Meung-sur-Loire: Castle and Old Town

Begin at the Château de Meung-sur-Loire, where a stern medieval fortress and an elegant 18th-century palace share the same courtyard — six centuries of bishops left their mark on over 20 furnished rooms and underground passages where the poet François Villon was once imprisoned. Step next door to the Collégiale Saint-Liphard, a 13th-century church built over the hermitage of a former Roman governor, housing a 6th-century sarcophagus and the modern Couronne de lumière chandelier by goldsmith Goudji. Wander through the old town's narrow lanes along the Mauves — a network of streams once powering 38 watermills — past half-timbered houses and the 1629 Porte d'Amont, the last surviving medieval gate. End the day at Les Jardins de Roquelin, where over 500 heritage rose varieties bloom in an English-style garden facing the château across the Loire. The gardens are open from late April to late September only, and the château is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays outside summer; plan for a Wednesday through Sunday visit.