Château de Saumur
Fortress of the counts of Anjou overlooking the Loire, now a museum of decorative arts and horse culture, with views from the belvedere.
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About the museum
In the 10th century, a first fortified structure was built at Saumur to protect the neighbouring abbey of Saint-Florent. The counts of Anjou seized it in 1026; Philip II Augustus took the town in 1203 and had a keep built there. Saint Louis made it a royal fortress in 1227.
From 1368, Louis I of Anjou turned the stronghold into a prestigious residence; King René embellished it until 1480, when the estate returned to the Crown. In the 16th century, Philippe Duplessis-Mornay added a bastioned enclosure, completed in 1646. The château was then used as a residence for governors and as a prison, and until 1889 as an arms depot.
The city of Saumur bought the site and opened a municipal museum there at the start of the 20th century. A bequest from Charles Lair in 1922 made it a museum of decorative arts, and a donation from the Musée du cheval in the 1950s further enriched the collections. Listed as a historic monument in 1964, the château was restored after a rampart collapsed in 2001, with the work completed in 2007. It now belongs to the city, which displays tapestries, ceramics and objects related to horses.
Highlights
- View of the Loire and the town from the belvedere
- Collections of tapestries, ceramics and antique furniture
- Rich collection of objects related to horses
- Honour courtyard and King René’s lodgings
- Free activity booklet for children aged 7 to 12
- Operated by
- Ville de Saumur
- Visitors per year
- approx. 106,406
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €9.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7Young people aged 7 to 18, students, apprentices, job seekers, people with disabilities and their companion, and other groups specified by the château |
| Children & teens | €7free up to age 6 · Free for children under 7; reduced rate from 7 to 18. |
| Seniors | –No specific rate for seniors. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €7Reduced rate for the person and their companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €7Reduced rate with proof of status. |
| Groups (12+ people) | €7.30 per personPrice per person; group reduced rate of €6. |
| Families | €26.50For 2 adults and 2 children, plus €1.50 per additional child. |
| Group reduced rate (from 12 people) | €6 |
| Supplement for a themed tour for children with a guide | €2 |
| Supplement for a guided visit of the belvedere (30 min, June to September) | €3Groups of 8 people maximum. |
| Muséo Pass annual (six partner sites) | €12Personal pass valid for twelve months from purchase. |
Free admission with proof for recipients of minimum social benefits, museum and heritage staff, and holders of the ICOM card and press card. Rail offer: reduced rate at the ticket office with certain TER Aléop cards. Payment by cash, bank card or paper Chèques-Vacances.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A listed historic monument with visiting conditions that can be difficult: the honour courtyard and the upper floors are reached only by stairs. Strollers, hiking baby carriers and large bags are not admitted; lockers are available at reception. People with reduced mobility can be dropped off in the courtyard of the Feuquières barracks, before the Pont Dormant. Dogs are not allowed in the paid area, except guide dogs and assistance dogs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
| Family ticket | €26.50 · For 2 adults and 2 children, plus €1.50 per additional child. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly: not available
Free for children under 7, and a family rate that offers good value. A free activity booklet for ages 7 to 12 is available at reception. Themed tours for children with a guide are offered as an extra. Strollers are not allowed.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Château
Saumur station (TER from Nantes, Angers, Tours, Blois and Orléans). Bus line A from the station to the “Château” stop.
By car
Free parking
Large free car park on the Esplanade Hubert Landais, with an electric vehicle charging point and bicycle parking.
By car, reach Saumur via the A10, the A85 or the D347, then the D947. The town centre is about a 5-minute walk away.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Bookshop with a museum shop, accessible directly from the château. Picnic area nearby, and picnicking in the gardens is allowed from spring to autumn. Restaurants nearby; the town centre is about a 5-minute walk away.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A free introduction of about 30 minutes to the history and architecture is offered in French and English. Free guided tours of the museum in French last about an hour, depending on guide availability. The guided tour of the belvedere is booked on site on the same day. Visitor guides are available in seven languages. Staff speak French and English. |
