Château de Valençay

Château de Valençay is exceptional for its location overlooking the Nahon valley. Featuring Renaissance and Classical architecture, it is one of the great sites of the Loire Valley, like its close neighbors Chenonceau and Cheverny. To visit Château de Valençay is to visit the estate of a diplomat! Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Prince de Bénévent, was both Napoleon's minister and one of France's greatest diplomats, who reigned over his lands in Valençay. A wealthy collector, world traveler and lover of the arts, his Château de Valençay is a testament to a man of taste. of a man of taste. Fully furnished and adorned with a thousand precious objects, it bears the hallmarks of the refinement of a home still lived in. In the park, covering more than 50 hectares, you can stroll through the French garden, the Duchess's garden, the Grande Perspective and the Forêt des Princes, to your heart's content. And for the kids, there's the Napoleon maze, France's largest game maze, the scent game in the Jardin d'Antonin and the mini-farm. At the château, game books are available for visitors, as well as free audioguides specifically for younger visitors. Don't miss the jewel in the crown, the Théâtre Ier Empire, with its magnificent period sets and backdrops. It is open to guided tours and concerts. The Salle des Trésors d'apparat: opened in 2018, this room houses Prince de Talleyrand's most precious and intimate objects, including ceremonial swords, diplomatic decorations and high dignitary costumes.