Castles & tourist sites

Enclosed by the arms of the Indre, the Château de l'Islette was the site of the passionate love affair between Rodin and Camille Claudel. The latter sculpted La Petite Châtelaine here, a bronze of which you can admire. Completed around 1530, this remarkable Renaissance castle consists of a long rectangular main building, flanked by two imposing towers, crowned by a machicolation. Its Great Hall and its chapel offer a magnificent pictorial decoration. A place to live, browse through the rooms currently occupied by the owners and discover the layout of a 21st century castle, combining history and modernity.

The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, which now covers 32 hectares, offers one of the most beautiful views of the royal river and is a belvedere on the wild Loire. It welcomes more than 385,000 visitors each year. It includes the Château (15th-19th century), its stables, its landscaped park and the International Garden Festival. As a centre for the arts and nature, the estate also hosts installations by contemporary artists and exhibitions by major photographers. In season: the "Gardens of Light" invite you to a night walk to discover the gardens of the Festival; the Restaurant of the Domain welcomes you and offers you an inventive cuisine.

With the 72h City Pass, visit Tours and its surroundings at your own pace and at attractive rates! 9 tourist and cultural sites are included in this Pass: Castle and Gardens of Villandry, Castle of Azay-le-Rideau, Castle of Tours, Centre of Contemporary Creation Olivier Debré, Fine Arts Museum, « Compagnonnage » Museum, Natural History Museum, Saint-Cosme Priory, Psalette Cloister and a guided tour of Tours. The 72h Pass also offers numerous benefits, including bike rental, access to the little tourist train (available end of March 2024) and discounts on leisure services.

A festival of visual and sound special effects marries the grandiose architecture of the courtyard, evoking famous episodes in the history of the castle.