Castle of Saumur

The Castle of Saumur occupies a strategic promontory overlooking the Loire River, enclosed originally by a one-kilometer-long defensive wall known as the “mur de Boile,” which protected an area of about six hectares. By the 11th century, a raised earthwork platform called a motte, standing 7 to 8 meters high, was constructed to support the castle’s fortifications.

A prominent feature is the Romanesque tower built in the 12th century during the Plantagenet period. This tower has a square footprint measuring approximately 19 by 20 meters, with walls nearly 3 meters thick reinforced by buttresses, designed to withstand attacks. Surrounding the motte, 13th-century additions included a new outer wall with tall curtain walls forming a square layout. Circular towers were positioned at each corner, pierced with narrow arrow slits for archers. These towers rise through four levels: a semi-subterranean basement, two floors equipped with arrow slits, and a top story featuring a timber frame and slate roof.

In the 14th century, Louis I of Anjou undertook major rebuilding, demolishing older residential buildings and curtain walls to create a grand wing facing the Loire River. This wing adjoins the central Romanesque tower and contains the main hall on its upper floor. Decorative stonework such as windows, doors, and chimneys from this period was crafted by master sculptors from the nearby towns of Tours and Chinon.

One of the castle’s most remarkable architectural elements is its double-spiral staircase, which allows two separate groups—nobles and servants—to ascend and descend without crossing paths. This design is similar to one attributed to Leonardo da Vinci and is unique in France, with the only other known example formerly located at the Louvre. The main staircase consists of four bays and remains intact.

The kitchens were deliberately separated from the main living quarters by a wall to reduce the risk of fire, a practice illustrated in the famous medieval manuscript, the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. The castle also includes a dungeon and a watchtower. To the west lies the lower courtyard, which contains the “grande salle du baille,” a large hall that served as a courtroom for administering justice.

In the late 16th century, the castle’s defenses were further strengthened with the addition of an Italian-style enceinte featuring two moats and two drawbridges arranged in a chicane formation, creating a complex defensive approach to the keep. The northern outer wall was heightened in 1368 by adding three rows of stones, enhancing its protective capabilities.

Following the partial collapse of the northern rampart in 2001, extensive stabilization and reconstruction work was carried out, completed in 2007. Today, the castle’s restored ramparts and stabilized basements preserve its historical fabric. It now houses museums displaying collections of ceramics, tapestries dating from the 15th to 18th centuries, period furniture, and equestrian equipment, reflecting its long-standing connection to both military and cultural history.