Today, let me tell you about one of the most famous French regions, and undoubtedly one of the most touristic in France, a region that is the pride of our country, the Loire Valley and more particularly its treasures, the castles of the Loire.
These castles would be more than 3 in the region. Of all sizes and more or less well preserved, these castles would attract no less than 000 million tourists. While some are world famous and attract several hundred thousand tourists each year, such as the Château de Chambord or that of Chennonceau, others are still inhabited.
In this article, we will first see why this region has seen the construction of so many castles over the centuries. We will then see which are the main castles of the Loire to visit, how to visit them and we will also discuss the practical side of a stay in the Loire Valley.
Visit the castles of the Loire:
- Presentation of the Loire Valley
- Which castles of the Loire to visit?
- Practical advice for visiting the castles of the Loire
- 3 ideas for circuits to visit the castles of the Loire
Presentation of the Loire Valley
First of all let us note that the majority (not all) of the castles of the Loire came into being between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. At that time, France was just emerging from the Hundred Years War which was raging between France and our neighbors the English. Many battles took place in the Loire region. Indeed, this territory which for a period delimited the two camps and which was, therefore, a zone of conflict, saw the construction of many fortresses. Some castles also changed owners several times and passed from the hands of the French to those of the English.
This war with England will result in driving the kings of France, notably Charles VI, out of Paris. It was therefore in these fortresses that they decided to take refuge.
After the Hundred Years War, and for a few more decades, the court decided to stay in the region before abandoning it. The castles were then taken over by the nobles, improved and above all, richly decorated. This rebirth is embodied by François I, whom we will talk about very soon.
This region has an incredible richness with nearly 3 castles of all kinds identified, including 000 royal castles.
Map of the castles of the Loire Valley
Location of the main castles of the Loire
Most of these castles are located along one of the longest rivers in France, the Loire, but also along its tributaries such as the Vienne, the Indre and the Cher.
They are mainly located in an area of 200 km between the city of Angers and that of Blois. There are also more to the West, between Nantes and Angers, such as the Château de Serrant or even the famous Château des Ducs de Bretagne in Nantes; and also further east, after the city of Orléans such as the castle of Sully-sur-Loire.
Main cities of the Loire Valley
Several towns are worth visiting during your stay in the Loire Valley. They are, of course, all home to one or more castles and are very good places to stay for the night.
- Angers: One of the first towns encountered if you start your stay in the Loire Valley from the west. At this level, the castles of the Loire are still quite rare even if you will find some like the castle of Plessis Bourré, the museum castle of Villevêque or the castle of Angers. Do not miss the Museum of Fine Arts in Angers, its Museum of the Good Shepherd or even a visit to the Cointreau distillery. If you are traveling with children, then go to Terra Botanica, an amusement park focused on nature.
- Tours: Tours is the main city of the Loire Valley. Due to its size but also its location, the city of Tours is an ideal and central base for discovering the castles of the Loire. There are many things to do in Tours, but its castle remains the number one must-see on a visit to the city. If you want to know more about the city of Tours, do not hesitate to take a look at our article: What to do and what to see in Tours?
- Amboise: Is also one of the main towns in the region, not by its size but by the importance of the things to visit there. Two emblematic places of the Loire Valley are to be visited in Amboise: its royal castle as well as the castle of Clos Lucé, last residence of Leonardo da Vinci. If you want to learn more about things to do in Amboise, I invite you to read our article: Visit Amboise: What to do?
- Blois: Let's finish with this city to visit in the valley, the city of Blois. Located not far from Tours and Amboise, you will still find many sites to visit such as the castles of Chaumont, Cheverny or Chambord. As for the town of Blois itself, don't miss its Royal Castle, facing the magic museum, or its very pleasant historic town centre. To learn more, you can take a look at our dedicated article: Visit Blois: What to do and where to sleep?
Visit the castles of the Loire: The main castles
After having introduced you to this pretty Loire Valley as a whole, let's move on to the main centers of interest which are the Châteaux de la Loire. So this part, we present you the main monuments to visit in this region.
