Château de Courtalain, Renaissance castle in Arrou, France
Château de Courtalain is a castle near Chartres with a stone structure featuring a central tower and multiple buildings arranged across a large estate. The property includes extensive gardens and various structures set on expansive grounds that now accommodate guests and host events.
The castle was built in 1483 by Guillaume d'Avaugour and came to the Montmorency family in 1553 through the marriage of Jacqueline d'Avaugour to Pierre I de Montmorency-Fosseux. During World War II, the estate served as a repository for Egyptian artifacts and tapestries removed from the Louvre Museum and the Museum of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
During World War II, the castle served as a storage facility for Egyptian antiquities and tapestries from the Louvre Museum and Saint-Germain-en-Laye Museum.
Access to the site is available, but check ahead about which areas are open and what activities are offered on the day of your visit. The grounds contain multiple structures and gardens, so allow time to explore the entire property at a comfortable pace.
The English-style park contains rare cedar trees from Lebanon and displays architectural features from the Renaissance through the 18th century. This blend creates a special setting where visitors encounter multiple design styles in a single location.
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