Castle Valence is located in the French department of Indre. The castle is located on a hill above a small river Nahon.

In the XII century on the site of the castle was a medieval fortress, and the construction of a modern building began in 1540, when the family bought land d'Estamp financiers. The castle was built on the example of one of the most famous castles of the Loire Valley - Chambord, but construction has not been completed before the XVIII century.

In 1719 the castle acquired Valence Scottish banker John Law, and in 1803 by decree of Napoleon Bonaparte, the castle became the property of his Minister of Foreign Affairs - Talleyrand. It took the distinguished guests, including the King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, who spent six years a prisoner in the castle. He was released only in 1813, with a peace treaty is named after the castle Valence.

Under the direction of Talleyrand Castle flourished. Especially popular also because he enjoyed the culinary delights of the "king of chefs" - Marie-Antoine Careme, serving the great minister. Talleyrand died in 1838 and was buried in a small chapel in the castle park. Valence Castle belonged to his descendants a hundred years, until in 1952 the genus Talleyrand not interrupted. In 1979 the castle entered into the possession of the French association of historic castles.

Being a family of German nobility, and heirs of the Dukes of Sagan, Talleyrand managed to protect the castle Valence during the Nazi occupation. During the Second World War, the castle also kept the masterpieces of the Louvre Museum - the Venus de Milo and the Nike of Samothrace.

Despite the fact that the construction of the castle Valence lasted over two hundred years, its appearance is made in the same style. Round west tower and a central dungeon of the castle was completed in the XVI century. They are recognizable elements of the architecture of fortifications, typical of the Middle Ages, but the placement of the windows and the windows themselves are Renaissance. The dome of the west tower was completed later in the style of the Empire. The West Wing is specific for its mansard roofs typical of French architecture of the XVII century.

Inside the castle is decorated in the Empire style. The castle Valence about a hundred rooms, a quarter of which were previously apartments of Talleyrand. In the west wing now houses the museum Talleyrand, formerly housed in the wing. To visit also open rooms crowned prisoner of this castle - Spanish King Ferdinand VII.

Valence Castle is considered one of the most beautiful castles of the Loire Valley. The famous writer George Sand noted not only the beauty of the castle, but the park around it. Interesting and English park, developed in the early XX century, which occupies about 40 acres of land, and that's not counting the vineyards Talleyrand. The parks are found many exotic animals - such as llamas and peacocks.