Chateaudun offers several distinct areas to explore: castle architecture, a historic new town, geological features beneath the town centre, and landscapes along the Loir. When choosing a place to stay, you can first consider whether you want to focus on architectural history and museums, or also on nature and trails. This will help you plan your stay around the subjects that interest you most.

Castle Architecture and Building History

The Château de Châteaudun in the Eure-et-Loir département is known for its keep and its 15th-century Sainte Chapelle. The round keep is 31 metres high and 17 metres in diameter; it is also one of the best-preserved examples of its kind. Its height and diameter offer two specific points of reference for its shape: in addition to its round form, they help you appreciate the size of the structure.

A guided tour of the Château takes in the rampart walk, the battlements and the medieval garden, which was reconstructed in the early 2000s. The tour therefore covers both parts of the castle’s defences and the garden. As the visitor programme may change, check the current tour options before your trip.

Old Town, Churches and Museum

The walking route through the historic centre begins at Place du 18 octobre. It introduces the new town, rebuilt in the 18th century after the great fire of 1723. This tour offers a tangible way to explore the town’s history: the rebuilding after the fire is a distinct focus, which you can set alongside Chateaudun’s older buildings.

Construction of the former Eglise de la Madeleine de Châteaudun dates back to the mid-12th century. The Eglise Saint-Valérien de Châteaudun is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Together with the new town, these sites span a period ranging from medieval churches to the 18th-century rebuilding. The Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Histoire Naturelle complements these historical themes with a wide-ranging display. Its subjects include ancient Egypt, Japanese katagami stencils, the Dunois’ struggle against the Prussians in 1870, and an ornithological collection.

Geology beneath the Town Centre

The Grottes du Foulon offer a different perspective. These large limestone caves extend over more than 10,000 m² beneath Chateaudun’s town centre and feature quartz and chalcedony geodes. They were naturally shaped by water millions of years ago. The caves thus bring together specific minerals and a geological history that reaches far beyond the town’s architectural history. The Grottes du Foulon can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Check the current visitor arrangements before your trip.

Trails along the Loir and in Bois des Gâts

The Tour de l'Ile de Chemars is an accessible circular trail at the foot of the Château de Châteaudun, following the banks of the Loir. Along the way, there are views of the rocky outcrop with the Château and of former watermills. The route therefore combines a riverside path with views of this striking structure and the river’s former uses.

Le Bois des Gâts offers a different perspective on nature. The woodland covers 23 hectares in the heart of an area protected under the Natura 2000 network. The Sentier nature du bois des Gâts passes through the municipal forest and leads through a ravine woodland, a bat hibernation site and wetland habitats along the banks of the Loir. The trail is not marked, so bear this in mind when finding your way. You can choose between the two trails based on specific interests: riverbanks and views on the Tour de l'Ile de Chemars, or woodland and wetland habitats on the Sentier nature.

For cycling plans, there is also a local connection: Chateaudun lies on the Loir à Vélo cycling routes.

Discover more destinations: Dangeau, Le Tronchet, Pontgouin, Mézières-en-Drouais, Saint-Maur-sur-le-Loir, Champrond-en-Gâtine, Beauche, Langey.

For the wider travel overview: Eure-Et-Loir.