Discover Château-La-Vallière

Château-La-Vallière can be viewed from two perspectives when planning your trip: Lac du Val Joyeux brings together nature and leisure activities, while Château de Vaujours and other historic buildings reveal the area’s history. This lets you choose the focus of your stay—lake, walk, or architecture. If you are considering a visit to Château de Vaujours, check the current status of visitor services.

Lake, forest, and activities

Lac du Val Joyeux covers nearly 36 hectares in the Forêt de Château-la-Vallière. The large expanse of water and the forest define this focal point of the area. The lake has facilities for swimming, fishing, and pedal boating, as well as tennis, beach volleyball, and pétanque. This gives you a range of leisure activities to choose from; conditions may vary depending on the season.

A walk around Lac du Val Joyeux is listed as 6 kilometres and about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This approximate duration and distance give you a concrete framework for planning your day. A yellow-marked circular trail starts at Place du Champ de Foire. If you want to combine exercise with time by the water, you can consider the lakeside loop and the activities available there as different parts of your stay.

Castle ruins and historic buildings

The romantic ruins of Château de Vaujours date from the 15th century. They lie within the moats and feature numerous round towers. The ruins have been protected as a historic monument since 26 January 1989. The upper courtyard contains remains of the lord’s residence, the keep, and the castle chapel. Together, these structures give an impression of the different parts of the former castle complex.

Guided tours and rentals at Château de Vaujours are suspended until further notice. Check the latest notice before your trip if you are planning a guided tour or rental. The restriction applies to these services; take it into account when planning rather than treating a visit as a guaranteed activity.

Another historic building is the Grande Maison. It dates from the 18th century and has housed the town hall since 1991. The building is surrounded by an English-style park that is open to the public.

Some routes also pass historic sites. The circular trail passes the Menhir de la Pierre, which is 3.70 metres high and considered the tallest menhir in the département. Another circular trail passes the old blacksmiths’ quarter. In the mid-18th century, its workshops produced more than 150 tonnes of iron per year. The menhir is a striking individual landmark, while the blacksmiths’ quarter offers a glimpse of the area’s former iron production.

Another architectural detail is the church portal in Château-la-Vallière, which dates from the 12th century. This portal, the 15th-century ruins, and the 18th-century Grande Maison bring together different periods of construction.

Choose the focus of your stay

A simple comparison can help with your planning: Lac du Val Joyeux centres on water activities and a walk with a specified distance and approximate duration. The historic sites offer different points of interest—from castle architecture and a publicly accessible park to 18th-century iron production.

Discover more destinations: Gizeux, Candes-Saint-Martin, Villaines-Les-Rochers, Cangey, La Tour-Saint-Gelin, La Celle-Guenand, Saint-Germain-Sur-Vienne, La Celle-Saint-Avant.

For the broader travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.