Château de la Gaudinière

Château de la Gaudinière is a castle in the Breil-Barberie district featuring red brick construction with white tuffeau stone accents typical of the Loire region. The property includes a spacious park designed with English garden layouts and multiple architectural elements throughout.

Construction took place from 1864 to 1873 under architect Léon Lenoir, replacing an earlier mansion that belonged to Louis Chaurand, a shipowner from Nantes. The rebuilding demonstrates the wealth and architectural ambitions of the city's merchant class during the industrial era.

The chapel and orangery building show how wealthy families designed their country estates. The gardens follow English design principles and reflect 19th-century tastes.

The property is accessible to visitors and located in an established neighborhood with good public transportation options. Walking paths throughout the grounds allow exploration of the gardens and exterior features at a leisurely pace.

A giant sequoia from North America was planted in 1864 and stands near the castle as a living record of 19th-century enthusiasm for exotic plant collections. This old tree remains a rare botanical reminder from an era when such species first arrived in Europe.