Park and ruins of the Château de Vendôme

The remains of the château (11th - 17th century) and its collegiate church, Saint-Georges, are a reminder of the power of the Counts, and later Dukes, of Bourbon-Vendôme, who rose to the throne of France with Henry IV. The medieval enclosure, whose walls are still partly visible, dates from the 12th century. The Poitiers Tower, the main tower, still dominates this ancient fortified structure. The castle was damaged by two assaults: in 1562 by the Huguenots and in 1793 by the Revolutionaries. The heart of the castle is occupied by a beautiful English-style park created in the 19th century (1807 cedar and a collection of hydrangeas created by the Mouillère family, Vendôme horticulturists), which offers a unique panorama of the town.
The parkland of the Bourbon-Vendôme château (whose ruins - classified as World Heritage - date from the 12th and 16th centuries) is a pleasant place to relax, with winding paths and an English-style park laid out in the 19th century, offering an excellent panorama of the town. The perennials bloom with the seasons. Also worth seeing is a magnificent Lebanese cedar planted in 1807. Free access at all times. In July and August, the Château de Vendôme Berceau des Bourbon association organises concerts in the hanging gardens on Sunday mornings (11am) (for more information, visit their website chateaudevendome.fr). Also in season: guided tours (remains of the château and park) for groups only.

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