The most beautiful châteaux along La Flow Vélo

Travel back in time, exploring marvellous historic monuments in both the Charentes and Dordogne areas. Here, we focus on nine châteaux to discover along La Flow Vélo cycle route.

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Château de Crazannes (Charente-Maritime)

Nicknamed the Château du Chat Botté (Puss in Boots’s Castle), the Château de Crazannes, close to the town of Saintes, is a listed historic monument. Built in the 14th century, it includes vestiges of one of the oldest châteaux in Charente-Maritime, as it was constructed on the foundations of an older medieval fortress of which Saint-Saturnin de Crazannes chapel, the keep and the dry moats survive. The place nestles in eight hectares of grounds. The castle’s nickname, the Château du Chat Botté, derives from Jules Gouffier, Comte de Caravaz, one-time proprietor of the castle, and a figure said to have inspired Charles Perrault, author of so many famed versions of well-known fairy tales, to create the character of the Marquis de Carabas, Master of Puss in Boots in his iconic tale. Nowadays, you can visit the château on request… and you can even book accommodation here!

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Château de Panloy (Charente-Maritime)

Located between Saintes and Rochefort, the Château de Panloy stands beside the Charente River at Port d'Envaux. A listed historic monument, the château dates back to the 17th century and has kept its period style, along with many period objects and furniture. Its reception rooms, a fine bedroom, its galleries and its attics, plus items tracing life back through the centuries (such as an 1840 cafetière and 18th-century tapestries) are revealed on the guided tours that take place daily. In the gardens, woods and along the canals, young and old alike can explore further sides to the estate. Little ones can take part in a big treasure hunt, searching for carrots that the château’s donkey, Anatole, has mislaid! In the unspoilt grounds, covering seven hectares of countryside, an extensive game of a trail encourages visitors to wander through the estate’s alleys and woods. For older children, there’s a big quiz to complete, the prize a river cruise on the Charente.

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Château d'Hautefort (Dordogne)

Perched on a rocky outcrop looking down on the eponymous village below, the Château de Hautefort’s roots go back to a medieval fortress erected here in the 12th century. Transformed in the Ancien Régime, its imposing forms recall archetypal Loire Valley châteaux. With this architectural gem, the site combines a majestic building in classic French style with a beautiful natural setting. Admire the remarkable collection of 17th- and 18th-century furniture preserved inside. It was in the 19th century that a formal French-style garden and more informal English grounds were added. This place is a must-see along the cycle route, as much for its interiors as its exteriors, the former including an imposing chamber with grand fireplaces, 18th-century apartments, and even a cinema! In summer, cultural events are put on for visitors.

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Opening times / Prices
Address: Le Bourg d'Hautefort, 24390 Hautefort
French landline tel: +33 (0)5 53 50 51 23

Château de la Marthonie in Saint Jean de Côle (Dordogne)

First, the history! Located under one kilometre from a section of greenway, the Château de la Marthonie was originally built in the 12th century. However, during the Hundred Years War, it was largely destroyed. The château you see today dates mostly from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. The 17th-century monumental staircase has kept its grandeur and leads, notably, to the grand drawing room, recently restored. The lower chambers are also very well preserved. The château is in private hands. The local tourist office, though, does propose tours in the summer period, or year-round for groups, by prior arrangement. Some parts of the castle are difficult to access for people with reduced mobility. As to the village in which this château stands, it definitely deserves a visit too, having been admitted to the association of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

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Address: 1 Le Bourg, 24800 Saint-Jean-de-Côle

Château de Peyraux (Dordogne)

The Château de Peyraux, first mentioned back in 1328, occupies a magnificent site in the Dordogne. Its outbuildings reflect the strategy behind its construction. The southern entrance is protected by a rectangular châtelet, or defensive gateway, emphasizing the place’s military character. Built in part over vaulted cellars, the outbuildings also served as defensive rooms. A round tower links these buildings to the western rampart, imparting a feeling of solidity. An engraving of 1688 on a stable door recalls an important period in its history. Today, this château continues to delight visitors, immersing them in a past full of adventures and mysteries. A 14th-century construction, the Château de Peyraux has been registered on the list of French historic monuments since 1948. Located under 700m north of the village of Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare, its gardens are free to visit and offer a lovely walk in the countryside.

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