- Chambord Castle
- Chenonceau Castle
- Château d'Amboise
- Blois Castle
- Château de Cheverny
- Villandry Castle
- Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau
- Saumur castle
- Chinon Castle
- Langeais castle
- Castle of Sully-sur-Loire
- Castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire
Chambord Castle
Located in the Loir-et-Cher, the Château de Chambord accumulates all the superlatives. A real must for a visit to the castles of the Loire. Built by order of King François 1st from 1519 until 1556, it has 440 rooms, making it one of the largest castles in France to the point that many rooms are completely empty. Its huge hunting reserve is also the largest enclosed forest park in Europe, with a surrounding wall measuring 32 kilometers long for a similar area to Paris.
Inside the building, the staircase remains a beautiful curiosity. It actually spirals up into two segments that never intersect! From the roof, the panorama over the estate as far as the eye can see is absolutely sublime. The facade of this royal castle is just as worth a visit, with its hundreds of richly sculpted chimneys and towers. In addition, it is possible to attend shows of birds of prey and horses. If you are under 25 and live in the European Union, entry is free.
To discover the castle differently, you can opt, for a weekend, for the castle hotel, the Relais de Chambord. A unique place, of great beauty, which will allow you to enjoy an unobstructed view of the castle and its park outside public opening hours.
Skip the Line: Chateau de Chambord
Credit: Tsomchat
Chenonceau Castle
The Château de Chenonceau, in Indre-et-Loire, is a typically Renaissance architectural masterpiece. Built in the XNUMXth century on a bridge that crosses the Cher, it alone embodies refinement, finesse and beauty. It must be said that it was built and inhabited by women, which earned it the nickname "ladies' castle". Its formal gardens are just as elegant and bear the names of the two most famous occupants, Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, who had the ambition to enlarge the premises. Take the time to stroll through the rosebushes and the perfectly pruned boxwood, take the opportunity to extend the walk in the forest or on the banks of the river. For the little anecdote, this monument classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco helped the Jews to pass into Free France during the Second World War.
Skip the Line: Château de Chenonceau
Credit: De Anton Foltin
Château d'Amboise
Arriving in Amboise in Indre-et-Loire, the eye is naturally drawn to its XNUMXth century Gothic and Renaissance style castle, perched on a promontory. From its terraced gardens, the views of the city that surrounds it and of the Loire Valley are all more magnificent than each other! This royal castle was inhabited by several kings of France for more than a century and consists of many tastefully decorated rooms, the council room being undoubtedly one of the most majestic with its vaulted ceiling.
Not far from the royal castle of Amboise is another castle, much smaller this one, the Clos Lucé. It was in this castle that Leonardo da Vinci spent the end of his life.
By visiting the Clos Lucé, you will discover a large number of his works, first in miniature then in real size in the park of the castle.
If you want to know more about things to do in Amboise, don't hesitate to take a look at our article dedicated to visiting the city.
Blois Castle
The castle of Blois, located in the Loir-et-Cher in the heart of the city, was for a long time the privileged residence of the kings of France who each left their mark there. It is therefore no coincidence that it is so resplendent! Arriving in the inner courtyard, the visitor has the opportunity to admire a wide panorama of the history of French architecture, from the Middle Ages to Classicism, passing through the Gothic style and the Renaissance thanks to multiple expansions over the years. Moreover, François 1er is at the origin of the monumental spiral staircase visible from the outside in an open tower. The royal apartments, sumptuously restored by the architect Félix Duban, are adorned with polychrome furniture and decorative objects from the XNUMXth century, giving them a resolutely contemporary style for the time.
