A Chinese-style pagoda rising 44 metres above the ornamental gardens of a long-vanished chateau, about 3 km south of Amboise. Seven tiers, each smaller than the last, with a balcony at the top offering views over the surrounding forest and the Loire valley beyond. The gardens survive in reasonable shape and are pleasant for a walk. An unusual detour from the usual chateau circuit.
Pagode de Chanteloup
44-metre Chinese pagoda, sole survivor of a grand chateau
| Address | Route de Bléré, Amboise |
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A story
The pagoda is almost all that remains of the Château de Chanteloup, one of the grandest estates in 18th-century France. The duke who owned it fell out of favour at Versailles and, in a pointed gesture, built this pagoda as a monument to the friends who stayed loyal to him during his exile. The chateau itself was demolished for its materials in 1823.