CHARLES IX'S GRAND TOUR
This map is on Wikipedia’s website – Charles IX’s grand tour of France. In the French version, every stop is listed with accommodation where applicable. Many of the places they stayed can still be visited and in some cases you can actually stay, including –
BURGUNDY
Charles IX and Catherine de Medici spent the night at the privately owned chateau.
It now offers five rooms so you can do the same.
For more information, click here visit the chateau’s official website.
SEPTEME (30km east of Lyon)
This privately owned chateau where Charles IX and Catherine de Medici stayed for one night is now open to the public for visits.
For more information, click here to visit the chateau’s official website.
AUVERGNE RHONE ALPES
The owner of the chateau at the time accompanied Catherine and Charles IX on the voyage. For their stay at his chateau, he built a “jeu de paume” (real tennis court). The chateau now houses a wine university and is open for visits.
Visit the chateau’s official website.
FRENCH RIVIERA
Charles IX and Catherine had dinner at the Fort, which has been a French Presidential residence since Charles de Gaulle.
Emmanual Macron added a pool and his guests there have included Teresa May, Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel. It is open for visits when not being used by the President.
For more details visit Fort Bregancon’s official website.
PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D’AZUR
Charles stayed there for three days.
For more information about visiting the chateau, visit its offical website.
BIDACHE
There are visits available of the ruins of the Chateau where Charles IX and Catherine were guests at a sumptuous dinner during the Grand Tour.
For more information, click here.
NERAC
Charles IX and Catherine stayed for four days in Jeanne d’Albret, Queen of Navarre’s chateau.
The chateau is open for visits.
For information, check the chateau’s official website.
COGNAC
Charles IX and Catherine stayed in François I’s childhood home for 11 days. It is open for visits (and cognac tasting!)
Take a look at the chateau’s official website.
DEUX SEVRES
Catherine had already stayed at Chateau d’Oiron with her husband Henri II. During the Grand Tour she and Charles IX spent three nights there.
The chateau has the biggest painted gallery in France apart from Fontainebleau. The owner of the chateau during the Grand Tour was the son of one of François I’s closest allies, who like him, had been taken prisoner in Italy after the Battle of Pavia and who shared François’ taste for Italian art. It is open for visits.
LOIRE VALLEY
Charles IX and Catherine dined at the Chateau de Brissac and stayed the night. You can do the same. The visits are followed by wine tasting and there are guest rooms such as –
These are two of the guest rooms you can see on their website.
For more details, and reservations, click here.
CHATEAUBRIANT
At that stage the Chateau of Chateaubriant was owned by Montomorency. Charles IX and Catherine stayed there for almost three weeks.
It is open for visits.
For details, click here.
LANGEAIS
Charles IX and Catherine stayed overnight at the Chateau de Langeais.
The chateau remains open for visits.
For details, check the official website.
TOURS
Charles IX and Catherine stayed for 11 days at the Chateau de Plessis-Lès-Tours, which was then a royal residence. Only a small section remains. Guided tours are available.
For details, click here.