The Visconti Castle of Binasco is famed for having been the prison of Beatrice di Tenda (Duchess of Milan and wife of Filippo Maria Visconti), who was arrested and there sentenced to death for adultery in 1418. Today it is the seat of the municipality of Binasco.
The castle originated from a stronghold built by the Visconti in the 14th century to take care of their land in the area. Probably between 1315 and 1319 the nearby church of Saint Stephan was founded and the castle built by Luchino Visconti, Lord of Milan. The first mention of a castle in Binasco dates back to 1329, when it was used by Azzone Visconti and his uncle Giovanni as a prison for their political opponents.
In the 17th century the castle underwent transformations and restorations. At the end of the 19th century it was sacked during the Napoleonic age and in 1869 hit by a ruinous fire. The current aspect is the result of subsequent restorations that gave back the sense of the ancient fortress. Two towers are still visible along the south front.
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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.
