Château de Rivau , a medieval fortress turned Renaissance castle in the Touraine region of the Loire Valley, near Lémeré between Chinon and Richelieu. Building started in 1445 by Pierre de Beauvau, chamberlain to Charles VII, the château has ties to the Hundred Years' War, it's where Joan of Arc reportedly stopped in 1429 to collect horses for her troops en route to Orléans.
The site combines fortified medieval elements (towers, drawbridge) with Renaissance features. Today it is known for its remarkable gardens, designated 'Jardin Remarquable', with fairy-tale themes, organic plantings, rose collections and contemporary art installations.
The château remains privately owned but open to visitors, with exhibits, a hotel and a restaurant on site. A Loire Valley stops blending history, architecture and peaceful landscaped grounds.
For those interested in owning their own château in the Loire Valley (you can dream!), there are specialist agencies focused on historic properties in the region.
“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”