Château de Chazeuil
Reserve
Aerial view of a long two-storey house clad in timber, its lawn and drive, surrounded by trees

Tours and heritage

Villages and castles of the Bourbonnais: Charroux, Billy, La Palice and Souvigny

A medieval village, a fortress above the Allier, a family château and the necropolis of the Dukes of Bourbon.

About 14 km by road, around 14 minutes from the estate

The nearest stop is the Forteresse de Billy, a medieval castle about 14 km from the estate, with a view from its ramparts over the Allier. Charroux, about 30 km away, is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, known for its fortified gates, its Cour des Dames and its mustard.

Further on, the Château de La Palice at Lapalisse has been in the Chabannes family since 1430 and has a Renaissance wing. At Souvigny, the Cluniac priory holds the tombs of the Dukes of Bourbon. Bourbon-l'Archambault adds a ruined ducal fortress and a working spa town.

What to do

  • Climb the ramparts of the Forteresse de Billy
  • Walk Charroux and visit its mustard maker
  • Take a guided visit of the Château de La Palice
  • See the Bourbon dukes' tombs at Souvigny priory; its medieval fair fills the town in summer

Questions

Which castles can be visited near Varennes-sur-Allier?
The closest are the Forteresse de Billy, about 14 km away, and the Château de La Palice at Lapalisse, about 26 km away.
Is Charroux worth visiting?
It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, about 30 km from the estate, and small enough for a half day.

Where to stay

Come back to the park

Holiday homes for 3 to 7 guests in the 35-hectare park of the Château de Chazeuil, with a pool and a wood-fired sauna on the estate. The season runs from May to the end of November.

See the houses

Life on the estateThe château

Sources

Road distances and times were calculated from the estate's coordinates with OpenStreetMap data, and are a guide only.