Château de Bellegarde

Bellegarde, Loiret, France, France

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Château de Bellegarde, also known as Château des l’Hospital, is a historic castle in the Loiret department whose origins date back to the 14th century, although parts of the site may be even older.

Its most distinctive feature is a large square keep with four corner turrets, built between 1355 and 1376 by Nicolas Braque and inaugurated by King Charles V. Over the centuries, the château was expanded and remodeled by influential noble families, particularly the de l’Hospital family, transforming it from a medieval fortress into a more elegant residential estate.

It later became the center of the Duchy of Bellegarde and gained notable gardens, pavilions, and decorative architectural features. Today, the castle is one of the most important historic landmarks in the area. Surrounded by water and parkland, it showcases a blend of medieval defensive architecture and later aristocratic design, while several parts of the complex are protected as historic monuments.