Take a trip to the Loire Valley in France and you can visit some of Europe‘s most grand and opulent chateaux and play at some stunningly beautiful golf courses. Here’s our quick guide.
Chateau de Cheverny
Located near the village of Cheverny, this chateau was built between 1624 and 1630 on the site of an earlier feudal castle in a classical style popular at the time of Louis XIII. The interiors are ornate and luxurious and it’s possibly the most beautifully furnished of all the castles in the Loire Valley. From April to November you can take a boat trip through the beautiful surrounding gardens.
Golf du Chateau de Cheverny is nestled in an incredibly beautiful setting close to the chateau. The 18-hole course here is in perfect harmony with nature and its manicured layout integrates into the surrounding natural landscapes where you can encounter meandering deer. Set around the enormous pond of La Rousselière, this former hunting territory of the chateau is picture perfect.
Chateau d’Ussé
The Chateau d’Ussé, at the edge of the forest of Chinon, was built and modified through the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Due to its fairytale appearance of turrets, it is believed that Charles Perrault wrote Sleeping Beauty based on its design. The castle interior and furnishings are French Renaissance in design and set out to give a real feel of 16th century life.
Located just 15 minutes from the historic towns of Saumur, Chinon and Loudun, this 18-hole course has wide fairways bordered by hundred-year-old trees set in a 120-hectare park. There’s also botanical species and a serene atmosphere. Designed in 1985, this splendid layout incorporates streams, woods, lakes, wells and historic buildings.
This pretty golf course is short by modern standards, but it’s still a stiff test of golf from the back tees. The main features are its technical difficulty and the quality of the fairways and greens. Along with the undulating, tree-lined fairways are several water hazards and tucked away small, quick putting surfaces.
Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau
Located in the town of Azay-le-Rideau, this chateau was built between 1518 and 1527 and is considered one of the foremost examples of early French renaissance architecture. Set on an island in the middle of the Indre river, it’s encircled by a romantic 8-hectare park and is today one of the most visited chateaux in the Loire Valley. The interior is adorned with prestigious historic decorations retracing four centuries of French history.
Golf de Tourraine is just 17 km away, (see above).
Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire
A medieval fortress, complete with towers, keep, rampart walk and moats, the Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire was built in the 14th century. It’s brimming with history and has played host to Joan of Arc, Louis XIV and Voltaire. The luxurious interior has paintings and tapestries on display, as well as a magnificent roof structure. Visitors can also walk around the pleasant surrounding tree-lined park.
Located in the heart of Sologne, this 27-hole course makes the most of the stunning surrounding countryside. Beginners will appreciate the spacious holes, but various water hazards and the tree-lined fairways will test better players. Les Sarcelles is a very open layout where you can unleash your driver. The Pheasants is more woody and more technical, requiring control of your swing. Les Chevreuils is the prettiest nine, but possibly the most difficult with a few water hazards.
Chateau de Villandry
The Chateau de Villandry is a grand country house located in Villandry and is especially known for its beautiful gardens which include a maze to wander around and get lost. Laid out in a succession of terraces, each with its own identity and aesthetic, the six landscaped gardens are among the finest in France. The chateau dates back to the early 16th century, built on the site of an ancient fortress, the keep of which still exists today. It now stands as one of the finest testimonies to Renaissance architecture.
