A new look for the keep at the Château de Langeais

Published on 22 March 2008 - Updated 22 December 2010
Cet article date d'il y a plus de 16 ans

The keep at Langeais, built shortly before the year 1000 by Foulque Nerra, was one of the first keeps in France to be built entirely of stone. All that now remains is an impressive wall, seventeen metres long and around ten metres high, to which a six-metre high wooden scaffold, with machinery, designed by Arnaud de Saint-Jouan, architect in chief for Historic Monuments, has now been added.

Its construction is based on a historical hypothesis and has been built for educational purposes, to help visitors to understand how a mediaeval building site might have operated, and to better appreciate the keep.
This large-scale project was carried out by companies in the region that have been awarded the "Historic Monuments" quality label, and was completed at the end of March 2008. The whole of the structure and its fixing mechanism are reversible.

Work has also been carried out on the chateau's grounds, with the creation of a children's play area. A 40 sq.m tree house on three levels, perched in one of the magnificent cedars in the park, offers a breathtaking view over the landscape of the Loire.

Further information:
Château de Langeais

News

25/04/2024

[Fr] Portraits de Loire au XVIIIe siècle

À partir de documents d'époque, la websérie “Portraits de Loire au XVIIIe siècle” plonge dans cette période de l'histoire, parcourt le paysage...

L Alose, une plate de Loire, navigue sur la Loire à Chalonnes-sur-Loire, avec cinq personnes à son bord.
© Les Chalandoux du 5e vent

09/04/2024

[Fr] L'Alose, une plate de Loire remise à l'eau à Chalonnes-sur-Loire

Samedi 30 mars, le quartier des mariniers était en liesse. Ils étaient nombreux à avoir répondu à l’invitation des Chalandoux du 5ᵉ Vent pour accompagner...

Un castor dans la Loire tenant une branche dans ses pattes pour contruire le barrage que l on aperçoit derrière lui.
© Étienne Davodeau

09/04/2024

[Fr] 2024, année du castor

En 1974, 13 castors sont réintroduits en Loire, près de Blois. À l’occasion du 50e anniversaire de cette réintroduction historique, la Société nationale...