Fortress of Montrond, former stronghold of the Grand Condé during the Fronde period
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For one year, save over €100 on admission tickets and events at over 30 sites (châteaux, parks, gardens, museums, exhibitions, historic towns, etc.).
Privilege Pass price at Saint-Amand-Montrond: €4 instead of €6 for the guided tour of the historic centre, €10 instead of €12 for the guided tour in a tuk-tuk and €3 instead of €5 for the guided tour of the Montrond Fortress.
October – March: Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm, weekends and public holidays (except Mondays and Tuesdays) 2pm to 5pm
April – September: Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm, weekends and public holidays (except Mondays and Tuesdays) 2pm to 6pm
Closed on 1 January, 1 May, 24 December afternoon, 25 December and 31 December afternoon
Self-guided tour of the exhibition rooms: free.
Group visits only by prior arrangement for groups of at least 8 people.
March, April and May:
Guided group tours by telephone reservation
June:
Guided tours from Tuesday to Friday at 2pm
July and August:
Guided tours Tuesday to Friday at 10am and 4pm and Sunday at 4pm
Self-guided tours Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5.30pm and Sunday 2pm to 5.30pm, last admission at 5pm.
April: by prior arrangement
May: Monday to Friday
June and September: Monday to Saturday
July and August: Monday to Saturday and Sunday mornings
Departure 10.30am, 2.15pm and 4pm by prior arrangement on 02 48 96 16 86
At 8.30pm by night, depending on the summer schedule, or by appointment during the day.
Reservations required on 02 48 96 16 86.
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Canal du Berry｜Anthony Perrot
Free – All year round.
An exceptional 70-hectare natural site, ideal for fishing and hiking.
Water sports activities (electric boat hire, paddles in season): open from 9 July to 31 August, Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm.
Information by telephone on 02 48 63 83 19 and on the website by clicking here.
Free – All year round.
Information from the Tourist Office by telephone on 02 48 96 16 86.
Free – All year round.
More than 50 km along the Canal de Berry to discover the local heritage.
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Musée Saint-Vic｜Office de Tourisme Cœur de France
Opening of the Coeur de France Tourist Office
JANUARY – MARCH
Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm
APRIL, MAY, JUNE, SEPTEMBER
Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm
JULY – AUGUST
Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm; mornings, 9.30am to 12.30pm on Sundays and public holidays
OCTOBER – DECEMBER
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Opening of the Musée Saint-Vic
OCTOBER – MARCH
Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm, weekends and public holidays (except Mondays and Tuesdays) 2pm to 5pm
APRIL – SEPTEMBER
Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm, weekends and public holidays (except Mondays and Tuesdays) 2pm to 6pm
Closed on 1 January, 1 May, 24 December afternoon, 25 December and 31 December afternoon
Opening times and guided tours of the Montrond Fortress
MARCH, APRIL, MAY
Guided group tours by telephone reservation
JUNE
Guided tours from Tuesday to Friday at 2pm
JULY AND AUGUST
Guided tours Tuesday to Friday at 10am and 4pm and Sunday at 4pm
Self-guided tours Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 2pm to 5.30pm, last admission at 5pm.
Opening and guided tours by tuk-tuk
APRIL
By reservation only
MAY
Monday to Friday
JUNE AND SEPTEMBER
Monday to Saturday
JULY AND AUGUST
Monday to Saturday and Sunday mornings
Departure 10.30am, 2.15pm and 4pm by prior arrangement on 02 48 96 16 86
Guided tours of the historic centre
At 8.30pm by night, depending on the summer calendar, or by appointment during the day.
By prior arrangement on 02 48 96 16 86
A71 exit 8 – 45 km from Bourges – 45 km from Montluçon
Line 150 Rémi bus – Saint-Amand-Orval station – Free transport in town
GPS 46.72 – 2.50
Credit card, cheque, cash.
Visitors welcome in French and English.
Privilege Pass price at Saint-Amand-Montrond : €4 instead of €6 for the guided tour of the historic centre, €10 instead of €12 for the guided tuk-tuk tour and €3 instead of €5 for the guided tour of the Montrond Fortress.
(click here to buy your Pass and benefit from reduced rates)
The Balnéor aquatic centre and Tourist Office have been awarded the Tourism and Disability label.
