Château-musée de Gien

The château de Gien, built at the end of the fifteenth century, overlooks the Loire at the entrance of the Valley of the Kings and marks the starting point of the Jacques Cœur route. It houses the International Hunting Museum, opened in 1952 first as a museum of shooting and falconry, then renamed in 1962.

The collections trace the history of hunting, its techniques and customs, from the Middle Ages to today. More than three thousand objects are on show: refined weapons, trophies, stuffed animals, historical accounts, as well as lesser-known pieces such as falconry hoods or eggs and decorative objects inspired by hunting. The museum also holds important collections in storage, notably powder flasks and photographs by the Séeberger brothers.

Hunting is approached through art, history and nature, which appeals as much to lovers of antique weapons as to the curious and families.

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