Nestled in the western part of the Loire Valley, Saumur is surrounded by numerous castles.
Whether you're a fan of medieval architecture, royal history or simply in search of beauty and wonder, you're sure to find what you're looking for.
In this article, we share our selection of the best châteaux around Saumur to help you plan your stay.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
The best castles around Saumur: selection
The Loire Valley is packed with châteaux. The list can be very long.
Saumur is one of the best destinations for visiting the Loire castles.
We have:
- selected our favorites and best-known
- listed in order of distance from town
- limited to less than 1 hour's drive from the city
If you don't have much time, we recommend:
- Château de Villandry - Book your ticket
- Château du Riveau
- Château de Brissac
Near Blois, you'll find many of the finest châteaux in the Loire Valley.
WHERE TO STAY IN Saumur
Downtown
Enjoy the city, its restaurants and beautiful architecture.
- Hotel Saint Pierre - a historic stay! - see prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Château La Marquise - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Anne d'Anjou - prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Looking for a bit of peace and quiet, without straying too far from the city of Angers? Here's our suggestion:
- Hotel Demeure de la Vignole - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Joly Foudres - unusual in barrels - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel de l'abbaye de Fontevraud - prices, pictures and availability
1. Château de Saumur (in the town)
The castle of Saumur majestically overlooks the city and the river. From the top of the belvedere, the view is just incredible, certainly one of the finest of the Loire. Thetormented history of the castle is an indispensable testimony of the life in Anjou during nearly a millennium.
- Near the town of: Saumur
- Style: mosaics from the 10th to 16th centuries
- Interesting for: exterior and interior architecture, views and decorative arts museum.
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Accommodation available: No
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
2. Château de Montsoreau (15 to the east)
Château de Montsoreau is an early French Renaissance château, at the foot of which flows the Loire River. Now dedicated tocontemporary art, it offers a setting in which the works can fully breathe and give their full potential. The view from the terrace of the guard road almost justifies the visit.
- Nearest city: Saumur
- Style: between gothic and renaissance
- Interesting for: exterior architecture, museum, view
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article (coming soon).
3. Château de Brézé (15 to the south)
In the castle of Brezé, it's what you can't see that is the most interesting! Not that the Italian Renaissance building, erected in the16th century, is unattractive, but the troglodytic network that runs 4 km through the moat and beneath the château is simply incredible.
- Nearest city: Saumur
- Style: Italian Renaissance
- Interesting for: cave network
- Open all year round, closed in January
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article (coming soon).
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
4. Château de Montreuil-Bellay (20 to the south)
The castle of Montreuil-Bellay has the reputation of being one of the"impregnable fortresses" of the Loire. It is certain that this castle whose construction began in the Middle Ages has a defensive system consisting of no less than 15 towers! We recommend a visit from the moat.
- Nearest city: Saumur
- Style: Medieval and Gothic
- Of interest for: exterior and interior architecture and kitchens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
5. Château d'Ussé (35 min east)
The castle of Ussé is one of the most enchanting in the Loire Valley and is suitable for children. We liked its architecture that fits so well with the landscape facing the Indre River, and its tiered gardens designed by Le Nôtre. The visit of the interiors, ends with a collection of wax dolls, which plunges us into the famous tales of Charles Perraut who was inspired by Ussé to write "Sleeping Beauty".
- A favorite of Manu's
- Near the city of: Tours
- Style: Renaissance
- Interesting for: exterior architecture, wax doll re-enactments and gardens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: particularly suitable for children
- Accommodation available: No
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information, good addresses to make your stay in the Loire Valley a success, will soon be gathered in a single ebook!
If you wish to be informed of the publication of our guide on the Loire, register:
6. Chinon fortress (35 min east)
On the borders of Anjou, Tourraine and Poitou, a beautiful medieval fortress made up of 3 separate but adjoining castles. Situated on a rocky spur, the fortress stretches for 300 meters and overlooks the Vienne River, which flows through the valley, and the town of Chinon.
- Nearest city: Saumur
- Style: 10th to 13th century
- Interesting for: exterior architecture
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article (coming soon).
7. Château de Brissac-Quincé (40 min west)
The"giant of the Loire Valley" with its 7 floors and its 48 meters height which makes it one of the highest castles in Europe. As you will see, the monumental facades hold a few surprises. The English-style park irrigated by two streams is wildly poetic and offers beautiful views of the castle.
- Nearest city: Angers
- Style: 17th century
- Interesting for: exterior architecture, art nouveau theater and park
- Opening period : all year round (only on weekends during the winter months)
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
8. Château du Rivau (40 min east)
The castle of Rivau is a magical castle that tells us about the life of these agricultural regions in the Middle Ages. We loved it! The owners take us back and forth between renaissance and contemporary art, but also between nature and architecture. This is the other (very) strong point of the castle, its 15 remarkable gardens with a resolutely dreamlike universe.
