Meung-sur-Loire
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Meung-sur-Loire

Meung-sur-Loire

Small Loire Valley town centred on a bishops' château, Romanesque-Gothic church, and Dumas's Three Musketeers opening.

The Château de Meung stands right in the heart of this small Loire Valley town. Until the 18th century it served as the residence of the bishops of Orléans, and its mix of medieval fortifications and classical facades reflects centuries of renovation and expansion. The castle also has a darker side — its underground rooms were used as a prison, and you can still visit the cells. Literary fans know it as the place where Alexandre Dumas chose to open The Three Musketeers, with d'Artagnan arriving on his yellow horse. Just beside the château, the Collégiale Saint-Liphard is a fine Romanesque-Gothic church well worth a quick look.

Meung-sur-Loire itself is a quiet, pleasant stop along the river. A handful of streets with old stone buildings lead down to the Loire, and the town makes a good base for cycling the Loire à Vélo route. It lacks the tourist crowds of Amboise or Blois, which is part of the appeal — you get an authentic Loire Valley town without the coach tours. A short drive away, the soaring Basilica of Notre-Dame de Cléry holds the tomb of Louis XI.

Guide

Getting There

Meung-sur-Loire is 17 kilometres downstream from Orléans on the right bank of the Loire. The TER regional train from Orléans to Tours stops at Meung — about 15 minutes from Orléans and just over an hour from Tours — and the station is a five-minute walk from the château.

By car, Meung sits just off the A10 motorway (exit 16 Meung-sur-Loire) and the parallel D2152, both of which run alongside the river. The Loire à Vélo long-distance cycle route passes directly through the town, making it a natural overnight stop on a bicycle tour between Orléans and Blois.

Guide

Things to Do

Meung is small enough that you can see the highlights in a few hours. The Château is the obvious draw, and the medieval Collégiale Saint-Liphard just behind it makes a natural pair — the two buildings essentially share a courtyard. The river path and the lower town along the Mauves canal are pleasant for a stroll, and the Arboretum des Prés des Culands a short drive away is one of the best small botanical gardens in the Loiret.