The Château de Chamerolles was built in the first half of 16th century by Lancelot I, chamberlain of Louis XII and Bailiff of Orléans under King François I. His son, Lancelot II agreed to Protestantism in 1562 and housed a Protestant church in Chamerolles. The castle became a center of the Protestant religion in the region. Chamerolles was a typical castle with square form and round towers in every corner. It is completely surrounded by the moat.
In 1774 the castle became the property of Lambert family who owned it until 1924. Occupied, looted and plundered during the Second World War, Chamerolles was put on sale in 1970. In 1976 it was abandoned the castle fell into disrepair. The General Council of Loiret bought it in 1987 and after restoration Chamerolles château was opened to the public in 1992.
In Chamerolles, there are no fewer than six gardens surrounded by vines, honeysuckle and roses trained on trellises. A spice and herb garden evokes the splendid aromas of delicious culinary specialities. Further on, fruit and vegetables of a thousand colours are the centre of attention.
References:The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.
In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.