Château de Pinceloup, Historical castle in Sonchamp, France.
The Château de Pinceloup is a castle in Sonchamp built with brick and stone, featuring a central pavilion topped by a lantern and balanced facades on both sides. The building now houses Le Nôtre school, which trains young people in hospitality, catering, and horticulture.
The castle was completely rebuilt in 1897 by Eugène Thome, a public works contractor who had worked under Napoleon III, on the existing foundations. This major reconstruction shaped the appearance of the structure as it stands today.
The estate's riding arena, registered as a Historical Monument in 2005, shows how French noble families practiced horsemanship during the 19th century. This facility reflects the daily habits of a wealthy society that saw such pursuits as central to their way of life.
The castle is located on school grounds and can be visited only by appointment. It is best to contact the site in advance to arrange a visit time that works with the facility's schedule.
The castle features exactly 365 windows, one for each day of the year, distributed across all its facades. This intentional design choice makes the building a mathematical curiosity among French castles.
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