Top 11 Castles around Pithiviers

A huge magnifying glass on a plane tree

Through this alley, over the stone wall, you can enjoy a pleasant view of the ruins of the Château des Deux Tours and the garden of the Théâtre des minuits. The ruins correspond to the last vestiges of one of the two medieval castles built here by the powerful abbey of La Ferrières en Gâtinais. Work is undertaken every summer to restore and enhance the site. This historic site has been invested by the Théâtre des Minuits, to make it a place of cultural life, creation and representation. The land extending behind the ruins has been developed into a free garden, far from the conventions of the French garden. It houses in particular a rose garden comprising more than 200 rose bushes.

Nestled on the edge of the Orléans forest, the Château de Chamerolles is a magnificent Renaissance castle which retains its medieval heritage. It was built between 1500 and 1530 on the site of an old medieval fortress by Lancelot du Lac, chamberlain of King Louis XII and Governor of Orléans. He wanted to make the old medieval building into a real pleasure castle responding to the architectural fashion of the time. With its polychrome brick decor and its open gallery, the Château de Chamerolles is inspired by the Louis XII wing of the royal Château de Blois. It retains its moat and its layout of corner towers from the medieval period. During the wars of religion, Lancelot's grandson, Lancelot II, transformed the castle of Chamerolles into a center of Protestantism. From this period remains the chapel whose painted tables of laws are the oldest in France. Chamerolles remained in the du Lac family until the end of the 17th century. In 1672, the castle belonged to Jacques Saumery, brother-in-law of Colbert. A century later, the castle passed into the hands of the Lambert family and in 1924, into those of Gaston Jessé-Curély. Occupied, ransacked, stripped during the Second World War, the Château de Chamerolles was put up for sale in 1970. In 1976, the city of Paris found itself in charge of Chamerolles. Abandoned, the Château de Chamerolles fell into ruins. In 1987, it became the property of the Loiret Departmental Council which then undertook an ambitious restoration program. The five years of work allow us to discover a transitional architecture, between the medieval heritage and the innovations of the Renaissance. Today, the Château de Chamerolles is dedicated to the history of perfumery and offers a historical and heritage showcase to the Cosmetic Valley, located in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Chamerolles offers a visual and olfactory journey, in pieces reconstructed from the 16th century to the 18th century, allowing you to discover the history of toiletry and perfume. The castle is surrounded by a large park and a charming Renaissance garden, created by Lancelot II du Lac, after a trip to Italy. A garden where it is beautiful to stroll in the summer.

Very beautiful village which is definitely worth the detour. You can notably discover its castle, built in the 13th century under Philippe Auguste. Don't hesitate to dismount and take a walk in the pedestrian part of the village.

These remains, all in all impressive with their red brick and stone curtain walls as well as their ten towers, transport you back to 1544, the date when Hallier Castle was built by Charles de l'Hospital. It is seen as a very good example of transition between the fortified castle and the pleasure residence. Henri IV found Henriette d'Entragues there, his mistress to whom he had made a promise of marriage without ever keeping it. Always linked to the loves of kings, Nibelle, where this castle is located, would take its name from Charles IX, who offered Le Hallier to his mistress saying "Here is your nest, Belle..."

The Château de Courcelles-le-Roi is discreet behind its high walls and hedges, and yet it has left its mark on the history of France, welcoming within its walls some of the most illustrious kings. A former fortified castle whose construction dates back to the 11th century, it was destroyed and rebuilt three times, including twice during the Hundred Years' War. Located on the lands of the Orléans forest where the kings came to hunt, Saint-Louis and Charles VIII stayed there. Anne of Brittany, Queen of France and wife of Charles VIII, gave birth there to a baby, François, who unfortunately only lived a few hours. Guided tours are organized there.

The Manoir de la Taille, also known as the Château de Bondaroy, is a fortified manor house which dates from the 14th century and was the birthplace of two Renaissance poets, Jean and Jacques de La Taille. You can admire the impressive facade, towers and gatehouse, as well as the surrounding countryside. You can also explore the neighboring town of Pithiviers, which has a rich heritage and a famous pastry, the pithivier.

Château d'Augerville is a historic castle located in the commune of Augerville-la-Rivière, in Loiret, France. It dates back to the 12th century, when it was a hamlet and fort for the d'Augerville family. It changed hands several times during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and hosted important figures such as Catherine de Medici and King Charles IX. In the 17th century, it was sold to the taxes and renovated into a country house by Jean Perrault de Montevrault. It remained a private residence until the 21st century, when it was transformed into a 5-star hotel with a golf course, spa and chocolate factory. It is a historic monument, a national heritage site of France.