Discover the best Loire Valley castles to visit – a curated selection that solves your dilemma of choice and ensures an unforgettable experience in this historical region.
First, let’s locate the castles on a map:
Château de Chambord
Château, 41250 Chambord
Visit this castle dating from the Renaissance that inspired Disney’s creators.
Indeed, in Beauty and the Beast, you can notice that this castle was chosen to recreate the one in the movie.
The vast estate contains the gardens, the stables, the vegetable garden, and the vineyard, enough to keep you busy.
Beyond the visit to the vegetable garden, you can do a permaculture formation (creation of ecosystems that respect biodiversity), go to the market, and even adopt one of the orchard’s trees.
The same goes for the vineyard, you can adopt a vine stock and of course, buy wine.
If you want to be even more amazed, go see the horses and birds of prey performance, which lasts 45 minutes, to discover the life of Francis I of France’s court.
Château de Chenonceau
Rue du Château, 37150 Chenonceaux
Go off to discover this castle filled with history.
It was used as a military hospital during the Great War, from 1914 to 1918. An operating room and 120 beds were installed in the galleries and on the first floor, which enabled the rescue and healing of 2,254 soldiers.
You can also take a walk in the numerous gardens of the castle, such as the garden of Diane de Poitiers, the garden of Catherine de Médicis, the garden in homage to Russell Page, the maze, or the Flower garden.
You can even see many animals in the 16th century Farm, along with the informative hive.
To eat, you have the choice between a wine tasting in the Caves du Dôme, or on one of the picnic areas near the gardens.
Château de Beauregard
12 Chem. de la Fontaine, 41120 Cellettes
In 1840, this estate was classified as a historical monument.
It was the house of the King’s secretaries for centuries, and Louis XIV, The Sun King, spent a night in this castle.
In the Gallery of the Illustrious, you can admire the 327 portraits of people that were important in the political history of France and Europe.
Outside, enjoy the work of the landscape gardener Gilles Clément by strolling in the Garden of Portraits, situated in the 40-hectare park.
Within the castle, it is possible to see exhibitions and take part in a wine tasting.
Guided tours are also suggested, as well as activities for children.
Château du Clos Lucé
2 Rue du Clos Lucé, 37400 Amboise
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The building was first built to be part of the Royal Château of Amboise, where kings resided, and was bought by Charles VIII as a summer residence for kings.
In 1516, Francis I of France made it the residence of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent the last three years of his life living there.
This castle is known as the artist’s residence and you can find an exhibition recounting his life with a few of his works and inventions, both in the house and the park.
Temporary exhibitions take place in the castle, along with plays and night strolls as well.
If you are a music lover, take part in the European Festival of Renaissance Music.
Château du Rivau
9 Rue du Château, 37120 Lémeré
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Go to see one of the oldest castles of the Loire Valley, which once was King Charles VII’s residence.
Discover the building’s history that crossed the ages with its dungeon from the Middle Ages and its royal stables from the Renaissance.
In the stables, two audiovisual performances, which last 15 minutes each, are available. One about equestrian art during the 16th century, and the other is about the stables’ history.
Wander in the remarkable gardens, there being 15 of them.
Each one changes according to the seasons and changes every day, to promise you a unique and magical experience during your visit.
This magical castle will transport you into a real-life fairy tale.
If you want to extend this extraordinary moment, you can spend a night or more in one of the rooms of the castle!
Château d’Ussé
CHAT Ussé, 37420 Rigny-Ussé
Walk into the Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Indeed, this building inspired Charles Perrault for the famous tale that we all know.
During your visit, you will see the tale’s key moments with the scenes represented by life-size dolls in the castle.
Go for a walk in the gardens created by Le Nôtre, who also designed the gardens of Versailles.
These French gardens are based on symmetry and geometrical forms.
Fountains and ponds enlivened by flowerbeds embellish the gardens.
The Orangery, built in 1664, is something you can admire during your stroll.
For more magic, don’t forget to go to the chapel situated a stone’s throw away from the castle.
Royal Château of Blois
6 Pl. du Château, 41000 Blois
This castle was classified as a historical monument in 1845.
The building is composed of four wings surrounding the courtyard, showing the French architectural evolution from the 12th to the 17th century.
In its midst is the Fine Arts Museum, in which you can admire numerous works of art coming from over the world. Nowadays, more than 35,000 pieces of work are exhibited; the castle was certified Musée de France in 2003.
Tours are organized such as escape games, tours going through closed to the public places, or even fashion exhibitions.
Château de Villandry
3 Rue Principale, 37510 Villandry
Discover the Renaissance castle and its spectacular gardens.
There are many gardens, each as unique as the next.
The Wood stands out from the others because it is a group of trees that forms a small forest from which you have a stunning view of every garden.
The Love Garden is the closest to the castle and contains geometrical forms. Several forms of love are represented within these forms in the garden: some are hearts, others are flames, there are even fans.
You can also find the Audience, a pavilion where audiences between the marquis and farmers would take place.
Temporary exhibitions are often organized on the estate: paintings, historical, sculptures, gardens… you can see everything.
Château de Cheverny
Av. du Château, 41700 Cheverny
This is the first private castle open to the public, and the decoration was preserved to keep the place’s history intact for every visit to be as authentic as possible.
The estate contains a park, 6 gardens, and kennels.
The English park includes numerous tree species that you can admire before heading to the gardens.
If you want colors, discover the kitchen garden where flowers and seasonal vegetables are blending. This kitchen garden is used to cook delicious dishes in the castle’s kitchens.
You also have the Tulip Garden, where more than 250,000 tulip bulbs were planted. This endless garden promises you a magical stroll in the middle of many colors.
For adventurers, you can try to beat the maze by finding the center.
Go to the kennel to meet the 120 dogs of the estate that wander in a meadow behind the castle.
Château de Meung-sur-Loire
16 Pl. du Martroi, 45130 Meung-sur-Loire
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Go off to discover one of the oldest castles of the Loire Valley and one of the biggest.
This castle is filled with history and its architecture combines the Middle Ages and the Classical period.
You can visit the neo-classical chapel as well as the music pavilion; you don’t want to miss them.
Don’t forget the underground passages that you can see with a video show and the torture room. Here’s a warning though, it is a little cold so take something warm.
Outside, the 7-hectare park is waiting for you where you can admire the remains of the English park dating from the French Revolution. The ruins of a pavilion can be seen during the visit.
Guided tours are organized, such as the oenology tour during which you will taste drinks and the seignorial tour which recounts the 800 years of the estate’s history.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
