Châteaudun: Château, Old Town and Nature

Châteaudun offers several distinct focal points for a stay: the Château and its architectural history, a signposted circular route through the rebuilt new town, museum collections and historic churches, as well as paths along the Loir and through natural areas. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether culture, scenery or both will shape your trip.

The Château and the history of the Old Town

The Château de Châteaudun in the Eure-et-Loir département is known for its keep and its 15th-century Sainte Chapelle. The round keep is 31 metres high, has a diameter of 17 metres and is one of the best-preserved of its kind. A guided tour of the Château takes in the rampart walk, the battlements and the medieval garden. The garden was reconstructed in the early 2000s. As the visitor programme may change, check the current tour arrangements before your visit.

A signposted circular route through the historic centre starts at Place du 18 octobre. It introduces the new town, which was rebuilt in the 18th century after the great fire of 1723. Two churches also feature prominently in the town’s history: the former Eglise de la Madeleine dates back to the mid-12th century. Eglise Saint-Valérien de Châteaudun is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th and 13th centuries.

The Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Histoire Naturelle presents, among other things, ancient Egypt, Japanese katagami, the battle between the Dunois and the Prussians in 1870, and an ornithological collection. These subjects range from history and art to the study of birds, offering a variety of ways to enjoy a museum visit.

Along the Loir and in the natural areas

The Tour de l'Ile de Chemars offers a different perspective on the Château. The circular route, which is open to everyone, runs along the foot of the Château beside the banks of the Loir. It offers views of the rocky promontory with the Château and of former watermills. Châteaudun is also on the Loir à Vélo cycling routes.

The Sentier nature du bois des Gâts runs through the municipal forest and passes through a ravine woodland, a bat hibernation area and wetland habitats along the banks of the Loir. When planning your visit, note that the trail is not marked. Le Bois des Gâts covers 23 hectares in the heart of an area protected as a Natura 2000 site.

Stretching beneath the town centre, the Grottes du Foulon cover more than 10,000 m². Formed naturally by water millions of years ago, the large limestone caves contain quartz and chalcedony geodes. Visits are only possible as part of a guided tour; check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Mézières-en-Drouais, Flacey, Chartres, Manou, Le Mesnil-Simon, Luce, Champrond-en-Gâtine, Gommerville.

For the broader travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.