Visiting Saumur? Don't miss a visit to the Château de Montsoreau!
Not content with being located in one of France's most beautiful villages, Château de Montsoreau boasts admirable Renaissance architecture and, above all, astonishing contemporary art collections!
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Château in the charming village of Montsoreau.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to the Château de Montsoreau worthwhile?
Absolutely! In addition to the magnificent views of the village of Montsoreau and the Loire River, you can discover contemporary art collections in a historic 15th-century setting. For us, this amazing château is even on our list of the best châteaux around Saumur!
What you can see
The structure of the fortress from the banks of the Loire River
Take a look at the château from the quays of the Loire to appreciate its distinctive architecture. Built between 1443 and 1453 directly in the riverbed on stilt foundations, it has an unusual silhouette that you won't find anywhere else! Walk along the riverbank to discover the different perspectives offered by this original layout and understand the technical challenges that such a construction represented at the time.
The Renaissance dwelling and its inner courtyard
Once inside the building, you'll need to take a look at the main dwelling, typical of 15th-century architecture. The facade is composed of several levels with evenly-spaced cross-mullioned windows framed by sculpted pilasters.
The cylindrical tower topped by a conical slate roof adds an elegant verticality to the whole. Machicolations and ornate dormer windows testify to the transition from medieval defensive architecture to Renaissance living. The inner courtyard offers an interesting perspective on these different architectural elements...
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.
Contemporary art exhibitions
Since 2016, the château has housed a Museum of Contemporary Art, exhibiting works from Philippe Méaille's personal collection. The first floor houses the permanent collection, which focuses on conceptual art, while the upper floors host temporary exhibitions. To find out what's currently on, visit the château's official website here.
Panoramic view of the village of Montsoreau and the Loire River
This is undoubtedly the Château's greatest asset! From the terraces, you'll enjoy a panoramic view of the slate roofs of the village of Montsoreau.
And on the other side, the Loire, peaceful and luminous, unwinds its silver ribbon, welcoming the changing reflections of the sky in the gentle movement of its eddies.
A landscape that almost invites meditation!
The castle silhouette from the village streets
Finally, we recommend you round off your visit by strolling through the cobbled streets of the village of Montsoreau. Labelled "Plus Village de France", it offers a number of different viewpoints from which you can appreciate how the château fits into the historic urban fabric.
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
Château de Montsoreau-Musée d'art contemporain: how to get there
Where to find Château de Montsoreau
- In the village of Montsoreau (Maine-et-Loire)
- Passage du Marquis de Geoffre, at the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers
- 20min drive from Saumur
Access by car and parking
The village of Montsoreau can be reached via the D947, which runs alongside the Loire. From Saumur, follow signs for Chinon/Montsoreau.
There's a free parking lot at Quai Alexandre Dumas, on the banks of the Loire, at the foot of the château (15 spaces), or the Arceau parking lot, a 5-minute walk away, also free but with more spaces.
Public transport access
From Saumur SNCF train station, you can reach Montsoreau by bus (line 1 of the Anjoubus network) in around 25 minutes. The "Montsoreau Bourg" bus stop is a 3-minute walk from the château. Consult the timetable on the official website here.
And if you're coming by bike, there are many cycle routes along the Loire that lead to Montsoreau. The château has secure bicycle racks.
Visiting difficulties
The castle is not difficult to visit, with well-maintained stone staircases. The historic spiral staircase needs a little attention.
Please note that only the first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible.
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Visit the Château de Montsoreau: useful tips
Schedules and prices
The Château de Montsoreau is open daily from 12 am to 6 pm (winter) and 10 am to 7 pm (summer). Prices are as follows:
- Full price: €12
- Children (under 18): €8
See the latest news on the official website here.
How long
Depending on your interest in contemporary art, we recommend you allow 1 to 2 hours to visit the entire château and appreciate the collections. You'll also have time to enjoy the views over the Loire.
Best moment
As with all museums, it gets busier in the afternoons, but thanks to its location a little off the beaten tourist track, it's reasonably busy.
Direction of visit
There's no set way to visit it, but we recommend that you first appreciate the castle's architecture before discovering the art exhibitions it contains.
Visiting with children
The Château offers tours for school groups and educational workshops.
Find out more on the official website here.
Eating out
We spotted a few tables available in one of the château's areas for a picnic. Otherwise, it would seem that Restaurant Le Montsorelli has a magnificent terrace where you can enjoy a longer view of the castle.
Hotels
The town of Saumur is only 20 minutes from the village of Montsoreau, and offers a very pleasant range of hotels, which we were delighted to try out.
Read our recommendations in our dedicated article.
DON'T MISS THE BEST CASTLES IN the Loire Valley
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- Where to stay in the Loire castles: unforgettable hotels!
- The best Loire castles to visit with your family
- Castles you can visit with a dog
- Chambord or Chenonceau: our comparison
- itineraries: weekend - 3 days - 4 days - 5 days - 1 week
- Castles around Blois, around Amboise, around Saumur, around Tours, around Angers and around Nantes.
- or our list of over 100 Loire castles
