Discover Saint-Aignan

ZooParc de Beauval is located in Saint-Aignan. The town also includes the medieval town designated as a “Site patrimonial remarquable,” the Château de Saint-Aignan, and the collegiate church. If you’re looking for hotels in Saint-Aignan, first consider which of these themes will shape your stay: the park as a specific reason to visit, architecture and history, or time along the banks of the Cher. This will help you plan around the activities you want to include in your stay.

ZooParc de Beauval as a reason to visit

At ZooParc de Beauval, visitors can explore 46 hectares with around twenty animal areas. The size and number of areas give you a concrete idea of the park’s scale and layout, and help you plan it as a main focus of your visit. Le Nuage de Beauval offers a special view of the zoo’s animals, adding another perspective to your visit to the park. ZooParc is located on Avenue du Blanc, 41110 Saint-Aignan.

Château, fortress, and collegiate church

The Château de Saint-Aignan is a privately owned Renaissance château and is not open to visitors. However, its courtyard of honour and terrace can be accessed by a staircase from the collegiate church; check the access conditions again before your visit. The château is decorated with the scallop shell of Saint James and the salamander of Francis I. Tour Hagard is the surviving remnant of the 9th-century fortress on whose site the château was built. This lets you distinguish the château’s Renaissance design from the history of the older fortress as two separate layers of time.

The collegiate church was built in the 11th and 12th centuries on the site of a chapel dedicated to Saint John; it is protected as a historic monument. Its nave is 16 metres high and is supported by eight columns with sculpted capitals. These measurements give you a concrete sense of the church interior’s dimensions. The capitals—the sculpted upper parts of the columns—also offer a closer look at the architecture.

More architecture and walks

La Prévôté is a 14th-century Gothic house that hosts art exhibitions from May to September. If you plan to visit, check the exhibition dates in advance: the programme is seasonal. Villa Rose is a house built in the early 20th century and covered with a sgraffito fresco. From the Gothic house to Villa Rose, the buildings span different periods; the villa’s striking fresco adds another architectural detail.

The municipal “Pas à Pas” walk takes you through the streets of Saint-Aignan to lesser-known places in the town. For a different view of the town, take the walking path on Île-Plage: it runs along the banks of the Cher, from where you can view Saint-Aignan and its architectural landmarks. The difference between the two options is clear: “Pas à Pas” takes you through the streets, while the Île-Plage path follows the river and offers views of the town and its architecture.

Getting there and further information

Saint-Aignan can be reached by train via Saint-Aignan/Noyers station. Check train connections before travelling. For cyclists, the “Cœur de France à Vélo” route continues in the direction of Selles-sur-Cher and follows the Canal de Berry along the way. When planning your visit, you can therefore choose between a trip focused on ZooParc, a look at the historic buildings, and the walking, train, or cycling options mentioned here.

Discover more destinations: Cour-Cheverny, Chouzy-Sur-Cisse, Faverolles-sur-Cher, Saint-Avit, Courmemin, Tour-En-Sologne, Saint-Gourgon, Angé.

Return to the regional travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.