Château de Brou

Château de Brou is a fifteenth-century manor in Noyant-de-Touraine, set within a hundred-hectare forest above the Manse and Courtineau valleys in the Indre-et-Loire department.

Who built it, and where does the name come from?

The château standing today was raised in 1475 at the initiative of the knight François de Gebert, lord of Noyant and Rivau. It replaced an older, thirteenth-century stronghold that had belonged to Guillaume de Chergé — of that earlier fortress only a round tower and stretches of the enclosing wall survive. The Gebert family held the estate for generations, right up until 1813, when ownership finally passed elsewhere.

How has the building's role changed over time?

Around 1906 the grounds became home to a children's charity, the Œuvre des petits jardiniers de Brou, and new wings were added to house a dormitory, a refectory, a kitchen and a classroom for the children in its care. A few years later, during the First World War, the château itself was pressed into service as an annex of the military hospital in nearby Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine. The estate today covers a hundred hectares and operates as a retreat available for stays and private events.

What is there to see, and what does the estate offer now?

The property sits inside its own forest, looking out over the Manse and Courtineau valleys, with the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park about a quarter of an hour's drive away. A chapel remains on the grounds, and the château itself holds nineteen guest rooms, each named after a different historical figure. Guests have access to a library, a terrace, a golf driving range and a hot tub. The estate hosts both travellers looking for a quiet base and organisers of private functions — weddings, family gatherings, and corporate retreats among them.

Why stop here while touring Touraine?

Château de Brou sits between the Loire Valley's famous castles and the quieter corners of Indre-et-Loire, making it a comfortable base for anyone who wants a stay with character rather than a standard hotel room. The neighbouring nature park adds easy options for walking or cycling without needing to travel far from the estate itself.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the château? The current building dates from 1475, built on the site of an earlier thirteenth-century stronghold, of which only a tower and some wall remnants remain.

Can visitors tour Château de Brou? It now functions as a hotel and private-event venue, so access is mainly for guests booking a stay or reserving the grounds for an occasion, rather than for casual sightseeing.

How big is the estate? The property spans a hundred hectares of forest and grounds, overlooking the Manse and Courtineau valleys.

What was the château used for during the First World War? It served as an annex of the military hospital based in nearby Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine.