Product Notes

The Chateau de Saumur stands on a high point overlooking the Loire river in northern France. Built in the 10th century AD, this castle defended the local area from the Normans, came into the hands of the Plantagenets, and was destroyed in 1067 and then rebuilt by Henry II of England. In the 13th century it was owned by Phillip II of France, and came to fame in the beautiful illustrated manuscript known as the "Tres Riches Heures" of the Duc de Berry, who commissioned the book. This "book of hours" shows agricultural and other work going on at Saumur and other castles through various seasons of the year, and Saumur's white stonework and blue slates make it unmistakable and give it look of a fairy castle, although in reality it was in its day a formidable stronghold. Saumur became dilapidated in the 20th century, and one side collapsed and has not been rebuilt, but the rest has been restored and is now part museum, part tourist attraction.