Château du Rivau Castle
Medieval château and gardens featuring contemporary art
In the Loire area, Château du Rivau pairs a modest medieval château with sculpted gardens and contemporary installations; visitors come for garden tours, seasonal displays and family events.
Château du Rivau at a Glance#
Address: Le Rivau, 37120 Lémeré, France
Website: https://www.chateaudurivau.com
Hours: Apr-Sep Daily 10am-7pm, Oct-Mar Tue-Sun 10am-5pm (varies seasonally)
Admission: €12 adults (approx.), discounts for children and groups
How to Get to Château du Rivau#
Rivau is about 25 km east of Tours. The nearest train station is Chinon or Tours; from there hire a taxi or rent a car. Regional buses serve Lémeré in summer; check the château’s website for seasonal shuttle services from nearby towns.
Tips for Visiting Château du Rivau#
- Buy tickets online in high season to skip the queue and reserve access to the themed gardens.
- After touring the château, follow the marked garden trails - the beech tunnel and pepperpot garden are often overlooked.
- Check the schedule for occasional equestrian demonstrations and theatrical events that animate the grounds.
Best Time to Visit Château du Rivau#
Visit in late spring or early autumn to see the gardens at their best and avoid midsummer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Château du Rivau#
Château du Rivau's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (677 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 7° | 1° | 63 mm | overcast | 93% | 4.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| February | Acceptable | 2° - 9° | 2° | 60 mm | overcast | 89% | 4.3 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.1h |
| March | Good | 3° - 12° | 5° | 46 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 4.2 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 5° - 15° | 8° | 52 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Good | 9° - 19° | 14° | 63 mm | overcast | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.9h |
| June | Excellent | 11° - 22° | 17° | 45 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.7h |
| July | Excellent | 13° - 25° | 19° | 47 mm | partly cloudy | 67% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.3h |
| August | Excellent | 13° - 25° | 19° | 41 mm | partly cloudy | 66% | 3.3 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| September | Very Good | 11° - 22° | 16° | 58 mm | partly cloudy | 69% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 8° - 17° | 12° | 63 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Acceptable | 4° - 11° | 5° | 69 mm | overcast | 90% | 3.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| December | Poor | 3° - 8° | 2° | 70 mm | overcast | 93% | 4.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |