Where did the Châteaux of the Loire Valley come from?
The Loire Valley is one of the most often visited places in France. One of the reasons for this is the number of the castles, or châteaux in French in the area. Why are the most beautiful residences of the French aristocracy located right there?
I paid a visit to the Loire Valley some time ago while travelling on business in the area, when I was taking over a property for sale through my company Crystal House. I went there to see a property that is listed in my company and that I will tell you more about later on in this post. At first, however, I would like to answer the question why there are so many castles in the Loire Valley and why this part of France is home to the most beautiful, the most spectacular and charming homes of the French aristocracy.
The Loire Valley is often dubbed the Garden of Franceor thecradle of the French language. Beautiful landscape combined with incredible specimens of Renaissance and Enlightenment era European architectural art. There are nearly 300 Medieval and Renaissance castle and Enlightenment palaces in the vicinities of the Loire Valley.
The perfect location
The Loire Valley is situated in the central part of France, somewhere between Paris and Nantes. This is the route of the Loire, the longest river in France with a length of over 1,000 km. The areas were inhabited back in the times of Gallia in view of the proximity to fresh water and the fecundity of the soil. During the Renaissance era, the land formation and picturesque landscapes were much appreciated by the locals and visitors. Since 2000, the central part of the Loire Valley has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where did the Châteaux of the Loire Valley come from?
The oldest castles in the are date back to the Middle Ages and, as most such type of structures erected in medieval times, they were fortresses. This made perfect sense until France was involved in wars. Over time as peace came to the country and the 15th- and 16th-century strongholds were converted into homes for the French aristocracy modelled on Italian buildings, where elegance and culture were the symbols of status and power. Italian architects were often tasked with the conversion and renovations. The pompous, sophisticated castles and palaces for the king, his family and the aristocracy are all their doing.
The wind of change
For some time the Loire Valley was the headquarters of the royalty but in the 17th century, king Louis XIV built the palace in Versailles and returned to Paris. Sadly, the French Revolution broke out in late 18th century and many of the castle owners were beheaded on the guillotine and the buildings themselves were robbed and destroyed. Today, some of the castles are still owned by the aristocracy and are their homes while others house hotels, B&Bs and museums.
Chateau de Bois Renault
You will most likely agree that the Loire Valley with its castles and palaces is a truly breath-taking and interesting region. This is why I was happy to be able to list Château de Bois Renault in my company. You can read more about this royal residence here. Before you do, see the video and the pictures.
