The Chinese pagoda in the gardens of Chateloup wa.s built between 1775 and 1778.  It is 44 metres tall. This building, with its Chinese influence was the height of fashion in the late eighteenth century.

The interest in Chinese gardens in England and France can be traced to two sets of documents.

In 1743 Friar Attiret wrote a series of letters describing the great gardens of China. He had some authority because he was working as a priest and painter to the Emperor of China. These letters proved very influential in France and England.

In 1757 the architect William Chambers published a book called Designs of Chinese Buildings, Furnitures, Dresses, Machines and Untensils“. It included a chapter concerning gardens. He received a commission from Augusta, the Dowager Princess of Wales to enlarge and develop the gardens at Kew.  In 1761 he built a Pagoda at Kew, the first of it’s kind in Europe. In combination, the book and the new garden brought Chinese gardens into fashion in Europe.

The Chinese pagoda in the gardens of Chanteloup. Source: Wikipedia

At Chanteloup the Pagoda is all that is left of the great Chateau de Chanteloup.  It is still attractively placed at the edge of a vast semi-circular pond. A large lawn extended from the Chateau to the water.  The forest of Amboise extended beyond.

In its day, the Château of Chanteloup was comparable to Versailles.  In the French revolution it was seized by the revolutionary authorities and sold by auction to Jean-Antoine Chaptal in 1802. Jean-Antoine attempted to grow sugar beet on the estate.  In 1823, following the bankruptcy of his son, the estate was sold to a mysterious black band. The black bands were notorious asset strippers who demolished the premises of the old aristocracy for their scrap value. When the forest was sold to the Duke of Orleans the Padoga survived their attentions. Similar follies have been lost to the wreckers.

The general form of the Pagoda reflects the romantic image of China that was fashionable in the west during the 18th century. The four balconies are of  wrought iron and are decorated in the style of Louis XVI.  Each level contain a circular room with vaulted dome. Within the pagoda, there is a fascination with the number seven.  Seven forest rides, each three miles in length, stretch out from the pagoda.  The pagoda has seven levels, the base has sixteen (1+6=7) columns and pillars.  The golden globe at the apex symbolizes the sun. The pool symbolises a half moon. 

The pagoda was restored between 1908 and 1910.

The pagoda can be approached from the D31 to the south west of the city of Amboise.  Amboise is a busy tourist town on the River Loire some 20km upstream from Tours. Leonardo da Vinci lived here. The pagoda is open April until mid November, although restricted opening hours apply outside the peak holiday season.