Château du Rivau | Touraine Val de Loire

Where is Château du Rivau? A hidden treasure in Touraine

In the heart of Lémeré, between Chinon and Richelieu: the story of a fortress turned fairytale

From medieval origins to the Renaissance

By the 13th century, a modest fortified house was already standing on these lands. The great history of Le Rivau took off in 1442, when Charles VII authorised Pierre de Beauvau to fortify the estate. The ramparts were built, the drawbridge was deployed and the watchtowers stood guard.

Then came the time of the knights, when Joan of Arc herself passed through these walls to choose her mounts. Le Rivau became a strategic stronghold between Chinon and Richelieu. During the Renaissance, the Beauvau family, lords of war but friends of the arts, commissioned sumptuous frescoes from the best artists. The Salle du Festin de Balthazar bears precious witness to this today.

Chateau du Rivau, Chateau et Jardins de contes de fées

Contemporary Art invites itself to the Château du Rivau

Discover the “Surprises at the Château du Rivau” exhibition in 2025, featuring more than eighty stunning contemporary works.

Around Château du Rivau

The interior of the château: between tradition and modernity

Go through the massive door and enter a world where Gothic furniture and contemporary works boldly meet. In the Salle du Festin, a 15th-century fresco depicting a vineyard in the four seasons interacts with contemporary art installations. The five furnished rooms each tell their own story: carved chests with napkin folds, period dressers and medieval credenzas sit alongside surprising creations.

Enchanted gardens : a trip to wonderland

16 fairytale gardens to explore

Enjoy the calm of gardens imagined like tableaux, veritable kaleidoscopes changing with the seasons. The spectacle of the blooms is an enchantment to be discovered or rediscovered. Stroll through this enchanted kingdom, where each garden tells its own wonderful story. Le Jardin du Petit Poucet guides you along its mysterious paths, while Le Jardin de la Belle au Bois Dormant unveils its climbing roses. In the Forest of Giants, monumental boots emerge between the hundred-year-old trees.

The bold sculptures that inhabit the park should surprise you! Giant watering cans, monumental boots, or gigantic pairs of legs: works signed by renowned contemporary artists are sure to amaze you. For example, in 2023, two new, never-before-seen works by Julien Des Montiers and Laurent Pernot have joined the fairytale gardens of Le Rivau.

And let’s not forget a family of peacocks, high on colour and intonation, who will sprinkle the show with magic as they gracefully greet visitors.

The Rose Garden of a Thousand Fragrances

At the heart of the remarkable gardens, the collection of fragrant roses offers a unique festival of scents. More than 500 rare varieties flourish here, labelled by the Conservatoire des Collections Végétales Spécialisées. Ancient roses rub shoulders with David Austin’s modern creations with notes of myrrh and fruit.

The Delight Fairy Kitchen Garden

The giant cucurbits in the kitchen garden transport you to the world of Rabelais. More than 43 varieties of squash flourish on the raised beds, from Gargantua d’Étampes to Turbans d’Aladin. Flowers intertwine with heirloom vegetables, creating a natural protection against pests.

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Experience the magic of Le Rivau through the seasons

The pumpkin festival and Halloween at the château

The pantagruelian pumpkins in the kitchen garden and the autumn flowers are decked out in their finest finery on 11 and 12 October 2025. Acrobats and jugglers entertain you amidst the 43 varieties of squash in Gargantua’s kitchen garden. A gourmet market brings together fifty local craftsmen and producers, while children enjoy creative pumpkin-carving workshops.

A few days later, from 30 October to 1 November, the château dons its Halloween costumes. The gardens are transformed into a mysterious playground where 6-10 year-olds go on a trick-or-treating hunt guided by our mediators. When night falls, join us at 5pm for a family thrill to Halloween tales.

Equestrian jousting in summer

Relive the era of the great medieval tournaments on 9 and 10 August 2025. The valiant knights of Rivau will take on those of Langeais in spectacular jousts in the heart of the moat. Three daily tournaments will transport you back to the atmosphere of 15th-century battles, with armoured riders wielding spears with dexterity.

Choose your side and cheer on the jousters during the tests of skill: quintaine, aiguillettes and pommes. Children, dressed as knights and princesses, take part in introductory workshops while the Chevalerie Initiatique leads the battles. A medieval market completes this immersion in history, with artisans in period costume.

11Oct12Oct

Fête de la citrouille et de l'automne au Château du Rivau

9Aug10Aug

Joutes Equestres du Château Rivau

Jardin Secret, restaurant gastronomique du Rivau

La Table des Fées

Hôtel du Château du Rivau

Gourmet rendezvous in the garden

Enjoy a gourmet break at the Le Jardin Secret restaurant, nestled in the heart of the château’s historic courtyard. Chef Andrea Modesto, former sous-chef to Joël Robuchon, sublimates ancient vegetables and edible plants from the kitchen garden in a creative cuisine. The aromas of fresh herbs mingle with the scents of climbing roses, creating a unique atmosphere.

From kitchen garden to plate: the fairy table

For lunch, there’s nothing like a fresh dish straight from the château’s organic kitchen garden! Head to La Table des fées, which serves salads, soups, quiches and homemade cakes made with our vegetables or those from our farming neighbours. La Table des fées has the Clef Verte label and offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices.

Alongside organic vegetables from Ferme du Rivau, and Chinon wine produced from the château’s vineyards, the meat comes from neighbouring farmers to offer simple, fresh and healthy products. The aim of this approach is also to maximise the profits made by our neighbouring farmers and thus help to sustain our region. It is fully anchored in our Sustainable Development approach.

Fairy tale rooms

The thrill of a getaway, designed just for you, in the incredible setting of the architectural jewel of our 4-star hotel.

Taste the French art of living, in a spirit that is both chic and relaxed, between tradition and modern comfort. Excellence and fantasy are the order of the day! Each of the hotel’s rooms bears the name of an emblematic historical figure and plunges you into a world where gold, celadon and other splashes of colour enhance the charm of the beautiful fabrics, stylish furniture and family mementos…

Wander through these former royal stables as if in an art gallery where the original spirit of the place is embodied by a collection of contemporary works to the glory of the horse. Lovers of special moments, explore the gardens when the castle gates close to the public or discover the rare spectacle of daybreak from your windows.