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Created in 1631 for none other than the Cardinal of Richelieu himself (nothing but that!), the commune of Richelieu took its place in the department of Indre-et-Loire. Nestling in the heart of the magnificent Loire Valley region, this lively and cultural city will take you on a plunge into history.
It was at the very end of the 17th century, in order to thank its very devoted minister, that King Louis XIII had the town of Richelieu built. At the crossroads of Anjou, Poitou and Touraine, this true jewel of "made in France" architecture is a must for lovers of French history and old stones. A fascinating city, marked by the seal of history, it bears witness to its rich and imposing past through its narrow streets studded with a very ancient heritage. Closed by thick walls and ditches, the town of Richelieu is a wide quadrilateral pierced by three monumental gates through which the visitor is obliged to enter if he wants to visit it. And as soon as you pass through its main gate, called the Porte de Chinon, you get to the heart of the matter with the Grande Rue de Richelieu, known for housing no less than 28 wonderful mansions, all identical, which contribute to its reputation beyond the borders of the region. Then go through the Place Nord, the Place Royale (now called Place des Religieuses), where the convent and the Academy once stood. From the South Square, on the Place du Cardinal (now called Place du Marché), you can discover one of the most emblematic sites of the city, its covered market, built at the origins of Richelieu in the 17th century. Not far away, the Notre-Dame church is well worth a visit: built in a superb classical style, it is known for the beauty of its buildings as well as for the beauty of its 19th century organ, classified as a Historical Monument. During your strolls, you cannot fail to discover the remains of the castle of Richelieu; a particularly pleasant place for a romantic walk, the park of the castle is one of the museums of the village. In the shade of chestnut trees and hundred-year-old plane trees, the walk is bucolic and the visitors, tirelessly, let themselves be conquered by the magnificence of the rose garden. The Richelieu Museum, without forgetting the Espace Richelieu, will come to perfect your knowledge of the village and its illustrious creators.
Thanks to its exceptionally favourable location within the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park, Richelieu offers its visitors a large number of hiking trails, itineraries that will allow you to discover the flora, but also the fauna and the remarkable buildings of the region. What to do with the family? Take a stroll along the Voie Verte itineraries linking Richelieu to Chinon for a twenty-kilometre walk to meet the relief of the area, passing by the superb Château du Rivau! Chinon and its Royal Fortress, but also the Château du Chillou, that of La Tour de Marmande, the castles of La Motte d'Usseau, Oiron, La Mothe Chandeniers, Maulévrier, the Château de Brézé and its underground fortress, without forgetting the Medieval Fortress of Saumur, the wonderful Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, the castles of Villandry and Langeais, so many historic sites located less than an hour's drive from Richelieu and which will undoubtedly complete your holiday in the heart of French History!
Plus d’infos sur la région :
Cécile
22/04/2023
Chinon and its fortress even with children. The castle of Rivau and its magnificent gardens. In addition to the more famous castles such as Chambord, Azay or Ussé
Jean Philippe
13/05/2021
In Chinon, a very good bike rental company E Follow-Me .
Jeremy
22/08/2020
We took the opportunity to visit some of the castles of the Loire Valley (Ussé, Chenonceau, Chinon, etc) and the Zoo of Beauval (about 1h30 drive away).
François
25/07/2020
Not to be missed: the virtual visit of the Richelieu castle at the Espace Richelieu.
Christèle
29/12/2019
No restaurant on the site but, at the reception, very good advice for restaurants in Loudun where we found a great pizzeria.
Philippe
27/10/2019
Richelieu Park is free and large enough to run its course.
Isabelle
08/06/2019
Auberge Richelieu: great!
Henriette
22/04/2019
The futuroscope, and visit of the Loire castles.
Richelieu Park
Surrounded by 7 km of ramparts, and sheltering a French garden, this magnificent park will be ideal for your walks.
Chinon, classified by UNESCO - 20 km
Take advantage of a walk to discover this magnificent medieval castle overlooking the Vienne river.
The Castle of Azay le Rideau - 30 km
In the heart of Touraine, discover this jewel of the French Renaissance, built under the reign of François I.
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