Chateau de Saumur and Loire river, Saumur, Loire

Chateau de Saumur and river Loire, Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France. The first castle on this site was built in the 10th century by Theobald I, Count of Blois, but it was in the 14th century when Louis I, Duke of Anjou developed the defensive fortress into a true chateau. It served as the residence of the Dukes of Anjou until the 15th century. In the 16th century Philippe Duplessis-Mornay, Governor of Saumur, added the extensive fortifications around the chateau. In 1621 it became an army barracks, under Napoleon a prison and it is now a museum. The chateau sits above the town of Saumur along the banks of the river Loire by its confluence with the river Thouet. It is a listed historic monument. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13426561

Media ID

45124415

Size

5616px x 3744px (4.9MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen