinary gardens, considered among the most spectacular in France and the finest example of Renaissance garden design in the world. The […]
Chateau d’Amboise
Home About Château d’Amboise Château d’Amboise is a historic royal residence perched on a promontory overlooking the Loire River, commanding spectacular views of the valley below. This strategically positioned fortress dates back to Roman times, but it gained prominence during the late 15th century when it became a favorite residence of French kings, particularly Charles […]
Chateau de Chenonceau
Home About Chateau de Chenonceau Château de Chenonceau is an extraordinary Renaissance château spanning the River Cher in the Loire Valley of France. Known as “The Ladies’ Château” due to the distinguished women who owned and influenced its design throughout history, Chenonceau is one of the most visited and photographed châteaux in France. The original […]
Chateau de Chambord
Home About Chateau de Chambord Château de Chambord is the largest and most magnificent château in France’s Loire Valley. Built between 1519 and 1547, it was commissioned by King François I as a hunting lodge, though he spent only a few weeks there in total. This spectacular Renaissance masterpiece showcases a remarkable blend of traditional […]
Château de Champchevrier: The Downton Abbey of France’s Loire Valley
At the end of a forest road few tourists find by accident, a long allée of plane trees parts to reveal a Renaissance façade that doesn’t shout for attention, but commands it anyway. Here in the quiet heart of the Loire Valley, the Château de Champchevrier sits enveloped by woodland, surrounded by working kennels, and […]
Chateau d’Usse
Home About Chateau d’Usse Château d’Ussé is a magnificent castle located in the Indre-et-Loire département in France’s Loire Valley. The stronghold was originally fortified in the eleventh century by Norman seigneur Gueldin de Saumur, who surrounded the fort with a palisade on a high terrace. Positioned between the towns of Tours and Saumur in Rigny-Ussé, […]