Château de l'Islette
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Closed until Mar 29, 2024

Château de l'Islette

Château de l'Islette
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksCastles
Temporarily closedClosed until Mar 29, 2024
About
Château de l'Islette was once the home of sculptors Rodin and Camille Claudel. It was for them a place of creation and passion. Listed as a historic monument, this Renaissance tufa stone building stands on the banks of the River Indre. The current owners have opened it to visitors, focusing on the great hall, with its magnificent paintings and monumental fireplace. Also worth seeing: the chapel on the ground floor. You can also enjoy a picnic in the grounds, hire a rowing boat or visit the animals in the château.
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  • Nancy E
    Luxembourg City, Luxembourg19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    secret castle
    Romantic small castle, a little bit hidden. The castle itself is small, the family still leaves there for part of the year, the most beautiful is the parc with the romantic river and the boat ride. You can take or borrow a book and just spend time in the parc, enjoy silence and relaxing.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 13, 2023
  • Jacqui R
    Oxford, United Kingdom173 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Family Friendly
    A very laid back Chateau experience. It's more like visiting a family home. You expect to hear dogs rushing up the staircase and smell a roast cooking in the oven. The family, still in residence have dotted family photos about. Don't miss out on the beautiful chapel with painted star ceiling!! We enjoyed the picnic style restaurant where you fill a basket with baguette, pate and cheeses of your choice and either sit at the out door tables or go further along and sit in deck chairs along the water. A lovely Chateau to visit with younger children as there is a sandy beach section to wade in the Indre river as well as chickens and rabbits to visit!
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 20, 2023
  • Hugbug23
    Mt Martha, Australia242 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful small estate
    This Chateau is wonderful, so nice to spend time in a renovated (renovating!) estate with beautiful grounds in pristine condition. Who needs the huge piles when you can enjoy a family owned place without the huge crowds. Loved it!
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 6, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,180 reviews
Excellent
828
Very good
276
Average
49
Poor
19
Terrible
8

Dine Out?
Europe206 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
Last of three Chateau's visited today and definitely the poorest organised. Chaotic arrangements at the entrance trying to validate individuals covid status, queues back into car park across the road. Just one checking, and one on till inside small room selling tickets with those exiting having to come back through the same hut. No social distancing enforced.

In the Chateau itself a guide seemed to have 30 plus people together in the main room. No social distancing or anyone policing it

Ironically in the 'so called' boutique/cafe which was also staffed by what appeared to be school children it was everyone for themselves to make a cup of coffee.

Grounds ok but not exceptional and the chateau similarly. Far better elsewhere and even though other chateaux maybe not in such good condition, they at least could managed crowds safely with a warm welcome.

Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hugbug23
Mt Martha, Australia242 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
This Chateau is wonderful, so nice to spend time in a renovated (renovating!) estate with beautiful grounds in pristine condition.
Who needs the huge piles when you can enjoy a family owned place without the huge crowds.
Loved it!
Written September 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yuri A
Lyon, France43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2020
One of my favorite places for sure! I've been there for one morning with my boyfriend and we had an amazing time. The garden is incredible, both the Castle and the building of the Store are amazing and beautiful. I was mesmerized by this Castle because it is classified as a "small Castle" so I wasn't expecting much. It is interesting to see the Castle because it's, indeed, small, but people still live there. Unfortunately we weren't prepared for a picnic, but you can do it there!! And if you're looking for a souvenir in the store you can find a puzzle of the Castle, that we certainly bought.
Written July 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin W
64 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019 • Family
A smaller chateau and easy to ignore, it’s gardens are not one the scale of others nearby and there are only about 8 rooms open

BUT

Unlike some other chateau, you felt welcome, they are happy for you to picnic in the grounds, there is a small cafe, loads of nice seats (with cushions) and boats to hire. Another chateau nearby banned food and drink, had nowhere to get a coffee and wanted you to follow a tour and leave. This chateau felt like you could sit under a tree with a baguette (sold on site) all afternoon and they wouldn’t mind.