Château de Cheverny
Who has never heard of the Moulinsart manor, in the adventures of Tintin? The famous Belgian author Hergé actually fell in love with the XNUMXth century Château de Cheverny, in the Loir-et-Cher not far from Blois, to design the fictional residence of Captain Haddock. With its perfect symmetry and its dazzling whiteness, this monument still inhabited by the family of the Marquis de Vibraye is one of the best preserved castles in France. Its rooms are at the height of luxury, decorated with furniture of rare beauty as in the past. It is possible to observe a large collection of tapestries and works of art, as well as an exhibition devoted to comic strips. Don't miss the formal gardens and the hundred-hectare park, where hunting with hounds is still legion.
Villandry Castle
Villandry is undoubtedly one of the castles of the Loire not to be missed. Even if the castle alone is worth a look, it is above all for these impressive gardens that thousands of tourists flock there each year.
Indeed, the gardens of the Château de Villandry, which stretch over nearly 6 hectares, are among the most beautiful French-style gardens in the country. It was at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, after several years of research, that these splendid gardens, renowned throughout the world, were recreated. It is partly to the Marquis de Castellane that we owe these gardens.
The castle saw illustrious characters succeed one another, including the brother of Napoleon I, Jérôme Bonaparte.
The castle belongs, since the XNUMXth century, to the Carvallo family to whom we owe the current state of the castle.
Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau
The castle of Azay-le-Rideau is located in Indre-et-Loire, about twenty kilometers from Tours. Literally appearing to float in the middle of a pond acting as a moat, it is built in an L shape and has round towers at each corner, giving it the air of a fairy tale castle. How not to remain dreamy in front of its sumptuous French garden and its wooded park of several hectares? The interior is just as magical, especially its impressive entrance door inspired by Roman triumphal arches but also its tapestries from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. It is not for nothing that this jewel of the Italian Renaissance was described by Honoré de Balzac as “a faceted diamond set by the Indre”. This castle is one of the most famous castles of the Loire.
Skip the line ticket: Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Saumur castle
Built just over 50 km from Angers in Maine-et-Loire, the Château de Saumur dominates the town and the Loire from its promontory. First a fortress in the 1862th century, this medieval and renaissance style monument became the palace of the Dukes of Anjou in the 1906th century. Napoleon then made it a prison, before Louis XVIII transformed it into an arms and ammunition depot. Classified as a Historic Monument in XNUMX, the Château de Saumur was bought by the municipality from the State in XNUMX in order to install a museum of decorative arts and a collection dedicated to the equine universe. Its double spiral staircase is truly worth the detour, allowing nobles and servants to take it without having to cross paths. From the top of the belvedere, the panorama is fabulous, although a walk in the garden makes it possible to obtain points of view which encourage contemplation.
A cycling route joins the city of Blois to Saumur, you can find information on this route on the official website of loireavelo.com
Chinon Castle
This magnificent medieval fortress was erected on a rocky outcrop, offering a breathtaking view of the Vienne and the surrounding area. It is one of the rare castles dating from the Middle Ages in the region. It was visited by big names throughout its history, but the most striking must certainly be that of Joan of Arc. Indeed, the latter passed twice in this fortress, she even met the king there. Following her visit, she left to deliver the city of Orleans.
Regarding the visit of the place, the fortress of Chinon offers you different options: free visit, guided visit, visit with a Histopad or even a game space. This escape game was designed specifically for the castle and offers a scenario and settings faithful to the history of the place.
Langeais castle
The Château de Langeais, in the heart of Indre-et-Loire, has overlooked the Loire Valley from the top of its rocky promontory since the 1465th century. You will therefore not be surprised to learn that it first occupied the role of a fortress! Destroyed by the English during the Hundred Years War, the imposing building was reduced to ruin. In 4, Louis XI decided to completely raze the remains of the old building to rebuild a Renaissance castle, completed 1491 years later. This is how the courtyard became a sublime French garden. During the visit of the castle, you will be able to discover the daily life of the lords of the Middle Ages in the company of the Duchess Anne of Brittany, whose marriage to Charles VIII took place here in XNUMX.
