Castle of Combreux, Medieval castle in Combreux, France

The Castle of Combreux is a neo-Gothic brick château rising directly from its moat, north of the village of Combreux along the Canal d'Orléans in the Loiret. Its central round tower carries a steep slate cone with a small dormer spire; a square tower with a pyramidal roof stands to the left, and a long dormered wing ending in a round conical-roofed tower extends to the right. Light stone quoins and window surrounds contrast with the red brick, and the windows are rectangular and arched.

The castle is first mentioned in texts in the 12th century, when it was a fief of the châtellenie of Vitry; the date of the original construction is unknown. In the 19th century it was acquired by Alexandre-Jules de La Rochefoucauld, duc d'Estissac, who organised coursing hunts on the estate with a pack of 80 dogs. The building is in the neogothic style and is surrounded by moats.

The name comes from the village of Combreux in the Loiret, not from a family line. In the 19th century Alexandre-Jules de La Rochefoucauld, duc d'Estissac, acquired the estate and organised coursing hunts on its land, keeping a pack of 80 hounds.

The castle stands north of the village of Combreux, along the Canal d'Orléans in the Forêt d'Orléans, and is reached from the village by the D9 road. The moat-fed brick walls and slate roofs are seen from the public road and canal-side paths; the grounds themselves are private.

The castle was a fief of the châtellenie of Vitry, and two figures tied to it are recorded by name: Guy de Senlis de la Tour and Lancelot de la Taille. In the 19th century the Duke of Estissac kept a pack of 80 hounds for the hunts he organised on the estate.