Menard Castle stands on the banks of the Loire River and is located in the French department of Loir-et-Cher and. The castle was built in 1646 by Guillaume Charron, adviser to the king and responsible for the collection of recruits during the Thirty Years War. First castle consisted of a main building and two pavilions, but in 1669 the son of Sharron - Jean-Jacques, a member of the French parliament, added onto two different size wings. In 1675 Charron received the title of marquis, and his possessions were further enlarged.

In 1760 the castle acquired Menard mistress of King Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, paying approximately one million French francs and sold several of their pearl jewelry.

Perestroika castle occupies the first architect of the French court - Ange-Jacques Gabriel. Instead, the pavilions of the XVII century, he built two new wings, with their roofs designed in the "Italian" style to the castle did not seem so monotonous. In the courtyard were built two other pavilion: in the right - Hours Pavilion that is connected by underground walkway to the main building of the castle, there is the kitchen, and in the left - Pavilion Meridian resident caretaker. Madame de Pompadour had died in 1764, and the castle Menard went to her brother, the Marquis de Marigny. If it were also conducted restoration work, increase the size of the castle.

In 1830, the castle was opened Menard some semblance of a college for young people from different social classes and ethnic groups. The huge building at the time, located in the eastern part of the yard, partially preserved, as well as a small gas station nearby.

Parts of the castle, built in the XVII century, are simple and even some austerity, as opposed to more modern premises adjoined at Madame de Pompadour and her brother. The main building of the castle Menard consists of three parts - the old large hall, bedroom and living room, and rooms on the first floor were in 1912 combined into one big gallery. In the living room to the right of the large hall, immediately striking decoration of the XVIII century - the elegant carvings and mirrors with shelves above the fireplace. Stone stairs and decorations made of mahogany in the library on the second floor were carried out at the Marquis de Marigny, brother of Madame de Pompadour.

Jean-Jacques Cartwright in the second half of the XVII century, broke the landscape English park around the castle Menard, lawn ornaments and canals. Along the alleys were planted two elms. When the Marquis de Marigny in the park was equipped artificial grotto, and at the site of the former British lawns was broken huge terrace with sculptures. From the park offers beautiful views of the Loire River.

Between the castle and the orangery is the Rotunda of Abundance, where there used to be a sculpture, a symbol of the abundance. Now it posted a copy of the Venus de Medici, made in the XVI-XVII centuries.