Château de Senonches

About the museum

The first mention of the Château de Senonches appears in a charter from the early 12th century; Hugues II, lord of Châteauneuf-en-Thimerais, had it built around 1140. Only the gatehouse tower remains, listed as a historic monument in 1923, along with a few sections of the ramparts and part of the curtain wall. The property later passed to the lords of the Thimerais, the dukes of Alençon, the Gonzague-Mantoue family and the Bourbon-Conti, before being sold to Louis XV in 1770 and granted as an appanage to his grandson, the future Louis XVIII.

Sold as national property after the Revolution, the château was bequeathed to the commune in 1831 on condition that it house a school, a town hall and a justice of the peace. It was then used as a school, and later as a police station until 1965. In 1974, the commune entrusted its management to the Association du Château, which opened a museum of folk arts and traditions there, closed at the end of 2002.

Major restoration work began in 2005. The interpretation centre “Forêt d'Histoires”, devoted to the forest and to people, opened in July 2016 in the main building and in a structure built in the courtyard. The family-friendly, interactive visit presents the forest ecosystem and the riches of the Senonches state forest.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “Forêt d'Histoires” across three levels
• Immersive 180-degree projection in an imaginary forest
• Interactive forestry game and the timber sector “Cluedo”
• Touchscreens, odour installations, soundscapes and models
• 12th-century gatehouse tower, listed as a historic monument
• Château fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility

Permanent exhibitions

• Rez-de-chaussée : géographie et écologie de la forêt – Three sequences on geographical landmarks, how a forest works, and the fauna and flora of Senonches.
• Premier étage : Forêt d'Histoires – This floor covers the history of the forest, the trades of wood and forestry, maps of the Senonches forest and a 180-degree immersive projection.
• Deuxième étage : forêt d'aujourd'hui – This level covers the timber sector, forestry and sustainable management, with a forestry game and a large investigation game on the timber sector.

Founded

2016

Operated by

Commune de Senonches

Admission & discounts

2025 rates for free visits to the permanent exhibition. Residents of some communes in the community of communes (including Senonches) enter free with the Pass du Château card. Payment by card, cheque, cash and holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The château is described as fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Interactive and sensory visit with touchscreens, odour installations, quizzes and investigations. Activity Wednesdays for 6- to 12-year-olds during school holidays (treasure hunt, creative workshop and snack), and family afternoons with a museum investigation, a creative workshop and a snack.

Getting there & parking

GPS coordinates: 48.5594135, 1.03773112. Phoenix shuttle: 06 85 70 43 36.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Château shop. Tasting of Perche products included in the gourmet packages for groups.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit