Saint-Chartier, Centre-Val de Loire, Address available on request

Spanning more than 1,500 years, this impressive château has seen more history than most. Originally a walled medieval monastery, it became a strong fortress with drawbridge and moat, protecting the entire community. Over time the château was partly rebuilt, then extensively remodelled at the end of the 19th century, and now, from 2010 onwards, meticulously restored by the current owner.
 
Once owned by a cousin of Richard the Lionheart, then by a chamberlain of Napoleon, the château is more widely known through the writings of world-renowned novelist, George Sand, who visited regularly and actually set one of her novels there.