This 16th-century manor house is in the small village of Tour-en-Sologne, 10 kilometers away from the Château de Chambord. Built for Jean le Breton, the finance secretary of King Francis I, and later the residence of noble families, the Château de Villesavin was created by French and Italian master craftsmen and builders who had constructed grand royal palaces such as Chambord.
Unlike many castles of the Loire Valley, the Château de Villesavin has been well maintained in its original state for four centuries and today is still a private home, owned by the Sparre family, who have kept the castle in the family for three generations.
The château's 27-hectare property includes tranquil green space and pristine forests filled with many animals. Visitors can often see deer, rabbits, and squirrels. Families with kids will have fun at the castle's Ferme des Petits, a miniature farm where chickens, cows, donkeys, goats, rabbits, and sheep are raised. Children are given a small bag of bread to feed the gentle farm animals.
Other tourist attractions on the property include the Musée du Mariage, with a collection of vintage wedding dresses, and trousseau à la chambre nuptiale (bridal trousseau) items, and the Musée de Voitures Hippomobiles et d'Enfants (Museum of Hippomobiles and Children's Cars), which displays a unique assortment of 19th-century horse-drawn vehicles and children's cars that were pulled by dogs, goats, or sheep.
