Discover Richelieu: town plan, park and greenway

A town with a clear layout

Richelieu is considered a remarkably well-preserved, protected 17th-century town and a unique example of urban planning from this period in France. Its layout forms a rectangle measuring about 620 by 390 metres, surrounded by town walls and moats. Its clear geometric form is a striking contrast with a town whose history can also be read in its individual buildings.

The Grande Rue is lined with 28 hôtels particuliers—grand townhouses that give the street its distinctive architectural character. The market hall is also part of the historic townscape: it dates from the 17th century and is built as a timber structure with three aisles. Those interested in architecture will find a range of scales here: the planned town layout, the row of houses and a striking public building.

The town’s history at the museum

A large model has been on display at the Musée de Richelieu since 2018. It illustrates the town as it was in the 17th century and the estate planned by the cardinal, including its park and château. This makes it possible to view the overall plan as a coherent concept, rather than seeing only individual buildings side by side.

A playful, interactive exhibition at the Espace Richelieu presents the story of Cardinal Richelieu, the town with its distinctive architecture and the château that has since disappeared. The château is shown there as a 3D reconstruction. Together, the model and exhibition offer two different perspectives: the model focuses on the estate as a whole, while the reconstruction puts the lost château centre stage.

The Parc de Richelieu and its surviving features

The Parc de Richelieu covers 475 hectares and is enclosed by a seven-kilometre-long wall. Its surviving features include the Dôme—a former riding school and part of the stables—the orangery, the Caves, the main entrance and the entire course of the canals.

These remains give the park its own historical dimension: alongside its vast area, individual buildings and the layout of the canals have been preserved. The Dôme brings together two former functions in a single building. The park therefore offers a different focus for your holiday planning than the architecture within the town layout: here, the scale of the estate and its surviving features take centre stage.

Explore the Richelieu–Chinon greenway

The 20-kilometre greenway starts in Richelieu and offers opportunities for cycling, walking and jogging. It follows the route of a former railway line. There are nine themed stops along the way. The route thus combines exercise with a journey enriched by these stops, while the former railway line reveals part of its history.

The greenway can be travelled in either direction, on foot or by bike; Richelieu and Chinon are its starting points. This lets you choose the direction that suits your plans without limiting the route to a single way of getting around. If you are mainly interested in the townscape and history during your stay, the Grande Rue, market hall and town exhibitions are the main highlights. For active days, the greenway is another practical option.

Choose Richelieu for your holiday

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on: the historic town, the park or activities on the greenway. Richelieu is the starting point of the route and also a town where the layout, row of houses and market hall bring 17th-century history to life. Two Rémi bus routes connect Richelieu with other places: TE runs between Richelieu and Chinon, and H2 between Richelieu and Tours. As routes and timetables may change, check current services before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Loches, Villaines-Les-Rochers, Lémeré, Cinais, Azay-Le-Rideau, La Celle-Saint-Avant, Chédigny, Athée-Sur-Cher.

For the broader travel overview: Indre-Et-Loire.