Chateau
Chaumont was built on the site of a former fortress that had dominated
the Loireriver offering resistance to the many attacks
on the Royal town of Blois
using this route. Its location overlooking the town of Chaumont
and the
Loire river made
it an ideal place to build a chateau for more peaceful times.
In Chaumont-sur-Loire it is fairly easy to park (free) down by the river and then
make your way through the town before making the long climb uphill,
which can be a pleasure if your fit, or turn uphill by the entrance in
the direction of Montrichard, then take the first right, through the
crossroads towards the school and you'll find plenty of parking spaces.
Stroll through the park towards the chateau and onto its drawbridge
before entering the inner courtyard.
The chateau has only
three sides as the side facing the river was removed in the 16th century
apparently to improve the view and what an impressive view it is!
International
Garden Festival
The
gardens of chateau Chaumont-sur-Loire play host to the annual ‘Festival des
Jardins’ (mid June to mid October) a garden festival with over 30
themed gardens. These gardens are created by different landscape
architects, designers and artists around a theme, which changes every
year. This brings the chateau surroundings to life with the colour and
fragrances of the many plants and flowers on display.