Castle of Sully-sur-Loire
Visiting the castles of the Loire also means visiting older castles such as Sully-sur-Loire. Live the history of a Loire castle during a visit to the medieval fortress of Sully-sur-Loire, in Loiret! By browsing the 14 rooms, you will enter a little more into the daily life of the Duke of Sully, the faithful friend of King Henry IV. Cross the walkway passing under the impressive 2000th century hull framework, reach the opulent rooms refurbished in the XNUMXth century and let yourself be transported by the delicacy of the tapestries, paintings and painted decorations. Between the medieval keep and the small castle dating from the Renaissance, the French garden invites you to stroll in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Take the opportunity to walk around the still-watery moat and admire this remarkable monument, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in XNUMX.
Castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire
This seigniorial castle of Loir-et-Cher is worth the detour not only for the XNUMXth century building, but also for its huge park dotted with plant sculptures, considered to be one of the most beautiful in France. Unlike its neighbours, the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire does not have a traditional French garden. Strictly speaking, these are artistic landscape creations in a contemporary style, highlighted during the International Garden Festival which takes place there every year from April to November. As you enter the precincts of the building, which can be visited almost in its entirety, you will be immediately fascinated by the mixture of the Gothic and Renaissance eras. Wonderfully well furnished, the estate also has magnificent stables and reveals a breathtaking view of the Loire.
Practical advice for visiting the castles of the Loire
Now that you know a little more about the region and the many castles to visit, I suggest you answer some practical questions for the preparation of your stay in the Loire Valley.
- How to get to the Loire Valley?
- When is the best time to visit the castles of the Loire?
- How to visit the castles of the Loire?
- Where to sleep to visit the castles of the Loire?
How to get to the Loire Valley?
The Loire Valley is a fairly central region in France, making it rather accessible from various places in France. Let us take the city of Tours as a central point. The latter is very well served by various highways: from Paris, from the west of France, from the south and even from the east. So by car, you can easily reach Tours: 2h30 for Paris and Nantes, 3h30 for Bordeaux, 3h for Clermont-Ferrand or 4h30 for Lyon.You can also arrive by train in cities like Tours or Nantes, but I strongly recommend that you then rent a car so that you can freely visit the Châteaux de la Loire you want.
Another possible solution is to arrive by plane. Cities like Nantes or Tours have more or less important airports. Again, renting a car will be highly recommended once there.
When is the best time to visit the castles of the Loire?
This question is quite broad. Indeed, it is not essential to have good weather to visit the Châteaux of the Loire because most visits are made inside. But it is always more pleasant to discover a city or a place under the sun. Especially since some Châteaux of the Loire have sumptuous gardens.The same is true for temperatures. No particular need to have very high temperatures, except to enjoy the outdoors.
To answer this vast question, you could plan your visit over a fairly long period, approximately from April to October. Precipitation is going to be lower than the rest of the year and temperatures will start to be pleasant as well. Of course, the summer season will be warmer, but more touristy.
How to visit the castles of the Loire?
The ideal way to visit the Châteaux de la Loire is to plan at least a weekend. You can, over these few days, visit one or more castles, but also the surrounding towns.To prepare your visit, you must select the visits you wish to make. You can look on this platform to book certain visits and be sure to be able to access them on the day you want.
Where to sleep to visit the castles of the Loire?
Housing is an integral part of your organization. To answer this very broad question, we have written a specific article in which we present potential cities in which to stay, addresses in different categories of accommodation and some advice for your stay. Read the article: Where to stay to visit the Châteaux de la Loire?3 ideas for circuits to visit the castles of the Loire
To conclude this article, here are 3 ideas for circuits to visit the Châteaux of the Loire. These itineraries will allow you to have an overview of what it is possible to do and visit over 1 day, 2 days and 3 days in the region.
