Exhibition Playmobil – 4th April to 3rd Mai 2026
Travel back in time and discover History from the era of dinosaure to our days. In the renaissance Gallery of the Château du Lude, Dominique Béthune, a passionate collector has created nine [...]
Le Château du Lude
Visit a castle of History
in the Loire valley
in the Loire valley
Castle opening :
every day from 4th April to 30th September
week-ends of October
during the school holidays
Playmobil exhibition:
4th Avril to 3rd May
more information
Discover the castle
At the crossroads of Anjou, Maine and Touraine, Le Lude is one of the great Loire Valley castles still inhabited.
Discover the gardens
Classified as a “Remarkable Garden” by the French Ministry of Culture, the gardens extend over 8 hectares of terraces along the banks of the Loir River.
Step back in time at Château du Lude!
Travel through the centuries across five floors of everyday life, from the grand reception rooms to the servants quarters.
Group visits
Organise group visits.
The Gardeners’ Fair
The must-attend event for garden lovers.
Escape game
Lead the investigation at Le Lude Castle!
Gourmet Days
Rediscover the flavours of the past.
Families and children
Learn and have fun at the castle.
Prisoner game
A life-size game!
Hours and rates
Opening hours
Castle open:
every day from April 4 to September 30:
- Castle tour: 10:30 am–12:30 pm / 2:30 pm–6:00 pm (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
- Access to the gardens: 10:00 am–12:30 pm / 2:00 pm–6:00 pm
on weekends in October and
during school holidays:
- Castle tour: 2:30 pm–6:00 pm
- Access to the gardens: 2:00 pm–6:00 pm
Upcoming events
The most northerly château of the Loire Valley.
Le Lude, a family home and a historic monument.
Located on the crossroad of the regions of Anjou and Touraine, between Le Mans and Tours, Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley.
Le Lude is one of the last remaining important historical castles in France, which is still lived in by the same family, and has been for the past 260 years.
Four centuries in one place! The château is an example of four centuries of French architecture. A fortress transformed into an elegant palace-looking house during the Renaissance and the 18th century.
Both adults and children alike, will be enchanted by its refined interiors, but also by its gardens, labyrinths, stables and its dungeon; expect a visit full of surprises!
Try not to miss out on the well-known Garden festival on the first week-end of June!
Le Lude today
S ince 260 years, the house is in the hands of our family. Together with the staff helping us, we are happy to welcome you to the Château du Lude, and share with you a living testimony of the French history, but also our family home and one of the most impressive castles in the Loire Valley.
Try not to miss our summer events like the Garden show and the Gourmet days.
We wish you a pleasant visit !
Count and Countess Louis-Jean de Nicolay
