On a cloudy day in May we ventured out to the Chateau de Chaumont – initially we were just going to go and take a peak at the chateau and having already booked Chenonceau the next day thought we wouldn’t go round this one but oh my goodness am I glad we did. That day turned into one of those Core Memory days exploring with my boys as we wondered around the beautiful gardens and installations – pure perfection. In fact, I would go so far as to say – my favourite Chateau in the Loire.
First things first the practical information :
- The castle and grounds are open year round – in fact the only closed days are Christmas and New Years Day ! Last access tickets are sold an hour before close but trust me you will want a full day exploring this gorgeous chateau.
- When to go : personally I would recommend May to September as being the best time to visit as the main event really is the gardens and grounds at this chateau . That being said there is something magical about the leaves turning orange in the Loire and the front on the tower spires. Fair weather days are best at this particular chateau!
- Parking – although you can cycle to the chateau and there is public transport available, we found driving the easiest to reach this particular destination and the very large car park at the south entrance made it so easy to get in and out. We visited in school holidays and still found the parking plentiful.
- Prices :
ALLOW TIME FOR A VISIT TO THE ESTATE WHICH INCLUDES:
> 32 hectares of parks
> 55 contemporary art installations and exhibitions
> 30 new gardens as part of the International Garden Festival
> the completely refurnished Castle, the Stables and the Historical Park
Why we loved Chateau Chaumont for the perfect family day out :
I really wasn’t expecting much from this Chateau – we spent a week exploring various chateau in the Loire Valley last summer and then visited Chateau Chantilly in September and the enjoyment level is variable but boy was I surprised. We have an extremely active toddler and just the vastness of the grounds and how incredibly well looked after the area was made it perfect to explore. Throughout the hectares of land are sculptures and art exhibitions dotted around which he loved exploring, the map given to you at the entrance served as a perfect treasure hunt.
As you enter the chateau (from the south car park – which would be our recommendation) it opens up into a large courtyard with the stables and barns converted into art galleries and – our favourite – the rainforest exhibition where you step into another world of jungle plants (beware the humidity if your hair reacts like mine !)
There is a café in the courtyard serving simple meals , patisserie and refreshments – we loved the cherry financiers here . For a little shade head behind the café and you’ll find a charming seating area surrounded by lush plants and protected from the elements. Take a little time exploring the exhibitions in this area – left turn as you enter to access the installation of the International Garden Festival : the Source of Life (although we would save this till the end of your trip) , straight on out of the courtyard and you start to see the chateau revealing itself in all its glory to the left and the hectares of treasure hunting to your right .
We loved the Chateau Chaumont because of its immersive interactive experience of discovering installations by artists weaved seamlessly into the natural surroundings .
Need a rest? I adored was the beautiful wicker benches with covered rooves which allow you to enjoy the view rain or shine and honestly felt like little private capsules to escape the world .
The chateau grounds are also the PERFECT picnic location – so bring a blanket and hit up your local boulangerie before you arrive for the most memorable family picnic .
The chateau itself – stunning in its gothic-renaissance style . Crossing the drawbridge over a parapet and entering the castle courtyard has a magical fairytale feel to it . Our favourite part was the wishing well .
No blog post about the chateau would be complete without mentioning the spectacular International Garden Festival : Source of Life which is ongoing throughout this year at the chateau .
Unmissable for garden enthusiasts and families alike the gardens are updated each year . The 2024 edition celebrates gardens as a vital source of life with the designers ingeniously incorporating creativity and poetry into their garden scenarios and emphasizing the fundamental role of gardens in our survival and well-being and that of the planet. These thought provoking installations are stunning and we were glad we left this section until the afternoon when we could meander through and use a secret exit point back to the car park .
Our particular favourites were the Pollinator city , Greenhouse Garden of Patrick Nadau and a desert themed garden with the most incredible whirlpool water feature..
I would visit this chateau time and again , its yearly updates to the spectacular gardens will provide an ever changing experience and just the best family day out . I wouldn’t change a thing about the day we had there as a family creating wonderful memories .
For more as always follow along
My Peony Path
xx
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