Top 10 Castles around Mauves-Sur-Loire

The region offers several impressive castles. Among the most popular are Oudon Keep, a significant fourteenth-century architectural feature, and Oudon Castle, a medieval structure notable on the Loire à Vélo route. You can also explore La Gascherie Castle, considered one of the most beautiful in the Erdre valley, and La Desnerie Castle, an 18th-century building with French gardens.

Yes, the Château de la Droitière in Mauves-Sur-Loire has a strong connection to the acclaimed French writer Jules Verne. He frequently stayed there with his brother-in-law, Victor Fleury, who owned the estate. Verne was instrumental in expanding the château's remarkable 11-hectare park, which features rare trees, including the 'Jules Verne Atlas blue cedar'.

Several castles in the area are considered family-friendly. Oudon Castle and Oudon Keep are both listed as family-friendly. The historical context and open spaces around these sites can be engaging for visitors of all ages.

Yes, the Château de Bel-Air in Mauves-Sur-Loire operates as a bed and breakfast. It offers comfortable rooms with private bathrooms and amenities, providing an opportunity to stay in a historic setting with panoramic views of the Loire River.

The region around Mauves-Sur-Loire is excellent for outdoor activities, especially cycling. You can find numerous routes for touring bicycles, mountain biking, and gravel biking. For example, there are easy cycling loops like the 'Port of La Pierre-Percée – Mauves-sur-Loire Bridge loop' and more challenging MTB trails such as the 'Oudon Keep – Singletrack in the forest loop'. You can explore more options in the Cycling around Mauves-Sur-Loire, MTB Trails around Mauves-Sur-Loire, and Gravel biking around Mauves-Sur-Loire guides.

The Château de la Droitière is surrounded by an 11-hectare walled park, which is a significant historical and botanical heritage site. It features classic 17th and 18th-century French-style gardens near the château, as well as picturesque 19th-century Anglo-Chinese park elements. The Château de Bel-Air also boasts a wooded park with panoramic views of the Loire River.

Clermont Castle is best known in the region for having been the property of the very famous French actor Louis de Funès. This magnificent 16th-century building is listed as a historical monument.

The Château de La Desnerie offers guided tours, allowing visitors to explore its magnificent 18th-century building and French gardens. While the Château de la Droitière is undergoing restoration, visitors can learn about its history and past inhabitants.

Yes, the Château de Bel-Air is enveloped by a wooded park that offers superb panoramic views of the Loire River. Additionally, if you visit Clermont Castle, you can get a view of the Loire by following the path to the right at the foot of the castle.

La Gascherie Castle is a large castle situated on the edge of the Erdre river. It was originally the stately home of La Chapelle-sur-Erdre at the end of the 13th century, later becoming a Protestant stronghold. Restored in the 19th century, it is considered one of the most beautiful castles in the Erdre valley.

The Château de la Droitière boasts a rich history spanning 500 years, with its current structure largely built in the mid-17th century and later embellished in 1788 in the Neo-classical 'Louis XVI' style. Beyond its architectural evolution, it's notable for its strong association with Jules Verne and its historical park. The château has been undergoing significant restoration work since 2018, preserving its heritage.

While specific picnic areas aren't always designated, the extensive park of the Château de la Droitière and the wooded setting of Château de Bel-Air offer pleasant natural surroundings that could be suitable for a picnic. The areas around Oudon Keep, with its canal and surroundings, also provide scenic spots.