A CHATEAU OVERLOOKING THE LOIRE VALLEY

The Palais Briau was built in 1854 by the railway engineer François Briau. It is situated in the center of a beautiful terraced park which looks out over the Abbey of St Florent-le-Vieil (XVIIth century).

The beautiful terraced park

In winter, a lake will sometimes form in the valley.	Lose yourself in the maze of lush greenery and discover the ruins and temples hidden within it.	The nature park surrounding le Palais Briau is the perfect place from which to observe the birds of the Loire Valley.
Polonia tree		The Palais Briau and the Loire seen from St Florent le Vieil

 

A RAILWAY ENGINEER UNDER NAPOLEON III

	François BRIAU was born in 1812 not far from here.    As an engineer he took part in creating and in constructing the railway lines from Tours to Nantes and from Nantes to the Seaside.    In Italy he built more than 200 km of railway for the Holy See, where he was so impressed by the Italian architecture he saw that he later built his own palazzo in France.
FRANCOIS BRIAU

 

 

EDOUARD MOLL, A CLEVER ARCHITECT

The plans for the Palais Briau were drawn up by Edouard Moll, responsible for building many churches and hospitals in Paris and in Angers. The Palais Briau was designed in the Italian Palladian style, having a cross-shaped gallery, ceilings up to 5 meters high, and a grand stairway accented in marble, stucco and several colourful frescoes.

 

The Palais Briau around 1865

 

LENEPVEU'S FRESCOES

The cornices over the main stairway and other ceiling paintings were done by Jules Dauban and Jules Eugène Lenepveu, the artist who originally painted the ceiling of the Opera Garnier in Paris.

The ceiling of the main stairway

 

TURNER'S WATERCOLOR

In 1826, the famed English painter William Turner travelled by boat along the Loire from Nantes to Angers. At Varades he was so taken by the ruins of the medieval castle moat, he painted a watercolor of it. The ruins can still be found in the park of the Palais Briau.

The great arch, in the medieval castle

 

YOU CAN VISIT THE PALAIS BRIAU:

from 1st April to 30 September, in the afternoon between 14:00 and 18:00, or between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.:

- The park can be visited every day ; Entrance fee € 4.

- Guided visits to the palais on week-ends and every day in August ; Entrance fee € 7. Reduced fee € 6.

Photo JP Nennig		Photo JP Nennig
Library	Gallery	Grand Salon

 

PALAIS BRIAU: B&B IN A LOIRE VALLEY CHATEAU