Chaumont-sur-Loire brings together château history, garden art and nature along the Loire. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between the different highlights: the Domaine combines parkland, garden themes that change each year and art; the Île de la Folie and boat trips offer a different perspective on the Loire landscape. This will help you decide whether you want to devote your stay primarily to history, contemporary design or nature.
Château and Landscaped Parkland
The Château de Chaumont was founded around the year 1000 by Eudes I, Count of Blois. The Parc Historique is another highlight: this 17-hectare English landscape park was designed by landscape architect Henri Duchêne. The history of the château and the design of the park thus offer two distinct ways to experience the site.
Les Prés du Goualoup is an 11-hectare natural area with permanent gardens, artworks and plant collections. This adds further permanent garden and art spaces to the parkland. One notable structure is the Pont rustique, which spans the ravine between the ornamental park and the Goualoup area.
Garden Festival and Art
The Festival International des Jardins brings together designers from around the world each year around a different theme. The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire offers guided tours of the festival, introducing a selection of notable gardens from that year’s edition. Dates may vary. If you would like to plan one of these tours, check the programme for your travel dates.
The art offerings also feature a range of different highlights. The Centre d’Arts et de Nature invites artists, visual artists and photographers to create and exhibit original works on the theme of nature. The works are spread across the Domaine’s 32 hectares. The Domaine also has an art collection that is on view year-round alongside the seasonal exhibitions. Guided contemporary art tours introduce works in the stables and the Parc Historique; their dates may also vary.
Loire Nature and Excursions
The Île de la Folie lies within the communes of Chaumont-sur-Loire and Rilly-sur-Loire. It is home to one of the most beautiful floodplain forests in the Loir-et-Cher département. The island can be reached via the D 751 on the left bank of the Loire and lies 700 metres downstream from the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire. Guided tours are available there; arrangements may vary.
Millière Raboton’s boat trips offer a different perspective on the Loire. The operator’s boats depart from the port of Chaumont-sur-Loire with guide-pilots; departure times may vary. The nature-focused programme also includes excursions featuring ornithology, music and tastings. These take place on set dates, which you can check against your travel dates in advance. There are several themes and options to choose from: a guided tour of the island, a boat trip or a scheduled excursion.
Plan Your Journey
Onzain/Chaumont-sur-Loire SNCF railway station is 2 kilometres from the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire. When planning your train journey, check the services for your travel date, as specific train connections may change. Chaumont-sur-Loire can also be reached by bicycle via the Loire à Vélo.
Discover more destinations: Lorges, La Marolle-En-Sologne, Champigny-En-Beauce, Chouzy-Sur-Cisse, Noyers-Sur-Cher, Lassay-sur-Croisne, Villeherviers, La Ferté-Beauharnais.
For the broader travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.
