Castles to discover in the Loire Valley

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 15 July 2025

In this new article, I take you on a tour of châteaux in the Loire Valley. So, no, I’m not talking about the Loire castles in the Loire Valley, but about castles in the Loire department (42), in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region.

The Loire isn’t necessarily the most touristic department, but there are plenty of sites and history to discover.

This article is part of the #EnFranceAussi inter-blogger rendez-vous, an initiative of Sylvie from the blog Le coin des Voyageurs. This month, the theme chosen by Madeleine of the blog Jeune et Affamée is “ruins, relics, archaeological sites”. So here are six castles that I’ve enjoyed discovering for their history and setting.

And of course, at the end of the article, we don’t forget the opinion of Kiki, the historian.

Château de Rochetaillée near Saint Etienne

We start with the Château de Rochetaillée, located in the commune of Rochetaillée, just a few minutes from Saint Etienne. Built on a quartz peak, the château dates back to the 10th century. You can visit the interior via an iron staircase.

The Château de Rochetaillée is also the perfect starting point for a hike to the Gouffre de l’Enfer dam in the Pilat National Park. Nature just a few kilometers from Saint Etienne!

Take the opportunity to visit Saint Etienne. A city that might surprise you!

Château d’Essalois and the Loire Gorges

Château d’Essalois, overlooking Lac de Grangent, is located in Chambles, about 10 minutes from Firminy and its Le Corbusier site. The château is believed to have been built in the 14th century, with an old fortified castle with two towers and a main building housing the barn, farm buildings and stables.

After leaving your car in the parking lot and taking a short walk through the Chambles forest to reach the château, you’ll have a magnificent view of the Loire Gorges. An incredible panorama!

Before you come or as you leave, discover the magnificent town of Chambles with its tower. You can reach the top by climbing a ladder.

A must-see if you’re coming to the Loire (42)!

Château de Couzan in Sail Sous Couzan

Château de Couzan, a medieval fortress, is located in Sail-sous-Couzan, in the Forez mountains. It’s also known as the birthplace of Aimé Jacquet (and his famous accent!). The château was built on a rocky spur as a fortress and seigneurial residence.

Discover the history of Château de Couzan through guided tours, exhibitions and cultural activities.

More information on the Château de Couzan website.

The Château des Cornes d’Urfé in Champoly

Another château in the Loire region (42) is the Château des Cornes d’Urfé, a ruined château located in Champoly on a rocky promontory…that looks like horns, hence the name! It was built in the 16th century by the d’Urfé family. You can reach the top of the tower via a steep staircase to enjoy a magnificent view.

If you’d like to find out more about the d’Urfé family, you can visit the Château de la Bâtie d’Urfé, home of the famous writer Honoré d’Urfé. It is located in Saint Etienne du Molard, 45 minutes from Saint Etienne.

Château de la Roche in Saint-Priest-la-Roche

Château de la Roche is a medieval castle located in Saint-Priest-la-Roche, 20 minutes from Roanne. Built in the 13th century on a rocky spur, it overlooks the Loire River. The setting is absolutely magnificent.

You can also visit this castle. More information on the official Château de la Roche website.

The medieval site of Donzy in Salt en Donzy

Donzy is the last remaining medieval site in the Loire department. It lies near Salt en Donzy on the banks of the Charpassonne river. It is also on the route of the Monorail, a single-rail railway built at the end of the ^19thcentury between Feurs and Panissières.

You can even go inside an old chapel.

To get there, you can park in a nearby parking lot and follow a short, pleasant hiking trail along the river.

You can also park at Salt sur Donzy and walk to the medieval site of Donzy.

Kiki’s opinion on the Loire castles

Dear readers, if by now you were expecting a history essay on all the châteaux of the Loire Valley (42) mentioned in the article, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Kiki is certainly a historian, but let’s be honest, there are limits. Sure, he’s passionately informed you in previous articles about the tragic stories of Sissi and King Ludwig II, but not this time. A definite no!

However, Kiki loves visiting castles that have been built for eternity. Each stone probably holds a story or a human destiny. How much suffering there may have been around these walls in times of war, and now they’re just old witnesses visited by peaceful people. And one thing is certain, castles often have in common that they are built in privileged locations, with magnificent views and far from all the stress of the cities. Kiki will be visiting many more castles. And don’t worry, there’s sure to be a few more history lessons.