Château de Châteaudun

The castle is already impressive, with the size, the location and the incredible "wall". It is the residence of a faithful companion to Joan of Arc. John of Dunois, known as "Bastard of Orleans" and half-brother of King Charles VI, transformed the old Feudalburg into a bright, comfortable apartment and added the Holy Chapel. His grandson, Francis II of Orleans-Longueville, extended the castle with a Renaissance-style wing, which heralded the great castles of the Loire Valley. The work began around 1450, but were completed in 1530.

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At the gates of the Loir valley coming from Paris, between Chartres and Blois, the Château de Châteaudun raises its proud and massive silhouette to the eyes of the visitor who approaches it from the north. Property of Jean, bastard of Orléans, Count of Dunois and companion of Joan of Arc, it was a solid fortress before becoming a pleasant princely residence.Overlooking the Loir by more than 60 meters, Châteaudun Castle offers a succession of elements of medieval, Gothic and Renaissance architecture of exceptional authenticity. Clinging to its rocky promontory, the 12th century “big tower” is one of the tallest and best preserved dungeons in France.In the 15th century, Jean Dunois undertook work and transformed the castle, demolishing part of the fortifications. He made the old medieval castle a comfortable and bright residence and endowed it with a Sainte-Chapelle. In the following century, his descendants, the lords of Longueville, completed the construction of the chapel and enlarged the castle with the Longueville wing. The Dunois wing and the Longueville wing have two sumptuous staircases with loggias, one with flamboyant decor and the other from the Renaissance period. Château de Châteaudun also houses a remarkable collection of Flemish and French tapestries from the 16th and 17th centuries.The visit is completed by a medieval-inspired garden exploring the relationships between cuisine and medicine in the Middle Ages, while a hanging garden reveals a garden of idleness and relaxation, unique in the Central Region.