Sully sur Loire Château

 Seven centuries old, this château is inextricably linked to the Duke of Sully, Maximilien de Béthune, a great minister of finance and very close to the King of France, Henri IV.

Situated 30 minutes from L'Echappée Belle B&B, on the banks of the Loire, this château is considered one of the most remarkable in the Loire Valley. Many people only see it from the outside, but it is well worth a visit.

The Château de Sully sur Loire is a medieval jewel set on water (the Loire and the Sange, a local river).

The presence of a château in this strategic location is mentioned as early as the 12th century, but it was not until 1395 that Raymond du Temple drew up the plans for the present Château.

 As well as the King's bedroom, one of the most remarkable rooms you can visit is the Great Hall at the top of the château, which reveals its magnificent 15 metre high framework, admired even by the architect Viollet-Le-Duc.

But the history of this château was not all rosy.
It was plundered during the Revolution, partially destroyed by fire in 1918 and bombed during the Second World War.

 Since 1962, it has belonged to the Loiret département, which has carried out renovations and works to restore the luxury section to its original state before the fire.

The sumptuously furnished rooms (18th century furniture) give an idea of the importance of this residence at the time.

Do you know...?

- Raymond du Temple, who built the château in 1395, was the architect of the King and the Duke of Orléans. He was also involved in the construction of the dungeon at Vincennes, the finishing touches to Notre-Dame de Paris and the old château of the Louvre.

- Do you know the origin of the French expression "dessous de table" (which means "under the table")? You can find out by visiting the château and observing the furniture in Sully's cabinet. A drawer under the table was used to pass on money, which was considered improper at the time.

- Henri IV never slept in the King's Room, which was dedicated to him. On the other hand, his grandson Louis XIV was hidden in the Château de Sully sur Loire during the Fronde.