Château de Meslay

The castle of Meslay was erected for Jean François de la PORTE (a general farmer close to Cardinal Fleury, Louis XV main minister) and it was a gigantic project: it needed to demolish the old castle (where Henri IV stayed during the siege of Vendôme in 1589), to move the ancient village and it ended with the creation of a cotton fabric, which production was sold to Paris and the Court in Versailles.

During this guided tour, you will discover the magnificent reception rooms with remarkable family furniture, an extremely rare gnomon (solar calendar) inlaid into the parquet floor, and 400 m2 of spectacular kitchen carved in the cellar.

After a walk under the beautiful arbour of lime trees on the terrace (classified site since 1943) over the Loir, you will see the dovecote with its revolving ladder, a wine press, and a presentation of important family collection of horse-drawn carriages signed by the great coachbuilders of the time.

Film, videos, sound backgrounds, holograms will punctuate your visit.

In particular, a film on the history of the eleven family generations that succeeded in Meslay will conclude your visit.