Château et tour d'Oudon

Oudon

On the bank of the Loire, between Nantes and Ancenis, the tour d'Oudon is the symbol of the village. The Mérimée entry relates that from 1392 the lord of Malestroit, lord of Oudon (the entry writes “duke of Malestroit”), undertook to rebuild his château, and that the polygonal tower rose on the ruins of a first building. With its wide bays opening onto the river, it is at once a residence, a defensive work (curtain walls, wall walks) and a display of power. The main building campaign runs through the 14th and 15th centuries, with repairs in the second half of the 19th. The Revolution marked the end of seigneurial life: the château was confiscated in 1794, then sold as national property in 1807. The successive owners dismantled it and used it as a stone quarry. The département bought it in 1820. The tower was listed as a historic monument on 24 July 1866; the 15th-century enclosure, the moats and the access bridge have been registered since 9 May 2000. In the tower, a circuit open to the public now tells the history of the Loire.

Getting there: In the village of Oudon, on the bank of the Loire. The site is presented as open to visitors with a circuit in the tower; opening hours not verified. Coordinates: château in OpenStreetMap (Nominatim).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound