Photo : Selbymay / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Château de Meillant
The château de Meillant, in the Cher, is one of the most remarkable witnesses of Flamboyant Gothic in Berry. Its construction began in 1473 under the d'Amboise family; the central body, the chapel and the Lion Tower, with its spiral staircase, are the work of Charles I d'Amboise, around 1478. The two façades offer a striking contrast: the one on the moat side is medieval, flanked by massive towers, while the one on the courtyard side is richly ornamented.
The château today belongs to the Rochechouart de Mortemart family, one of the oldest families in France. Madame de Montespan, favourite of Louis XIV, was a Mortemart.
A private residence listed as a historic monument, it is discovered through guided tours that lead inside; its surroundings are encircled by a park and gardens. Meillant is in the south of the Cher, near Saint-Amand-Montrond.
