Château de La Bourdaisière
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de La Bourdaisière, located in Montlouis-sur-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Montlouis-sur-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
On the outskirts of Tours, La Bourdaisière was a refuge for royal beauties and the home of Gabrielle d'Estrées. Its tomato conservatory gardens and Renaissance silhouette make it an unusual jewel in the Loire Valley.
© Wikimedia Commons / Wikipedia
History
Nestling in the gentle hills of Montlouis-sur-Loire, at the gateway to deep Touraine, Château de La Bourdaisière is one of a constellation of residences that make the Loire Valley the garden of France. Far from the ostentation of Chambord or the solemnity of Blois, La Bourdaisière offers a precious intimacy: that of a historic house that has stood the test of time without losing its soul. What sets La Bourdaisière apart from so many other châteaux in the Loire Valley is first and foremost the power of its human resonance. The walls of this residence have been the setting for some of the most romantic destinies, court intrigues and royal romances that still nourish our collective imagination. Gabrielle d'Estrées, Henri IV's favourite, was born here - or at least spent part of her youth here - giving the place an aura of history and romance that few other châteaux can claim with such intensity. Today, the visitor experience is enriched by one of the most remarkable vegetable conservatories in France: a garden dedicated to tomatoes, with over 700 varieties listed, turning La Bourdaisière into a place of pilgrimage for lovers of horticulture and gastronomy. It's a surprising and delightful facet of a château that has never wished to confine itself to its architectural prestige alone. The wooded grounds, shady avenues and unobstructed views over the Touraine hillside offer photographers and walkers an exceptional setting whatever the season. The light of the Loire Valley, so special, so celebrated by painters, bathes the façades here in a white tufa stone that seems to absorb the sun, only to give it back again at dusk. Now converted into a charming hotel and an estate open to the public, La Bourdaisière embodies this happy trend of living heritage: a château that can be visited, experienced and savoured, between great history and simple pleasures.
Architecture
The architecture of Château de La Bourdaisière is typical of the Touraine Renaissance, a direct descendant of the movement that began on the banks of the Loire in the early 16th century under the impetus of François I. Built of tuffeau, the soft white limestone extracted from the cellars dug into the hillside, the château has that golden luminosity so typical of buildings in the Loire Valley. The main building, flanked by round towers with peaked roofs covered in blue slate, adopts a U-shaped or angled plan typical of the great seigneurial residences of the period, combining symbolic defence with openness to the gardens. The façades bear witness to the ornamental refinement typical of the French Renaissance: sculpted dormers with pediments, pilasters punctuating the elevations, stone cross-pieces with elegant mullions. The overall impression is one of balance and moderation, far removed from the decorative exuberance of some contemporary châteaux, but revealing great finesse of execution in every detail. The steeply pitched slate roofs, punctuated by elaborate chimney stacks, complete an instantly recognisable silhouette. The parkland surrounding the château is an architectural feature in its own right: structured into formal gardens close to the château, it opens out into a landscaped park with cleverly designed views over the Loire Valley. The conservatory gardens, carefully integrated into this green setting, continue the tradition of utility and pleasure gardens typical of the great stately homes of the Renaissance.
Related Figures
Jean Babou — trésorier de François Ier, acquéreur et transformateur du domaine au XVIe siècleGabrielle d'Estrées — favorite d'Henri IV, née de la lignée des Babou de La BourdaisièreHenri IV — roi de France, amant de Gabrielle d'Estrées, lié indirectement à l'histoire du châteauAntoine d'Estrées — père de Gabrielle, seigneur ayant séjourné à La BourdaisièrePhilibert Babou — évêque et cardinal issu de la famille Babou, figure ecclésiastique liée au domainePrince de Broglie — propriétaire contemporain, instigateur du conservatoire de la tomate et de l'hôtel de charme
Map
Coordinates not available for this monument.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de La Bourdaisière located?
Château de La Bourdaisière is located in Montlouis-sur-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Château de La Bourdaisière built?
Château de La Bourdaisière dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de La Bourdaisière open to visitors?
Château de La Bourdaisière is currently closed to visitors.