- Visit the Châteaux of the Loire in 1 day
- 2 days to visit the Loire Valley and its castles
- The Châteaux of the Loire in 3 days
Visit the Châteaux of the Loire in 1 day
If you are passing through for a night, during a stopover for example, I recommend that you plan at least a day to see some of the region's must-sees. It would be a shame to pass through the region without visiting at least one castle. So for this one-day express visit, here is what you could plan:
- The morning : Dedicate your morning to visiting a castle. If you had to choose one first, I highly recommend the Château de Chambord. Depending on your geographical location, the Château de Chenonceau is also a must in the region. If you arrive early in the morning, you can make your visit for half a day, which will leave you your whole afternoon for another visit.
- The afternoon : If you want to make the most of your one-day visit to the Châteaux de la Loire, then you can easily plan a second château in your schedule. If you haven't visited Chenonceau in the morning, then do so now. If you are with young people, you can take an original visit, that of Clos Lucé with its many reconstructed machines in the park.
- The evening : Finish your discovery with a night in the heart of a city such as Tours, Amboise or Blois. These 3 towns are at the heart of the Châteaux de la Loire, allowing you to reduce your driving time. This will also leave you some time in the evening to enjoy one of the towns, stroll around and admire the charming alleys and the architectural heritage.
2 days to visit the Loire Valley and its castles
The Loire Valley is the perfect destination for a cultural weekend. In 2 days, you will have time to visit some of the main castles of the Loire but also one or two emblematic cities of the region. To limit travel and see the most important places, I suggest you stay in two very specific areas: one around Tours; and the other on the side of Blois. Let's immediately detail this 2-day itinerary to visit the Châteaux of the Loire.
- 1 Day: For this first day, I suggest you stay around the city of Tours. The city itself is worth seeing, it also has a castle. During the day, you can also visit one or two castles located not far away and which are worth a visit, such as Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau or even Chenonceau. If you have a little time left, choose the cities ofAmboise and Blois are not very far. They can also be the subject of a drop point for the night.
- 2 Day: Whether you slept in Amboise or Blois, these two cities each have a pretty town center and a castle to visit. This can be the focus of your morning as you will already be there. Then, for your afternoon, I suggest you visit one of the other must-see castles in the region, namely Chambord or Cheverny.
The Châteaux of the Loire in 3 days
For this last route, the duration is a little longer, therefore leaving you more time to enjoy the region and the things to see. For these routes and in connection with this article, we have focused on the castles to visit in the region. But if you want to replace some castle visits with other places to visit, it is quite doable. You will find additional information in our dedicated articles on the cities of Tours, Amboise or Blois.
Day 1
- Morning: For this first morning, let's start in the Tours region. You can visit a castle not far from the city according to your preference: Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau or Chinon. Then, head to the city of Tours for lunch. This will give you an overview of it.
- Afternoon : You have the choice, either stay and visit the city of Tours and its castle. Otherwise, you can go to Chenonceau Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in the region.
- Evening: For this first evening, I suggest you spend a night in the small town ofAmboise. Take a walk at the end of the day and enjoy the magnificent lights of the sun.
Day 2
- Morning: Let's continue our visits of the Châteaux of the Loire in 3 days with the visit of the Château d'Amboise and possibly the city if you have enough time.
- Afternoon : Let's take advantage of your presence in Amboise to make a detour to Clos Lucé, last resting place of Leonardo da Vinci. If you are with children, this visit has a more playful side than the other castles. Can be a little short for a full afternoon, you can complete with a stop at the Parc des Mini-Châteaux in Amboise if you are with young people, otherwise take the direction of Blois and take a tour of the city.
- Evening: If you are at Blois, you can sleep here. It is a very pleasant town where you will find a charming little place where you can dine in the evening.
Day 3
- Morning: This last day can begin with the visit of the Blois Castle. A wonderful place in the heart of the city.
- Afternoon : Blois is surrounded by magnificent castles such as Chaumont, Cheverny or the famous Chambord Castle. So you have the choice to occupy this last afternoon in the region.
- 2 option: Perhaps the Châteaux de la Loire will have got the better of you (or your children!). So why not take a day a little cooler and go to Beauval Zoo? Located about 45 minutes drive from Blois, you can spend the day there without worries. A pleasant and fun visit to do with friends or family.
