Free walking tours in Talcy and what to see

Must-sees

Talcy is a small village in the Beauce, in the Loir-et-Cher department, about twenty-five kilometres north-east of Blois, and its reason for being is the château. It is a fortified manor house transformed in the 16th century by the Florentine banker Bernard Salviati, sober in appearance and surrounded by cereal fields. Cassandre Salviati lived here; Ronsard met her at a ball in Blois and she inspired his love poems, beginning with the celebrated “Mignonne, allons voir si la rose”.

The interior keeps its layout and 18th-century furniture, with painted decoration, giving a vivid idea of life in a noble country house. In the farmyard you will see a 15th-century dovecote, with its nesting holes in the walls, and a large wine press. Behind lie a fruit orchard and a pleasure garden, awarded the Jardin Remarquable label. It is a national monument run by the Centre des monuments nationaux.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Talcy. What Civitatis offers is a ticket for the château, with which you explore the house, the dovecote, the wine press and the gardens at your own pace. If you want guided tours of the area, the usual option is to sign up in Blois, where trips leave for the great Loire châteaux.

How long to spend

The château can be seen well in an hour to an hour and a half, including a stroll around the orchard and the garden. To make the most of the day, combine it with Blois, about half an hour’s drive away, or with the châteaux of Chambord and Beauregard. With two or three days you can tour the rest of the great Loire châteaux.

Where to stay

There is hardly any accommodation in Talcy, apart from the odd country cottage or guest room in the village and on the plain. The most practical option is to stay in Blois, which has hotels in the historic centre next to the château and good road connections. Mer, on the Loire, is a quieter alternative that is also close by.