The Castle
The château du Lude, an example of French architecture from the Middle Ages up to the XIXth century.
The origins of the Château du Lude date back to the 10th century.
This fortress, flanked by six towers, surrounded by a deep dry moat and vaulted underground passages, played a strategic role in the Middle Ages, particularly during the Hundred Years war.
In 1457, the fortress is converted into a comfortable and elegant residence. The lavishly sculptured facade is one of the purest examples of Italian Renaissance in France.
At the end of the 18th century, a new classical wing which faces the river is added, using the local white « tuffeau » stone.
The Northern facade is restored in the XIXth century, in gothic style.
The rooms: Four centuries of French decoration
Inside the house the elegant apartments are a fine example of the different styles throughout the centuries, such as the Renaissance library and studiolo, painted by the school of Rafael, or the classical drawing rooms and the medieval kitchen, still in use today on special occasions.
From the rooms to the outbuildings – dungeon, stables, tack room, farm and barn – the house and estate is a living example of French style and architecture throughout the ages.
