Experience the Middle Ages at Montbazon Fortress An authentic journey back to the time of the knights in Touraine

Enter the gates of the Fortress of Montbazon and plunge into a medieval adventure, where the oldest keep in France takes you back a thousand years. In the land of the fearsome Foulque Nerra, nicknamed the Black Hawk, every stone tells a story, every nook and cranny reveals the secrets of the builders and knights of yesteryear. Let yourself be captivated by the demonstrations of craftsmen in period costume, the clanking of weapons, the smells of warm bread from the medieval tavern: a total immersion in authentic medieval life awaits.

Medieval activities for all the family

Dress up in your finest costume and take part in the many craft workshops! The forge resounds with hammer blows while the calligrapher introduces you to the secrets of ancient writing. Children will marvel at the weapons master’s demonstrations and proudly leave with their knight’s diploma.

At the medieval tavern, savour the delicious fouées baked over a wood fire. These traditional bread rolls, filled to your heart’s content, delight adventurers young and old. On Saturdays, candlelit banquets immerse you in the festive atmosphere of the feasts of yesteryear.

Get your deniers to take part in the various activities: crossbow shooting, candle making or weaving. Everyweekend, the entertainers’ skits bring the fortress’s legends to life.

“Don’t miss the torchlit night-time tour, where the knights recount the exploits and secrets of the Black Hawk, between epic battles and penances.

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The oldest keep in France awaits you

Perched on its rocky spur, this 36-metre-high stone giant has watched over the Valley of the Indre for more than a thousand years. Its three-metre-thick walls bear witness to the exceptional skill of the builders of the year 1000.

Discover this masterpiece of military architecture on afascinating guided tour. Daily animations reveal the secrets of its construction, while demonstrations of war machines transport you to the heart of medieval sieges.

In the summer months, take part in stone-cutting and experimental archaeology workshops. These activities, led by enthusiasts, reveal the authentic techniques used by 10th-century craftsmen.

In the footsteps of the Black Hawk

Foulque III Nerra, the fearsome Black Hawk, left his mark on these lands forever. A master builder as much as a warrior, in 991 this Count of Anjou chose this strategic rocky spur to erect his first fortress. The monks of Cormery even complained about it to the king, while the lord pursued his dream of conquering Touraine.

His son Geoffroy Martel enriched the building with a second keep in 1050, reinforcing the power of the place. But it was under Henry II Plantagenet that the fortress reached its apogee, becoming an impregnable place stronghold guarding the valley.

Around the fortress of Montbazon

La Forteresse de Montbazon - saison 2017

The secrets of the castle's history

In the 15th century, a second château was built opposite the ancestral keep to accommodate Charles VII and Louis XI. The site then became one of the kingdom’s twelve duchy-pairies, the richest after Orléans. The Dukes of Montbazon led a lavish life here until the Revolution.

The Empress Eugenie also left her mark on these premises. A regular traveller on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, she had a monumental statue of the Virgin Mary erected at the top of the keep, a landmark for pilgrims.

The old military buildings still conceal many mysteries. Archaeologists regularly uncover new remains, silent witnesses to a thousand-year-old history that continues to fascinate visitors to the town of Montbazon.