Castles and gardens

Set out to conquer the castles in Sarthe and their gardens and explore centuries of history and anecdotes. The Sarthe is teeming with these castles and gardens in different styles and periods, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period, including the Renaissance. Do you want to discover all their secrets? Push the doors and the life of a castle is yours!

Castles with gardens in Sarthe

Most castles in Sarthe have a garden or park which adds to the charm of these historic buildings. Some are particularly exceptional.

The castle of Poncé-sur-le-Loir offers many treasures not to be missed. This Renaissance castle has a magnificent French garden, listed as remarkable, an 18th century dovecote and a labyrinth of arbors with a plane tree several hundred years old at its heart.

The Château du Lude, a former medieval fortress, was transformed into a majestic château during the Renaissance. Still inhabited today, its history mingles with the daily life of its inhabitants and its remarkable gardens are grandiose. Take advantage of an original visit with the Escape Game “In the footsteps of our guest” which will lead you from the outbuilding to the park, right in the 19th century.

The castle of Bazouges-sur-le-Loir is a charming medieval stately home surrounded by moats and Italian gardens. Extend your visit to the 15th century seigniorial mill and admire its mechanism and its history.

Finally, discover the castle of Courtanvaux built in the 16th century, restored ^and modernized in the 19th century by a Romanian princess. This emblem of the neo-Gothic style then had a central heating system with boiler by radiator and even the telephone! The French and English gardens blend perfectly with the meadow and the woods that surround them.

A return to the past

Stroll from castles to gardens and feel the soul of the place to project yourself into a past, sometimes distant.

At the Château de Montmirail, let yourself be taken in by the exceptional panorama of the site. Listed as a Historic Monument, this 15th century medieval castle, restored in the 18th century, offers visits from the underground arms rooms to the dungeons, to tell you about the historic meeting of 1169 between Henry II Plantagenet, King of England, Louis VII le Jeune, King of France and Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Its tea room, its guest rooms, its cutlery workshop and its Escape Game will complete your discovery of the place with magic and charm.

Gateway to Maine, the Donjon du Ballon has been at the heart of incessant battles because of its strategic position on a rocky outcrop. If William the Conqueror captured it in 1064, the keep would change hands 25 times during the 11th century. In the 12th century, the King of France, Philippe Auguste took over the fortress from the King of England, Jean sans Terre. This fortress, its curtain walls and its drawbridge face the remarkable labeled gardens to prolong your return to the Middle Ages.

Many other castles and gardens are open to visitors. It’s up to you to unlock their secrets and unearth their treasures.