Donjon de Ballon et son jardin — Attraction in Le Mans

I visited for the second time during a heavy rainstorm in August. Far from detracting from the experience it brought out the many fragrances of the beautifully maintained and annotated garden. Many rare and interesting plants are to be found and the tunnel hedge is a delight. The Gueroult family has put a lot of effort into continuing the traditions of a grand chateau and are to be commended. New armour and swords had been added to the collection on display. Unlike many chateaux which are decrepit or filled with a mishmash of old and new, precious and junk Donjon de Ballon is maintained with consistency...

A delightful historic castle with lusciously verdant gardens, the Donjon de Ballon is a medieval gem — listed both as a Monument Historique and as a Jardin Historique! The elaborately maintained gardens range between a French formal parterre with neatly pruned topiaries to a bucolic orchard with diverse fruit trees surrounded by fragrant roses and peonies. The owners are absolutely charming and go to great extents to make one feel most welcome! Easily reachable from Paris by both train and car it is worth every effort to visit and...

You can’t leave the Loire without taking a tour of the splendid chateau de Ballon. The place is a medieval gem that is impregnated with history thanks to the meticulous efforts of the Gueroult family - its wonderful hosts. During my stay in the region, I have not seen more picturesque gardens.

Easily reachable by train from Paris, and only a short distance from Le Mans. I will definitely visit again as soon as I...