The imposing residential castle of Padernello was built between the 15th and 16th centuries by the noble Martinengo family.
Surrounded by countryside, in between fields, with a moat that protected it from assaults and various dangers, it is the noble element of a splendid rural village, with its large, elegant internal courtyards.
Old houses-workshops with their traditional entrances can still be seen in the village centre. One inn and two traditional trattorias have revived the old village and offer yet another reason to visit this lovely place.
A very popular event is Mercato della Terra (Earth’s Market), a farmers’ market organised by Slow Food every third Sunday of the month in the centre. After buying produce from small organic producers, everyone eats together in an atmosphere of heartfelt conviviality.
References:The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.