- Claire and Emmanuel's favourites
- Nearest city: Tours
- Style : XVIIth
- Interesting for: architecture, interior and park
- Period of opening to the visit: from April 1st to November 13th
- Child-friendly: activities designed to interest children
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- read our complete article (photos and advices) on thevisit of the castle of Rivau.
- read our complete article (photos and reviews) on the hotel du Château du Rivau
9. Château du Langeais (40 min east)
Facing outwards, Château de Langeais is a typically defensive medieval castle. On the other side (facing the gardens), it is a typical renaissance royal dwelling. You will enjoy beautiful views of the (very) photogenic castle from the park and you can watch areenactment of the wedding of Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII inside. Royal, right?
- Nearest city: Tours
- Style: medieval and renaissance
- Interesting for: exterior architecture, re-enactment of the royal wedding in Wax dolls
- Open to visitors all year round
- Suitable for children: particularly suitable for children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
10. Château de Villandry (45 min east)
Villandry impressed us for its breathtaking gardens and their permanent dialogue with the rooms of the castle. The gardens were redesigned in the 20th century according to the rules of the Renaissance and adopt a tiered structure that corresponds to that of the castle. Just gorgeous!
- Near the city of: Tours
- Style: Renaissance
- Of interest for: interior architecture and gardens
- Open to visitors: December and February to mid-November
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
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11. Château d'Azay-le-rideau (45 min east)
The castle of Azay-le-Rideau is for us one of the most poetic of the Loire Valley. Its typically renaissance architecture is magnified by its romantic park and the quietness that emanates from the place.
- Near the city of: Tours
- Style : Renaissance
- Of interest for: outdoor architecture and gardens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Accommodation available: No
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
12. Château du Lude (45 min north)
The castle of Le Lude is distinguished by its geographical position on the border of Anjou and Maine, which exposed it to the ravages of the Hundred Years War. Rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 15th and 16th centuries, and extensively remodeled in the 19th, it offers a rather massive architecture that contrasts with theelegance of the gardens. The park is bordered by the river Loir which gives it a very special atmosphere.
- Nearest city: Tours
- Style: 15th and 19th century
- Of interest for: architecture and gardens
- Open to visitors from April1 to October 31 and during school vacations.
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article (coming soon).
13. Château d'Angers (50 min north)
It is from this imposing fortress castle that the powerful dukes of Anjou ruled for more than 4 centuries. These 17 towers and its thick ramparts made of schist and limestone, protect today an artistic treasure, the tapestry of the apocalypse of Saint John, woven in the 14th century and 140 meters long.
- Nearest city: Angers
- Style: mainly 13th century
- Of interest for: exterior architecture, upholstery
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
14. Château de Serrant (1h west)
At the gates of Angers, a surprising castle of great interest, which is distinguished by its constancy. Although it was built over nearly two centuries, it is authentically Renaissance, its plans having not evolved with the architects. But it is most notable for its furniture and its incredible library, the result of several centuries of acquisitions by the various owners.
- Nearest city: Angers
- Style: Renaissance
- Interesting for: furniture
- Open to visitors from April1 to October 31 and during school vacations.
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
15. Château de Plessis-Macé (1h west)
About ten kilometers from Angers, this medieval castle of the XIIIth century was embellished in the XVth century to make it a seigneurial dwelling. It is in this grandiose natural setting that many plays of the renowned Anjou Festival have been performed over the past 70 years. The château du Plessis is now run by theater enthusiasts who offer theatrical activities for young and old alike.
- Nearest city: Angers
- Style: 13thand 15th centuries
- Interesting for: exterior architecture, animations
- Open all year round - Wednesdays and weekends only in low season
- Suitable for children: particularly suitable for children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
Chenonceau Castle is 1h10 away
For us, the most beautiful castle of the Loire Valley. The Château de Chenonceaux majestically spans the Cher, its magnificent Renaissance architecture reflected in the river. The gardens and interior are also exceptional and we came away intoxicated by so much beauty.
- Close to the town of Amboise
- Style: Renaissance
- Of interest for: exterior and interior architecture, furniture and gardens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
DISCOVER Saumur
- Best things to do in Saumur
- Where to sleep in Saumur: best hotels
- Where to eat in Saumur: best restaurants
- Visit the Château de Saumur
- Visit Fontevraud Abbey
- The most beautiful castles around Saumur
- Saumur's troglodytes
- itineraries: weekend
Other castles near Saumur
- Château du Plessis-Bourré (1h west)
- Château de l'Islette (45min east)
- Domaine de Candé (1h to the east)
- Montbazon fortress, for families (1h to the east)
- Château de Champchevrier (50min east)
- ...
- or see our list of Loire castles
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
