Muides-sur-Loire is a town in Loir-et-Cher, in the Center-Val de Loire region, 23 km north-east of Blois.
Bordering Chambord, its castle and its vast domain to the south-west, its territory of 9 km² is located mainly on the left (south) bank of the Loire. The locality overlooks the river from a terrace and hillsides. On the right bank, begins the Petite Beauce while to the south of Muides, areas of marshes constitute the gates of Sologne.
Agricultural and natural areas (forests) still make up some 96% of the land in the town, the Loire and its banks being classified for their biodiversity (richness of birdlife).
Belonging to the perimeter of the Loire Valley listed as a World Heritage Site (UNESCO), the locality was already occupied during Prehistory. Several lords shared the land in the Middle Ages before the Clermont-Tonnerre family imposed itself before the Revolution.
The life of the village was for a long time punctuated by river trade: even without a port, goods were loaded and unloaded, especially wine. Today, wines from the Cheverny and Crémant-de-Loire appellation are still produced there. Its rich heritage, its environment obviously linked to the Loire and its proximity to other major sites in the region make Muides-sur-Loire (1350 inhabitants), a classified tourist resort, a pleasant stopover!
Several castles are located in the town. If they do not have the prestige of their neighbor of Chambord, they reflect the ease of the village since the Renaissance and the attraction it presented for the nobles and courtiers.
Let us quote the Château de Colliers: the estate is mentioned as early as the 14th century but the current building dates from the 18th century, designed by and for Jacques Gabriel, royal architect. It has the specificity of having two facades with a distinct style: on the courtyard side, a classic Mansard style overlooking the main courtyard, and on the Loire side, a neo-Renaissance facade perfectly in line with the other great castles in the region... It then became the property of the Chevalier de Béla, who was Louis XV's spy in Sweden and then served as chamberlain of the King of Poland then exiled in Chambord. A former governor of Louisiana then acquired the premises and shortly before the Revolution, the Gélis family bought the estate. It still belongs to the descendants! Listed in the Inventory because of its interior decorations (murals and panels), the castle, whose park includes an avenue of lime trees, now houses guest rooms. Information on +33 2 54 87 50 75.
Next, see the Château des Marais, a former fortress remodeled in the 16th and 17th centuries, the land of which was once annexed to the royal domain of Chambord by François Ier. The whole, which lost its prestige and was for a time ruined due to the owners' debts in the 17th century, then belonged to the Clermont family and is now part of a private campsite.
As for the Château de la Cressonnière, made up of a noble main building for the master (dating from the 17th century) and a wine-growing closery (exploitation), it knew different owners before becoming a guesthouse in the 20th century family then a summer camp belonging to the Félix Potin establishments and then to the municipality of Bagneux. Renovated, the site now houses the town hall of Muides. Information on +33 2 54 87 50 08.
Note also that the walls of the estate (in this case the park dedicated to hunting) of Chambord are visible to the south-west of the village and that in the center of the village where the 'you can take picturesque alleys, stands the church of Saint-Lubin. The parish depended in the Middle Ages on the abbey of Pontlevoy then passed under the spiritual authority of the chapter of Tours. The current building dates from the 16th century (choir) and the 18th century for the nave, side chapels and interior decorations. The church with noble materials (limestone rubble, slate roof) was restored in the 19th century and more recently in 2017.
Finally, in another register, we note the bridge over the Loire inaugurated in 1932 (which succeeded a suspended work carried out in 1840). The bases are concrete and the bridge consists of several parts (the river has arms).
On the cultural side, the activities offered at the media library are not lacking in interest (information on +33 5 54 44 04 95) but it is above all the potential offered in terms of hiking that makes the town so rich. Recreation.
Muides is in fact located at the crossroads of several famous circuits: the Loire à Vélo and Châteaux à Vélo routes on the one hand, the greenway linking Muides to Blois and the GR3 which runs along the river on the other hand.. On foot or on two-wheelers, that is to say that we can have a blast, while observing the landscapes and fauna of the banks of the Loire or taking a little detour in the vineyards! Maps and information on +33 2 54 90 41 41.
The 3rd Friday of July, semi-night market with local products and exhibitors specializing in crafts.
On August 15, boules competition and musical entertainment.
The first Saturday in September, association forum.
