Castle history : womens' history...

Once upon a time at the centre of the French kingdom, large forests grew along a majestic river, the Loire… Light and air are really pure on its edges, that’s why the king and his courtiers, passionate for hunting, built their castles precisely at this place. Over the years, according to changing lifestyles and attitudes, the appearance of these houses began to change (Langeais castle is a perfect example).

Exactly half-way between Tours, the royal city, and Langeais, legend says that there, in the mid-wood, was born a sacred source, prompting the rest of the legends. By 1550, the beautiful mistress of King Henry II – Diane de Poitiers – would have chosen this place to do his hunting lodge…

A century later, in 1642, the great Alderman’s wife (Mayor of Tours and King’s adviser), who acquired the land, built there the Hérissaudière. This comfortable manor became the summer residence of the family. Finance General Comptroller or Tours’ magistrates were regularly renewed over the generations.

In the early nineteenth century, tastes have changed: we abandon Louis XVII’s style and add a typical façade facing south to receive the sun and connect with nature… and see the newly planted redwoods. Between the wars, the redwoods are still there, and also the source but the house has become ‘too small’. Then, in 1932, we added two wings; asymmetric and Art Deco… of course!

During the last war, the redwoods see the house – briefly – becoming the Canadian Embassy. Today, after many adventures, this is a seven hectares domain… where redwoods are still there! In summer they shade wild cyclamens… and our guests! They invariably fall in love with this house… as if its stones pass the love of generations who wanted, passionately, to make it live…