Besides the Grand Chateaux in the Loire Valley. Is there a good example of an original medieval defensive castle my wife and I could visit? We will be in the Loire Valley the 27th and 28th of April, 2024.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
I forgot to add that we will be based in Amboise, if that helps. Thank you.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1327 posts
watkins820,
You might check oit Sully-sur-Loire. It bills itself as the true defensive castle. Haven't been there, but if you ever get to the Dordogne, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle is the best!
Posted by
Loire Valley
824 posts
Loches, Montbazon, Langeais, Chinon, Montreuil-Bellay and Brezé are médiéval and not prettified in the Renaissance. Saumur, Montrichard, and Montsoreau are medieval but knocked about a bit. Fougères sur Bièvre is late medieval, unaltered, but never used defensively. Chaumont sur Loire and Amboise are medieval bones but a lot of later (16th and 19thC alterations). Montrésor and Montpoupon are Medieval with 19th century lodgements.
And that's off the top of my head. There's only a few chateau that dont have visible medieval bones, and that's Away le Rideau , l'Ilette, Chenonceau, Chambord and Cheverny.
The name to look for is Fulke Nerra (spelled in many different ways). In the UK he would once have been classed as 'dark ages', but here he is medieval.
This will give you an idea of his works
https://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/2011/03/chateaux-dozens-of-em.html?