14 Museums to Explore in Centre-Val de Loire

Checkout places to visit in Centre-Val de Loire

Centre-Val de Loire

The Centre-Val de Loire is a large inland region of central France located in the south-west of the French capital Paris. The region is known for its fine historical towns, for its vineyards and agricultural produce, and for its many beautiful castles.

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Museums to Explore in Centre-Val de Loire

Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré

It is Neither museum nor foundation. With a total area of ​​4,500 square meters, the CCC OD has three exhibition spaces: the nave has monumental installations permanently visible from the outside, the black gallery is dedicated to artists of our time and the white gallery is regularly devoted to the work of Olivier Debré. The CCC OD also has a bookstore and a restaurant. One of the nice location where you can understand the history.

Château de Loches

A beautiful medieval castle which was constructed in the 9th century. Built some 500 meters above the Indre River. Designed and occupied by Henry II of England and his son, Richard the Lionheart during the 12th century. The building is an example of the military architecture of the Norman period. One of the main examples of French architecture and is also one of the nice tourist locations in this area. In 1985 it was converted into a museum, and has one of the most extensive collections of med

Château de Saché

The Château de Saché is a writer's house museum located in a home built from the converted remains of a feudal castle which was Located in Saché. it is where French writer Honoré de Balzac wrote many of his novels in the series La Comédie Humaine in which he attempted to reflect every aspect of French society at that time. Since 1951, the château has been open as an evocative museum dedicated to Balzac.

Château de Villesavin

The Château was built by Jean le Breton was the Lord of Villandry and of Villesavin, on the position of an old manor house. The Château was built by the same French and Italian master builders and workmen who built the great Royal Palaces and it has remained for four centuries, almost perfectly untouched. The interior of the manor contains refined furnishings and has a collection of tin objects. The castle also hosts several museums, including a wedding museum presenting an exceptionally rich co

Château du Clos Lucé

A beautiful castle which was Leonardo da Vinci's last residence. The site of the manor house dates back to the 12th century when it was surrounded by fortifications of which only the watchtower remains. The house as it is today, a good example of Renaissance art using both brick and the local tufa stone. Today it is a historical monument and is also a well-known museum about Leonardo da Vinci's life, work and memory.

Château Royal de Blois

The Château de Blois is one of the rare monuments offering visitors a comprehensive view of French architecture from the Middle Ages through the classical epoch. It has been listed since 1945 as a historic monument. The medieval castle became a royal residence and the political capital of the kingdom under Louis XII. This place has so many histories to say. The chateau is now used as a public museum that has a lot of collections that pave light to ancient history.

Châteaudun Château Park & Gardens

A majestic castle and garden which was located in the town of Châteaudun which was built in the 12th century. The castle is renowned for its Gallery of portraits decorated in the 17th century with 327 portraits of famous people. One of the architectural wonders which were built on the edge of the Russy Forest.

Forteresse Royale de Chinon

A majestic royal fortress which was Overlooking the River Vienne which was built by the Count of Blois. Used as a residence by Charles VII in the 15th century and also served as a prison in the 16th century. This beautiful building also has a museum that gives light to the history of this castle. This building is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

FRAC Centre

A beautiful contemporary art museum which was located in the Centre-Val de Loire region in France. Its collection includes come 13,000 works, 700 architectural models, and more than 12,000 drawings. It also features contemporary Japanese architects and illustrates the impact of digital technologies on architecture. One of the nice location where you can study modern and ancient architecture.

Hôtel Goüin

A rare example of Renaissance architecture in Tours which now hosts innovative, regularly changing temporary exhibitions and so more. There is a Museum of the Archaeological Society of Touraine presents a wide variety of collections ranging from prehistory to the 18th Century.

House of George Sand

The 18th-century Château de Nohant is where George Sand, the famous French author of The Devil's Pool, spent her childhood and various key moments of her life. It was located in the village of Nohant. A majestic 6-hectare garden boasting a wonderful rose garden, meadow orchard, flower garden, kitchen garden, and the wooded park is set around this castle. \Now this castle functions as a museum where the works of Sand wrote and of many other important artists and writers of her time are been kept

Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin

The House of Magic takes you into an astonishing world of illusion which holds many surprises. Ideally located opposite the royal castle, the house of magic tells you in this large 19 th century house the history of magic and illusion, as well as the life and work of the famous illusionist from Blés Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin. This house will carry you away in a universe permeated with magic and legends.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

Museum of Fine Arts of Tours is located in the bishop's former palace. This place offers a wide choice of routes: permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, conferences, concerts, routes for young people, library, documentation as well as an educational service for school. It has over 12,000 works of which 1,000 are on show to the public. The museum was classified as a monument historique in 1983.

Musée Maurice Dufresne

Maurice Dufresne Museum houses an authentic and impressive collection of old vehicles, cars, cycles, planes, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, agricultural machinery or military, vintage posters, and unusual period objects, true retro-mechanical heritage from the 1850s to the 1950s. Nearly 3 hours of visit, a journey through time, family, and inter-generational, to discover more than 3000 exceptional pieces and for many of them, unique in the world.

Map of Museums to explore in Centre-Val de Loire