Chic, the Château de Champchevrier! A family jewel in the heart of Touraine

In the heart of a majestic forest, the château de Champchevrier reveals three centuries of French art de vivre. This family home, inhabited by the same lineage since 1728, still echoes with the passages of King Louis XIII and treasures its ancestral traditions. From the kitchens with their impressive collections of copperware to the state rooms adorned with exceptional tapestries, each room tells a story.

A historic residence near Tours

Built on the remains of an 11th-century fortress, the current residence bears witness to Renaissance refinement. In the 18th century, the baron de Champchevrier fashioned majestic vistas through the woods here, while thebaroness introduced mulberry cultivation for silk. A delightful anecdote recounts that on a scorching night in 1619, Louis XIII preferred to sleep on the fresh straw rather than in his royal bed! In June 1940, the château even served as a temporary refuge for the British embassy. Today,the Bizard family, who own the château, are perpetuating this rich history by opening their doors to visitors, revealing carpets unique in the world in a natural setting.

A family, three centuries of history

Today, no fewer than three generations, from great-grandparents to grandchildren, bring theChâteau de Champchevrier to life. In 2017, the thirteenth generation of the Ruë du Can took up the torch: Laurence, Christophe and Charlotte carry on the legacy of Jean-Baptiste, the first baron in their line. In the royal bedroom as well as in the salons, family photos sit alongside portraits of ancestors, bearing witness to a history that is still very much alive. Every summer, the grille d’honneur opens wide to welcome visitors, who are invited to discover a unique place where the present dialogues harmoniously with the past, in the manner of a Downton Abbey à la française.

The art of living at Champchevrier

Push open the door to the kitchens where ancestral brass instruments gleam: the scents of yesteryear transport you to the atmosphere of the grand receptions of yesteryear. In the music room, the notes of the grand piano still resonate, while the mullioned windows open onto the garden. Castle life takes on its full meaning when you discover the majestic portrait room, with its Italian marble floor and 18th-century earthenware stove. Between Cléré-les-Pins and the château de Langeais, this family home cultivates a unique art of living where each object tells a story, each room invites contemplation.

Around Champchevrier Castle

Hunting, an ancestral tradition

Created in 1804, the Champchevrier crew carries on the oldest tradition of venery hunting in Europe. This passion, inherited from the kings who appreciated the presence of numerous roe deer on the estate, has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, the kennel is home to 70 tricoloured Anglo-French dogs, specially trained for deer hunting.

In summer, visitors can watch the daily ritual of the dogs’ soup, a striking spectacle that testifies to the discipline of the pack. In the trophy room, deer antlers and hunting horns tell the story of an exceptional place of venery, where traditional bells still resonate from the Medieval Age to the present day.

In a nutshell about Champchevrier castle

A family history going back to 1728

Three centuries of heritage, with summer visits and ancestral traditions preserved.

The art of living at the château

Tapestries, gleaming brass and majestic rooms evoke the elegance of bygone days.

A unique welcome for dogs

Admire the castle with your dog, rooms and park accessible together.

Why not? visit the castle with your dog?

Your four-legged friend is welcome at Champchevrier! Unlike many châteaux de la Loire, you can walk through the entirety of the rooms in his company. It’s a rare experience that allows you and your family to admire the splendid paperwork and theRoyal Chamber. In the park, a unique encounter awaits you: the pack of 70 Anglo-French dogs, accustomed to the presence of their fellow visitors, enthusiastically welcome you. Don’t forget your leash if you want to enjoy the shady paths and moats, a real haven of coolness in summer.