Château de Montreuil-Bellay- a Lovely Afternoon Visit

Château de Montreuil-Bellay is privately owned and only 10 miles from Saumur. What a lovely way to spend the afternoon, but being privately owned, only guided tours were allowed. Photography was restricted in  many areas.

None the less, it is a beautiful Château in a sweet little village. This trip to France we visited numerous privately owned châteaux. Sometimes we had a guided tour such as we did here and at Château de Brissac and sometimes the visit was self guided as was the case at Château de Langeais.

I really prefer the self-guided mode so that I can go at my own pace. I like to have time to study the art and especially the tapestries. The tour here at Château de Montreuil-Bellay was in French but they provided translations in multiple languages.

This aerial image of the Château is great. At the far left are the v-shaped entrances which cross what used to be the moat. The top drive leads to the Château and the bottom leads to the church.

A Bit of History of the Château de Montreuil-Bellay

Built over a Roman town which served as an administrative center for surrounding towns (an oppidium), the Château de Montreuil-Bellay dates from the 11 century. The Château de Montreuil-Bellay was a medieval fortress (see the 9 visible turrets of 13 in the 650 m of ramparts surrounding the Château in the aerial image) during conflicts between the French and English monarchies.

The architecture of the château evolved and changed after the Hundred Years War to what is the current Château de Montreuil-Bellay.

Our Guided Visit of the Château

The entrance to the Château opens on to a huge courtyard. We  toured the large building in the background of the aerial image.

Beyond this narrow door, we discovered the medieval kitchen. The quantity of people gathered made it difficult to take photographs here. Besides the cave, this was the only room permitting photographs.

 

Two large fireplaces anchored either end of the room. In the center of the room was an enormous chimney. In medieval times there would have been a central fireplace in this room.

The vaulted cellar was another room in which they allowed photography. This process of winemaking took place in the cellar.

 

Exploring the Gardens

We enjoyed the peace and beauty of the Château garden behind the church. We enjoyed The views beyond the Château gardens were expansive since the Château overlooks  the river Thouet.

 

 

 

The lower gardens follow alongside the Thouet. The abundance of lime trees assures that a midsummer stroll here (we visited in mid-October) will have a heavenly smell!

Peering through the “windows” in the ramparts, we had a wonderful view of the Thouet which is a tributary of the Loire.

 

Collegiale Eglise Notre-Dame

The 15th century church is adjacent to the Château.

 

 

Finding the Château de Montreuil-Bellay

Opening times can be found at the château’s website

 

 

What a lovely vintage car greeted us as we exited the Château!