Loire Valley monuments – spring 2015 news

Restorations and redevelopments

St Cosme Priory – Redevelopment and new gardens

On 18 February 2015 the new gardens and a new itinerary for visitors were inaugurated after more than a year's worth of work in this monument, which is owned by the Indre-et-Loire County Council and located in La Riche. This work included: restoration of walls, wooden decking for the pathways and an array of new plants for the contemporary gardens which seek to contribute to the poetic identity of Ronsard's former residence. 

Before the season begins, the Priory will be opening for weekend previews from 21 February to 15 March at the special rate of €4.50 

<iframe title="Vidéo Prieuré St Cosme" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/119320094?portrait=0" width="700" height="393" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> 

Online:

• www.prieure-ronsard.fr
• Prieuré St-Cosme : réouverture de la demeure de Ronsard en 2015 (My Loire Valley, 13/11/2014)

Château de Saumur - Restoration of the finial

The château has been undergoing an extensive restoration campaign for the past twenty odd years. In partnership with the French Heritage Foundation, the town of Saumur is opening a subscription for restoring the finial of the South-East tower and the King René tower. 

Overseen by Mr de Saint Jouan, Chief Architect of Historical Monuments, the programme is taking its cue from the famous illumination "Très riches Heures du duc de Berry" (Very rich era of the Duke of Berry) which faithfully depicts the castle of the counts of Anjou. 

Online:

• www.chateau-saumur.com
• La Fondation du Patrimoine soutient la Ville de Saumur pour le site du château
• Saumur. Le château retrouve une nouvelle jeunesse (Courrier de l'Ouest, 26/02/2015)
• Saumur. Un épi de faîtage doré sur le château de Saumur (Courrier de l'Ouest, 07/02/2015)

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau - Restoration of roofing and façades

Now that the gardens have been laid out afresh according to the 1855 drawings, 2015 will see works continuing in this historical monument with the restoration of the roofing and façades. Tours are in the pipeline to immerse visitors in a brand new experience and give them insight into the techniques of our ancestors. 

Online:

• http://azay-le-rideau.monuments-nationaux.fr
• Le joyau d'Azay-le-Rideau va retrouver son écrin (La Nouvelle République, 29/12/2014)
• Une campagne de restauration exceptionnelle (Tourainfo Pro, 20/02/2015)

New exhibition displays

Fontevraud Abbey – the Jean Genet displays are given a makeover

The displays given over to remembering prison life and the writer Jean Genet were renewed during the Abbey's annual closing. Three new features now enrich the displays for visitors to give them a clearer understanding of the Royal Abbey's past as a prison:  

• Personal accounts (videos)
• Scale model
• Objects from the prison setting

Online:

• L'espace dédié à l'histoire de la prison à Fontevraud repensé

Château de Villandry – Inauguration of the Francis I room  

This new visitors' room presents different historical and artistic accounts of the Renaissance, including a tapestry from the Field of the Cloth of Gold. 

Online:

• www.chateauvillandry.fr
• Inauguration de la salle François 1er

Château de Brezé – Opening of two new rooms

The château has opened two new rooms for access during guided tours following a series of restoration campaigns: the billiards room and the grand salon. Situated in the Renaissance wing, both of these rooms are dedicated to the Colbert family. 

Online:

• Nouveauté : ouverture de la salle de billard et du Grand salon

Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire – Return of the "Tenture des Planètes et des Jours"

This Wall Hanging of the Planets and Days is composed of eight tapestries. It is a masterpiece of inestimable value, of which there are only two copies in the world, and was woven by the master-heddle-setter Martin Reymbouts in Brussels in the late 16th century. Acquired by Prince and Princess de Broglie in 1889 and listed as a Historical Monument in 1938, this unique ensemble, on loan since 2006, has just been fully restored thanks to joint funding from the French State and Centre-Val de Loire region.  

Since 20 February 2015, after a decade or so out of public sight, these tapestries are once again on display for visitors at Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire. 

Online:

• www.domaine-chaumont.fr
• Retour de la «Tenture des Planètes et des Jours» à Chaumont-sur-Loire (DRAC Centre-Val de Loire)