Discover Château-Du-Loir: Collegiate Church, Markets and Cycling Route

Culture

Château-Du-Loir is home to the Collégiale St Guingalois, a building constructed around 1070. Its crypt housed relics of Saint Guénolé, also known as St Guingalois; Breton monks fleeing the Vikings had brought them to Château-du-Loir in 878. The collegiate church’s Gothic choir dates from the 13th century, while its organs are classified and date from before 1719.

In the centre of Château-du-Loir, the Cabinet de curiosités displays paintings and heterogeneous objects. They were brought together around a century ago through donations from residents of Château-du-Loir, artists and the state, as well as through purchases by the municipality. A new selection of objects and works of art is intended to be displayed for two years at a time. The Cabinet can be visited during the tourist season from 1 April to 30 September, during the tourist office’s opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The town hall square was created around 1780 and developed into a place for exchange and gathering for the residents of Château-du-Loir. Located in the centre, the town hall square occupies the former site of a feudal castle built on a tuffeau terrace approximately twelve metres high. Near the town hall, the bandstand was inaugurated in 1927.

Near Château-du-Loir lies the Rotonde ferroviaire de Montabon, a rare railway roundhouse dating from 1890. It includes a 24-metre-long turntable and ten internal tracks.

Local Life

Traditional markets are held in Château-du-Loir every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the year. The Saturday market takes place on Place Lemonnier and Avenue Jean Jaurès, while the Wednesday market is held on the town hall square. The new market hall houses the Saturday market and numerous public events, including, for example, the dance held on 14 July.

Getting Around

Regional bus route 25 connects Le Mans, Château-du-Loir and Tours. Château-du-Loir railway station has 20 secure bicycle parking spaces.

A holiday apartment in Château-du-Loir can be assessed on the listings pages based on travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions. These details address different aspects of travel planning: the date, the desired room layout and how changes are handled. The applicable terms are shown in each individual listing.

Countryside

The section of the Vallée du Loir à vélo route near Château-du-Loir initially runs above the town before descending towards the Loir. The route follows small roads through a green landscape of ponds, meadows and bocage hedgerows. The change from the elevated area to the river valley thus connects two different landscapes within the same section.

Further Destinations

Saint-Michel-De-Chavaignes, Sablé-Sur-Sarthe, La Ferté-Bernard, Saint-Victeur, Sargé-lès-le-Mans, Saint-Ouen-De-Mimbré, Saint-Calais, Vernie

To the higher-level travel overview: Sarthe.