Chateau Pas De Loup

The Loire flows for over 650 miles through many different landscapes. From its source beneath the beehive shaped Gerbier de Jonc Mountain in Auverne, to St Nazaire on the Atlantic Coast, it is the longest river in France.

Also known as the Valley of the Kings, The region is home to hundreds of Chateau’s and was fought over by the English and French until Joan of Arc galvanised the weak Dauphin into action, and the English were finally driven out of the Loire in one of the few decisive actions of the Hundred Years War.

The Loire is France’s second largest wine producing region with over 87 Appellations. From Muscadets at the mouth of the Loire, to Anjou wines around Angers, to Saumur in the centre and onto Vouvray, Pouilly Fume and Sancerre in the East, Loire wines cater to every taste, red, white, rose, still or sparkling, dry or sweet.

Ancient records show that the first building on the site around 900AD was the Abbesse de St Croix, a nunnery that fell under the Abbey of Fontevraud, 5 km away. At that time a population of over 300 villagers lived in the caves surrounding the Source. In 1565 the Abby sold the site top the prominent Lenoir family who built the first Chateau as a private residence. Portraits of the Lenoir family grace the Chateau’s main Salon and they continued to own the estate until 1932.

As is common in France buildings would have been extensively modified, added to, broken down over the years. The Chateau as it stands today is comprised of three different sections. The oldest is the 15th Century round staircase at the rear, the square fortress style tower is from the 16th Century and the main house is 19th Century.

The Chateau is built from ‘Tufeaux’ tradiotnional limestone blocks that were quarried from the hills behind the Chateau and are today the wine cellars for the estate. The emence roof truss beams are from ancient oaks felled from the surrounding forrest and covered in local slate.

Chapel

The Chapel was built in the 17th Century and is the private place of worship for the family. The walls are covered in a decrative mural depicting the life of St Radagone.

Pigeonaire

The Pigeonaire built in the 15th Century is a cornerstone of every Chateau and was used to demonstrate the power of its Chateau’s owner. Pigeon was a source of meat for the Chateau kitchens and also used for communication.

A Chateau owner was entitled to have one pigeon for every hectare of land under his control. The Pigeonaire at Chateau Pas de Loup has 1,000 pigeon holes inside indicating that the Estate once have 1,000 hectares of land.

Each Pigeonaire has a buttress around it located within the middle third of the structure. If it was located at the bottom of the middle third then the Chateau owner had the right to fine the peasants who worked on his land. If it was in the middle then he could fine or imprison the peasants on his land and if it was one the top of the middle third (as the one at Pas de Loup), the owner could fine, imprison or hang the peasants on his land if they displeased him.

Ecuries

Ecuries are the estate stables located next to the Chateau.

Plane Tree Driveway

The imposing driveway leading to the Chateau is over 500 metres long and lined with Plane trees planted over 200 years ago.

Source de Saint Radagone

The Source de St Radagone. The Grenwitch Meridian passes directly through the source and is maked by an ancient stone.

Trout Pond

Crystal spring water flows from the Source to the well trout pond that provides food for the Chateau kitchens. There are a few carp also in for the kids to enjoy catching.

Duck Pond

Water then flows from the trout pond to the duck pond which is full of carp and roach and the ducks are again a source of food for the kitchens.

Sculpture Park

There are wide array of sculptures around the estate.