Chateau de Cleron, Doubs: visitors guide

Photo of Chateau de Cleron in Loue River valley (Franche-Comte region)

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Visit Chateau de Cleron, France

The Chateau de Cléron is a castle with 14th century origins in the Doubs department of eastern France, at Cléron near Besançon. The castle is in an idyllic location on the edge of the Loue river and surrounded by attractive gardens.

Visit the gardens of Chateau de Cleron

Note that although the castle gardens are open to the public, the castle itself is not. However, the gardens themselves, the lovely setting and the imposing castle as backdrop make a visit worthwhile.

In an interview the current owner, Mr Montrichard, reported that the castle itself was no longer open to the public because of the high number of thefts!

Although you can't go inside the Chateau de Cleron it is still interesting to have a little historic knowledge of the building as you walk around the gardens...

The castle was originally built on the site of an even older castle in a position where it could control access to a bridge across the Loue river.

This medieval castle was substantially enhanced in the 18th century to make it more comfortable accommodation, although parts of the medieval structure such as the main tower and the drawbridge were retained. The square clocktower was then added in the 19th century.

When you visit you will find it quite straightforward to distinguish the earlier parts of the castle from those that were added later.

Chateau de Cleron visitor information

The gardens themselves are a mix of formal French style gardens and parkland surrounded by woods, with some statuary and outbuildings also to be seen.

The gardens are open July and August only, afternoons only, and closed on Mondays, so time your visit accordingly!

If you are visiting Cléron when the castle is closed you can still get a view of the castle across the river if you cross the bridge and follow the road a short distance - do this on foot because it is not easy to park a car on this part of the road. A rather high stone wall means that from the village itself you can only get slight glimpses of the castle.

Entrance to the Cleron gardens costs 3 euros.

Attractions nearby

You will most likely visit the castle gardens as part of a tour of the Loue River Valley of southern Doubs. There are numerous scenic highlights nearby, in particular between Mouthier-Haute-Pierre and Ornans and in the pretty village of Lods.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Doubs guide and the Franche-Comte guide.