It is an essential stop on the Loire castle circuit: the Chaumont-sur-Loire estate (Loir-et-Cher) and its magnificent gardens.
The park, unique in its kind, offers visitors a dazzling natural spectacle.
Since 1992, it has hosted the International Garden Festival.
Here's everything you need to know to fully enjoy your visit.
An English-style park to enhance the castle
If the construction of the castle dates back to the 15th century, the park was developed much later.
Formerly, the space was occupied by a village of 113 houses.
But, in 1880, Prince Henri-Amédée de Broglie wanted to create a pleasure park.
He called on
the landscape architect Henri Duchêne,
who organized major transformation work from 1884 to 1888. The old village was destroyed and rebuilt on the banks of the Loire.
A magnificent English-style park has thus come to enhance the castle.
“The composition of Duchêne exploits the assets offered by the site.
Through clever perspectives, it integrates the Loire and the vast agricultural and wooded lands which constitute the Broglie estate,” we can read on the estate’s website.
Meticulous plant selection work was carried out to guarantee the demarcation of the lines and groves in winter, as well as the harmony of the colors of the garden in autumn.
“As for the dark foliage of the cedars planted around the Château, it produces a happy contrast with the light stone,” notes the place.
Also read: These extraordinary gardens, jewels of topiary art in France, will impress you
A picturesque bridge
Among the notable developments of the Chaumont-sur-Loire estate, we first find the picturesque, or “rustic” bridge.
It consists of
two footbridges of different levels
connected by a spiral staircase placed in a false tree trunk in reinforced cement.
This is a fairly modern work for its time.
The water tower, surrounded by a grove of trees and shrubs, and the dog cemetery are also among the curiosities to discover.
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The area comes alive every year, from the end of April to November, for the International Garden Festival.
It is a true “laboratory of contemporary creation in the field of gardens and landscape design in the world”, according to the website of the Most Beautiful Gardens of France.
We can see many surprising works there every year.
The Chaumont-sur-Loire estate is open all year round at times and prices that vary according to the seasons.
At the moment, the full price ticket is €15 (€4 for 6-11 year olds and free for under 6 year olds).