Castles of the Loire
The castles of the Loire are well worth a visit. There are too many to mention. Every city or village has a castle.
Chinon Castle (French: Château de Chinon) one of the Loire castles located in Chinon, is a medieval fortress of about 500 meters long and 100 meters wide, overlooking the River Vienne.
Saumur Castle (French: Château de Saumur) is located in the city of Saumur. The castle is situated on a higher level of land along the Loire, thus largely determining the face of the city.
The Montreuil-Bellay Castle
On the territory of Montreuil-Bellay there is a castle complex whose building history dates back to the 11th century. It includes a small castle, a larger (more recent) castle and a chapel church.
The castle of Montsoreau, like the other castles in the Loire Valley, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle is at the place where the Loire and Vienne meet. In the past, the castle was surrounded by castle graves fed by the Loire. The castle largely dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, but has undergone some renovations in the centuries. The castle can be visited today.
The Abbey of Fontevraud (or: Abbey of Fontevrault) is located in the French town of Fontevraud-l'Abbaye. It is the best-preserved collection of monastery buildings in the world, has a very rich history and has thus become a major tourist attraction. The abbey does not depend on an order but is of Benedictine inspiration.