Château de Chaumont

The origins of the castle date back to the 10th century when Count Odo I of Blois had a fortress built here to protect his lands. In the 11th century, ownership passed to the Amboise family, who held the estate for about 500 years. In the 12th century, the complex was rebuilt after a destruction and was the scene of a meeting between Henry II of England and Thomas Becket in 1170. In the 15th century, the castle was razed by Louis XI because Pierre d'Amboise had participated in a conspiracy. After his rehabilitation, he was allowed to rebuild the castle, a process that took over three generations and combined military and early Renaissance elements. Around 1560, Catherine de' Medici acquired the estate and banished her rival Diane de Poitiers there. In the 18th century, the north wing was demolished to open up the view of the Loire. After the French Revolution, which the castle survived thanks to its manufactories, it temporarily served as an exile for Madame de Staël. In the late 19th century, it was restored by the de Broglie family and transformed into a residence before being acquired by the French state in 1938.

The Château de Chaumont is located in Chaumont-sur-Loire in the Loir-et-Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region, France. It stands at an elevation of approximately 97 meters above sea level.

The castle has been restored and is open to the public.