The Jardins du château du Pin are listed as “Jardins remarquables” in the French Ministry of Culture’s 2026 list.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Champtocé-sur-Loire is planning a stay in this location.
Culture and History
The protected ensemble of Château du Pin includes the chapel, the surrounding walls and gates, the Art Deco gardens, and the kitchen garden. Château du Pin is partially listed as a historic monument. The Jardins du Château du Pin were created between 1920 and 1925 in the Art Deco style, with water basins and the first topiary trees. There are 78 clipped yew trees on the grounds. The Petit Logis, also known as La Ménagerie, was built at the end of the 16th century.
The Jardins du Château du Pin are accessible to people with reduced mobility and bear the “Tourisme & Handicap” label. The Church of Saint-Pierre is protected as a historic monument. It has a 16th-century tracery window; its bells date from 1540 and 1659. The first Château de Gilles de Rais was built in the 11th century. The historical interpretation trail in Champtocé-sur-Loire begins at the foot of the Château de Gilles de Rais and takes around 45 minutes. The Château de Gilles de Rais is occasionally open to the public. The Dolmen de la Romme is also protected as a historic monument.
Nature and Landscape
Champtocé-sur-Loire lies on the edge of an alluvial terrace, from which the village is separated by a spring-fed watercourse at the foot of the slope known as the Boire de Champtocé. The Boire de Champtocé is fed by the Rôme River and plays an important role in regulating flooding of the Loire.
Seventeen bird species have been recorded at the Boire de Champtocé itself or in the surrounding wet meadows and woodland. The wet meadows at the Boire de Champtocé are home to the protected fritillary flower, locally known as Gogane. Anglers use the Rôme at the Boire de la Rôme.
Trails and Events
The GR3 long-distance hiking trail runs through Champtocé-sur-Loire. Several cycling routes are also available, including VTC routes. The annual Randonnée Entre Boire et châteaux offers four routes of 6, 9, 13, and 18 kilometres. The Aire de pique-nique Boire de la Rôme has play areas.
The Fêtes des Plantes have been held twice a year in the Jardins du Château du Pin for almost 40 years. The Fête des Plantes brings together nurseries, antiques dealers, craftspeople, and gardening enthusiasts, and includes events, conferences, and meetings focused on nature and plants. The Jardins du Château du Pin can be reached by bicycle from the Loire à Vélo route, which is approximately 7 kilometres away.
