Auneau has been home to a variety of populations since the Middle Stone Age (6,000 BC). This little township has seen 3 generations of châteaux. The one that survives today dates mainly from the 14th century and has one of the oldest keeps in the region (6th century). Somewhat surprisingly, today the château serves a rather unusual purpose, since it is home to the cats of the “Félins d’Auneau”. This is a breeding centre for cats which are becoming increasingly endangered in their natural habitat, and the only place of its kind in Europe. On a walk around the château there are more than 20 species to see, from the smallest, the rusty-spotted cat (around 900 g) to the largest, the Siberian tiger.
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