In Balleroy, the château, its park and the Balloon Museum offer different reasons to discover the town. Visits range from a guided tour of the château to a self-guided museum tour and marked paths in the park. A cycling route also passes through Balleroy, making it possible to visit the park and château.
The château’s history and the townscape
The Château de Balleroy was built between 1626 and 1636 by the architect François Mansart for Monsieur de Choisy. The château and village are also considered an example of innovative urban planning that was intended to inspire Versailles and other places in France. The history of the building and the town planning thus offer two different perspectives on Balleroy: one focuses on the château itself, while the other looks at the relationship between the building and the village.
In 2019, the Calvados Département designated Balleroy a “Village de caractère” (village of character). Another feature of the townscape is the circular Rond du Marché; there are few comparable squares in France. Visitors interested in architecture and design can consider these details alongside the château, without conflating the history of the château with the planning of the village.
The Château’s dovecote also offers a specific architectural detail: it retains its original appearance, with 1,700 scaffold holes still visible. Its number of holes and state of preservation make the dovecote a distinct part of the château visit, alongside its construction period and Mansart’s name.
The park and French gardens
The park of the Château de Balleroy covers 200 hectares. It has two marked paths, as well as lawns, tables and benches. The paths help visitors find their way around the park, while the tables and benches also provide places to sit. The château grounds are open for free visits. Check the current visiting arrangements before your trip.
The French gardens, visible on arrival at the château, date from the early 20th century and were designed by Henri Duchêne. They are therefore markedly different in age from the château, whose construction began in the 17th century. Visitors who see both encounter two distinct design periods during their château visit: the history of the château’s construction and the later garden layout.
Ways to visit the château and the Balloon Museum
Malcolm Forbes founded a museum at the Château de Balleroy devoted entirely to aviation. Its objects and documents trace the history of ballooning from the first flights of the Montgolfier brothers onward. The Balloon Museum offers a self-guided tour of exhibitions about ballooning and its history. This gives you the opportunity to explore the exhibition at your own pace.
The Balloon Museum is accessible to wheelchair users via an adapted walkway. Visiting the château is different: guided tours last about 45 minutes and are offered in French or English. The château grounds are open for free visits. As visitor arrangements can change, check the latest information about access and tours before your trip.
Balleroy on the cycling route
The Bayeux–Balleroy–Litteau cycling route is 31.0 kilometres long. Cyclists can visit the park and the Château de Balleroy along the way. This combines a visit to the town with a designated cycling route, while the guided château tour and self-guided museum tour offer other ways to visit. If you plan to ride the route, check its current course before setting off, as route details may change.
Discover more destinations: Arromanches-Les-Bains, Curcy-Sur-Orne, Bayeux, Saint-Ouen-Du-Mesnil-Oger, Brucourt, Janville, Le Mesnil-Durand, Le Mesnil-Simon.
Back to the regional travel overview: Calvados.
