Garden Festival
April to November.
Einaz80 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Einaz80 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giladtop — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stefan Oemisch (Germany/Allemagne) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pymouss — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Selbymay — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jean-Marie Hullot — CC BY 3.0
The Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire stands on a wooded hill above the south bank of the Loire in Chaumont-sur-Loire, in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France, between Blois and Amboise, about 17 km in a straight line south-west of Blois. The first castle here was built in the 10th century by Odo I, Count of Blois. After Pierre d'Amboise rebelled against Louis XI, the king had it dismantled in 1465, and the Amboise family rebuilt it between 1465 and 1510. Catherine de' Medici bought it in 1550, and after the death of Henry II she made Diane de Poitiers take Chaumont in exchange for Chenonceau. The state has owned it since 1938. With its round towers, pointed roofs and drawbridge the château looks like a fortress, while its courtyard opens on one side to a terrace above the Loire. The estate also has 19th-century stables, a landscaped park and galleries of contemporary art. Since 1992 the estate has hosted the International Garden Festival every year, roughly from April to early November, when designers from many countries create show gardens on a single theme. Allow at least half a day for the château, the park and the gardens.
April to November.
River views.
From the 19th century.
Chaumont-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, France
Roughly April to early November.
At least half a day.