Château de Montreuil-Bellay, Medieval castle and museum in Montreuil-Bellay, France.
Château de Montreuil-Bellay is a medieval fortress with 13 connected towers and extensive defensive walls on a hill above the Thouet River. The grounds feature residential areas, storage buildings, and underground cellars spread across multiple levels and sections.
The fortress was built around 1200 and evolved over centuries through periods of conflict and peace. During the French Revolution it served as a prison, later as a military hospital in World War I, showing its changing role across different eras.
The name reflects its position along the river bend, rooted in medieval naming traditions. The rooms inside blend architectural styles from different periods, visible in every hall and chamber you walk through.
Bring sturdy shoes as the grounds have uneven paths and many stairs going up and down. The best time to explore is in warmer months when all areas are open and the weather makes walking through outdoor sections comfortable.
The grounds maintain working vineyards producing Saumur wines from local grape varieties, making this a rare example of an active castle producing wine today. The grapes are processed in medieval cellars where winemaking follows traditional methods.
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