Plenty of parking

Think of this chateau like a well run National Trust and do stop for a visit to see a family home who welcome visitors rather than a museum who tolerate tourists
Written August 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Greg072
Sydney, Australia329 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2014 • Couples
Quirky, cute, a bit run down with a 21st century kitchen and a tour mostly in French, but given by a lovely young French woman.

This is one of those Chateaux that would be off the main tourist drag thus a bit of an adventure.

The Chateau is now lived in by the current owners and the tour actually includes the present owners accommodation and their 21st Century kitchen built into one of the towers.

When one arrives one is provided with an information leaflet in English and I would strongly recommend that you read this leaflet before going on the tour which is mostly in French.

During the1890's Rodin and Camille Claudel conducted their secret love affair at L'Islette and their story is part of the story of the Chateau.

Of particular interest is the Great Hall which is covered in a huge range of art and even the fire place is an artwork.

Not a grand Chateaux but great fun. Just remember to read the English language information leaflet before going on the tour and keep referring to the leaflet as you enter the different rooms.
Written September 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CuriousClaudio
Cape Town, South Africa202 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
What a dissapointing visit after reading the good reviews of everyone else. We paid then when we asked about the tour we were informed it was only in French. We were handed a photocopied leaflet with English descriptions of some of the rooms. What we were unaware of is that one can only view these rooms on the tour. There is a chapel and 1 room free but the rest can only be seen on the tour. So we were forced to follow a French group for 15 minutes around the exterior, then finally into the interior - understanding nothing, with our fliers offering very little explanation.
The only room inside worth mentioning is the Grand Salon. The rest are decorated with the owners own furniture...DVD's, toothbrush and all...very awkward walking through someones home!
I would not waste money or time on this chateau unless you can ensure you're getting the English tour which I can only hope offers some better information and insight about the chateau - though there seems to be no info from anyone when these are. I expected so much more and after visiting about 11 chateaux in Loire valley it was sad to be let down by this one.
Gardens are nice for a picnic. Perhaps they should charge a seperate fee for the gardens?
Written September 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RomanticTravelers888
Middletown, DE158 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Couples
I agree with all the reviews describing how Chateau de l’Islette is family-owned, un-commercialized, relaxing, not crowded, and beautiful. In addition, I would add that this was an excellent spot for personal photography. We visited on a day that started dark and then stormy, during which we stayed in the castle home. Once the rains stopped, we enjoyed the grounds and the quiet atmosphere.
Chateau de l’Islette has many great opportunities for photographs, among the gardens behind the castle, around the river and island, and in the park in front of the castle. We highly recommend this castle in lieu of the nearby Castle at Azay-le-Rideau, its “sister.”
There is an unpaved parking lot across the street.
Written November 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Konstantinos M
40 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2017 • Couples
Small chateau not far from Azay-le-Rideau. It was still open that particular night, since they had an evening music night. A combination of gipsy music and jazz which developed into a very interesting experience. Otherwise, the castle itself was small and the exhibits just about adequate. If you are passing by, maybe it is worth your visit, otherwise . . not really worth a detour,
Written August 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ThomasBailey
London, UK1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Chateau de l'islette is a very beautiful and romantic chateau just at the entrance of Azay-le-rideau. A most charming chatelaine- I.e. the owner of the chateau-, is one of the guides who will show you through the different rooms of the chateau which are beautifully refurbished and still inhabited! Most special of all is the story she conveyes about Camille Claudel a famous artist who spent her romantic days there with Rodin, the famous French sculptor. The inside and outside of this discreet château are unique - a must in the region !
Written September 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne H
Bletchingley, UK59 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2014 • Friends
This is a real home as the owners do live here. Very relaxed & interesting. One time home of the Artist Rodin, tragic love story so worth a visit. Met the owners who were delightful.
Written September 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Château de l'Islette - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Château de l'Islette