Château de Chamerolles, Renaissance castle in Chilleurs-aux-Bois, France.
The castle features red brick walls, symmetrical towers, and open galleries, standing on the edge of the Orleans forest with surrounding water bodies.
Lancelot I du Lac, chamberlain of King Louis XII, constructed the castle between 1500 and 1530 on the foundation of a medieval fortress.
The Promenade des Parfums exhibition within the castle presents the evolution of hygiene and perfume practices from the 16th century to modern times.
Located 45 minutes north of Orleans, the castle offers guided tours, a gift shop, meeting facilities, and parking for both cars and buses.
Protestant inscriptions discovered in the former chapel during restoration provide evidence of religious diversity in the castle's past.
Location: Chilleurs-aux-Bois
Official opening: 1992
Architectural style: Renaissance architecture
Website: http://chateauchamerolles.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.06030,2.16417
Latest update: November 8, 2025 14:33
The castles surrounding Paris provide insight into several centuries of French history. From medieval fortresses to Renaissance palaces to Napoleonic residences, each structure represents different architectural styles and periods. These buildings served as homes for French kings, emperors and noble families, and today house significant collections of furniture, artworks and historical objects. Many are surrounded by extensive gardens and grounds that are also open to visitors. The collection spans a wide geographic area from Versailles to the Loire Valley, offering destinations that range from half-hour to two-hour drives from Paris. Properties like Versailles and Fontainebleau attract millions of visitors annually, while smaller estates like Château de Breteuil or Château de Condé provide quieter alternatives. Some, like Château de Guédelon, offer unusual perspectives on medieval construction methods, while restored sites such as Château de Pierrefonds demonstrate 19th-century interpretations of medieval architecture.
The Loire Valley has castles built between the 15th and 17th centuries. They show the history of the French Renaissance and the classical period. These royal and noble homes tell stories of how people lived and built during those times. You can see carved staircases, water galleries, moats, defensive towers, and parks with geometric designs. Some castles like Chambord or Chenonceau are large and bold in design. Others, like Azay-le-Rideau or Villandry, are charming for their natural settings and restored gardens. Leonardo da Vinci is buried in Amboise. In Blois, four different building styles appear one after another. Loches has a medieval tower. Each place offers a different view of how kings, queens, and noble families lived and shaped this region.
People often think they know Orleans, but the city always has something to tell. Behind its impressive cathedral, one discovers a lively old town with cobbled streets, half-timbered facades, and squares perfect for stopping. The history blends with the enjoyment of life: Joan of Arc still watches over the Place du Martroi, museums reveal their hidden treasures, and the banks of the Loire invite sunny walks. Along the quays, you encounter gardens, churches, Renaissance houses, and busy weekend markets. The city has maintained its calm pace without ceasing to surprise, balancing heritage, culture, and nature. Orleans is best explored at a slow pace, the one preferred by those who enjoy observing details, breathing the river air, and rediscovering their own city at every corner.
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41 mReviews
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