Château de Madon
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de Madon, located in Candé-sur-Beuvron (Loir-et-Cher), 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
- Candé-sur-Beuvron, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.5182, 1.2875
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00098403
Nestling in the Loire Valley, Château de Madon blends 18th-century elegance with seven centuries of episcopal, royal and monastic history, with its mysterious chapel built over a miraculous spring.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
In the heart of the Loire Valley, between Blois and Amboise, Château de Madon stands out as one of those discreet monuments that conceal an unsuspected historical depth. Far from the monumental grandeur of the great royal châteaux of the Loire, it offers attentive visitors a glimpse into the intimacy of the French ecclesiastical aristocracy of the 18th century, set in an unspoilt green setting on the banks of the River Beuvron. What sets Madon apart from its illustrious neighbours is precisely this almost unbroken historical continuity: from the monastic estate of Saint-Lomer Abbey to the residence of the bishops of Blois, the site has never ceased to be inhabited, cared for and remodelled by expert hands and cultivated minds. The current architecture, commissioned around 1770 by Mgr de Termont, reflects the refined neoclassical taste of the late Ancien Régime, with its balanced facades, pavilion wings and large terrace that elegantly introduces visitors to the world of the château. A stroll through the grounds reveals a major surprise: a small chapel topped by a dome and adorned with a semi-circular pediment, built overlooking a spring reputed to be miraculous for the eyes. Beneath the chapel, a vaulted cellar houses a round pool where water still gushes out, making this place a unique blend of popular devotion and learned architecture. The Louis XIII wing, adjoining the main building at right angles, and the 16th-century pavilion - a direct remnant of the château from the Louis XII period - also provide an open book on the architectural evolution of the estate over more than five centuries. For heritage enthusiasts, each facade becomes a chapter in a richly romantic built history.
Architecture
Château de Madon as we see it today is mainly the result of the building campaign carried out around 1770 under the direction of Mgr de Termont. The complex is organised around a main building with two perpendicular wings framing the entrance facade, creating an open main courtyard in a U-shaped layout typical of 18th-century French residential architecture. The rear facade, overlooking the park, follows the same layout, with the return wings ending in gabled forebays, giving the whole a remarkable neoclassical symmetry. A large terrace, raised by two steps, precedes the main entrance, emphasising the axis of the composition with discreet solemnity. The so-called Louis XIII wing, built perpendicular to the left side of the château, dates from a construction phase prior to the 17th century, with its volumes typical of the period: regular bays, sober elevation and tufa stonework. Opposite, a 16th-century pavilion, remodelled as an outbuilding, is the last vestige of the château from the Louis XII period, with its Renaissance details still visible in the composition of the bays and the stone mouldings. Away from the château, the chapel in the grounds deserves special attention: covered by a small dome and adorned with a semi-circular pediment, it is in the tradition of eighteenth-century estate chapels, at the crossroads of the sacred and the landscaped. What makes it so special is its very foundation: built over a spring reputed to be miraculous for eye ailments, it rests on a vaulted cellar that houses a circular pool where spring water still flows, making the basement of this modest building a rare testimony to the popular beliefs rooted in the Loire landscape.
Related Figures
Louis XII, roi de France — vint à Madon le 26 octobre 1498 pour son audience devant le conseil ecclésiastique en vue de l'annulation de son premier mariageMgr de Termont, évêque de Blois — commanditaire du château actuel, construit vers 1770 dans le style néoclassiqueJeanne de Valois, reine de France — indirectement liée au lieu, son mariage avec Louis XII fut examiné à MadonLes abbés de Saint-Lomer — gestionnaires du domaine pendant près de sept siècles, de l'an 1000 à 1698Les comtes de Blois — premiers propriétaires connus, y avaient établi une maison de plaisance avant la donation monastique
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de Madon located?
Château de Madon is located in Candé-sur-Beuvron, Loir-et-Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Château de Madon built?
Château de Madon dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de Madon open to visitors?
Château de Madon is currently closed to visitors.