Wheelchair-accessible Pyramid of Arts and Crafts.
Visual 2 New Image Flyer Saint Amand 2026 Canal Du Berryc Destination Sud Berry Anthony Perrot
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Musée Saint-Vic｜Office de Tourisme Cœur de France
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Base de voile Virlay｜Office de Tourisme Cœur de France
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Visit by tuk tuk｜Office de Tourisme Cœur de France
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
Visual 4 New Image Flyer Saint Amand 2026 Balneorc Destination Sud Berry Anthony Perrot
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Canal du Berry｜Anthony Perrot
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
In 1266, Ebbes VI de Charenton granted a charter of franchise to the inhabitants, establishing the free movement of the town’s burghers, and founded the free town of Saint-Amand. This charter of franchise, confirmed in the 14th century, marked the real start of the town, with its advantages attracting the surrounding population. However, by 1208, a different lord was known to live on the hill of Montrond. It is not known when fortification of the town began, but mention is made as early as the 13th century of a citadel that was already well organised, under the control of the House of Albret, whose constable apparently lived in his château at Orval, on the other bank of the Cher.
Captured and destroyed at the start of the Hundred Years’ War, Montrond was rebuilt stronger and more powerful. The work was completed when the English came to plunder and burn Orval in 1412. This sacking of the neighbouring town had two important consequences for the town of Saint-Amand. The first was that the inhabitants of Orval, who had taken refuge on the right bank of the Cher under the protection of Montrond, brought their businesses with them. Adding them to those of Saint-Amand-le-Chastel, they gave new vigour to the local economy. Secondly, this new population settled in the new districts founded to the west of Saint-Amand-le-Chastel, which was now cramped within its too-small walls.
Thus was born, in the 15th century, the new town of Saint-Amand, built on land belonging to Montrond and soon to be known as Saint-Amand-sous-Montrond. Linked to its parent town by a short rue Entre-les-Deux-Villes, which still exists today, this second town was surrounded by walls from 1431.
Trade, made easy by the bridges(three over the Marmande and one over the Cher) became prosperous. At the beginning of the 16th century, there were six fairs in Saint-Amand-sous-Montrond alone, the most important of which, in October, is still known today as the ” Foires d’Orval “.
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Pont Pasquet｜Office de Tourisme Cœur de France
Ville de Saint-Amand-Montrond, Centre ville｜Office de Tourisme Cœur de France
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
Saint Vic Vu Du Ciel Museum
The Musée Saint-Vic is housed in the former town house of the commendatory abbots of Noirlac, which later became a convent for women and then a prison.
It houses a wealth of interesting works, most of which are linked to the Saint-Amandois and Berry regions: the portrait of Charles II d’Amboise by Bernardino de Conti, Louis Touzet‘s clog trees, the Talbot family ‘s stoneware at La Borne and the archaeological digs at the Gallo-Roman site of Drevant are just a few examples of the variety of the municipal collections.
Fine art, folk art, ethnology, archaeology and industrial heritage all come together in this charming museum nestled in a garden in the heart of the town.
Cours Manuel 18200 Saint-Amand-Montrond – 02 48 96 55 20
The fortress of Montrond, listed as a historic monument since 1988, is the only bastioned fortification built in central France. A written source attests to the existence of the castle as early as the early 13th century, although the occupation of this hill at the confluence of the Cher and Marmande rivers may date back much further. Completely enlarged and developed by the Duke of Sully in the early 17th century, it was then equipped with a powerful system of bastioned fortifications designed by Jean Sarrazin for Prince Henri II of Bourbon-Condé.
Taken by royal troops in 1652 during the Fronde, the fortress was gradually abandoned before falling into ruin and being buried under parkland in the 19th century. Rediscovered in the late 1960s, the foundations, galleries and fortifications have now largely emerged from the earth. Guided tours of the château and its history are available from April to September. The park is freely accessible throughout the year.
Allée du Prince Condé 18200 Saint-Amand-Montrond – 02 48 96 42 76 – [email protected]
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
City of Saint-Amand-Montrond｜Route Jacques Cœur
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Logo Territoire Velo
Historic Monument logo
Berry Province logo
Find out more about the town of Saint-Amand-Montrond on its website and networks:
