Château de Langeais, an authentic medieval fortress
King Louis XI commissioned the construction of the Château de Langeais in the 1460s.
This spectacular medieval fortress boasts remarkable architectural unity, a rare feat achieved through continuous construction, and is considered a prime example of medieval military architecture.
Located in the heart of the town, its tall silhouette and imposing crenellated towers rise above the blue-grey slate roofs of the houses, seemingly watching over them.
Amazingly, the drawbridge is not only still operational but also the only access point to the castle, and it is raised every evening after the tours have ended!
A fortress with an early Renaissance facade
But the Château de Langeais possesses an intriguing duality. Although its exterior facade facing the town is undeniably medieval, you’ll be surprised to discover a completely different architectural ensemble upon entering its grounds.
Indeed, the mullioned windows and turrets, added at the beginning of the French Renaissance, lend a softer aesthetic to the castle’s west facade, which overlooks the impeccably maintained formal gardens.
The castle has many interesting rooms, but the Salle du Mariage (Wedding Hall) is one of the most popular, as it hosted the marriage of Charles VIII and the young Anne of Brittany in 1491. Their union marked the culmination of an important chapter in French history, thus ending the long rivalry between the Dukes of Brittany and the Kings of France.
In 1886, Jacques Siegfried, a banker and passionate art collector from eastern France, acquired the Château de Langeais. For twenty years, he devoted himself to its meticulous restoration, carefully furnishing it with original 15th-century furniture. Thanks to his efforts, Langeais now boasts an exceptional collection of French and Flemish paintings and tapestries from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Château de Langeais – Keep of Fulk Nerra
Louis XI had the Château de Langeais built slightly back from a promontory where, in the 10th century, the Duke of Anjou, Fulk Nerra, had erected an earlier, supposedly impregnable fortress.
Perched high, this first fortress allowed him to control the Loire River crossing and the road to Nantes. Today, only the keep remains; it is the oldest stone keep still standing in France!
According to his last wishes, Jacques Siegfried was buried at the foot of the promontory and the keep. You will find his discreet tomb at the edge of the formal gardens – Jardins à la Française.
Department of Indre-et-Loire
Coordinates: Lat 47.324847 – Long 0.406217
