Loire Valley in France (castles, itinerary and interactive map)

The Loire Valley is without a doubt one of my favorite places in France (after Paris Of course). And the truth is that it is not surprising because this is where my great love for French history and culture began, when at the age of 9 I asked what caused the death of François I (those interested in discovering the answer to the question that started it all are welcome to read the article Love is contagious).

Since then, I have had the opportunity to return to the Loire Valley several times and visit both the most famous and less famous castles. Following quite a few requests from people planning to travel to the Loire Valley, I decided to compile all the castles I recommend in one article and even prepare an itinerary over several days that will help you discover the castles at your leisure. In addition to the castles, I have added a few more important attractions that are far from being palaces, but if you have already arrived in the Loire Valley, it is highly recommended to visit them.

A brief history of the Loire Valley and why there are so many castles there

The Loire Valley is located southwest of Paris and stretches along the Loire River, France's longest river. The first cities in the valley (Orléans, Tours, and Angers) were built during the Roman Empire, while castles began to be built during the Middle Ages.

Initially, the purpose of these castles was purely defensive. With their help, nobles such as the Counts of Blois or the Plantagenet family who lived in the area controlled their estates while collecting taxes from the peasants. One example of a castle of this type that has survived intact to this day is the Château de Angers, which we will discuss in the following chapters.

From the 15th century to the end of the 16th century, the Loire Valley became one of the most important political centers of France. It all started with the fact that King Charles VII lost Paris at the beginning of his reign and most of his remaining lands were in the Loire Valley. As a result, even when he managed to free most of France from the hands of the English, the king continued to live in the Loire Valley during a large part of his reign. The King and His Lover Agnes Sorel They especially loved Loches Castle, the first palace built for pleasure purposes only and not for military purposes.

Louis XI continued his father's tradition and established the city of Tours as the center of his rule. As a result, many nobles began to build their castles not far from the city in order to be close to the king. His son Charles VIII invaded Italy in 11 and brought back the Italian Renaissance with him. As a result, during the reigns of his successors Louis XII (8-1494) and Francis I (12-1498), the fortified castles began to be transformed into magnificent palaces. The Italian influence of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci led to the creation of some of the most magnificent palaces in the Loire Valley, including Chambord, Azay Le Rideau and Chenonceau.

At the end of the 16th century, when King Henry IV returned to Paris following the end of the French Civil War, the Loire Valley began to lose its political importance. However, it was in the 4th century that some of the most beautiful castles were built there, including the Château de Cheverny and the Gaston d'Orléans wing of the Château de Blois.

But all this was the swan song of the Loire Valley. Louis XIV did not particularly like the Loire Valley and preferred to build Versailles and Marly, whichIn Ile de FranceAs a result, the French nobility largely stopped building and living in the Loire Valley. This turned the Loire Valley into a sleepy place that was twice deprived of its sleep. First during French Revolution which caused quite a bit of destruction to a large part of the palaces. For a second time, the Loire Valley briefly returned to the spotlight when Napoleon He deposed the Spanish King Charles IV and his son and imprisoned them in Talleyrand's castle of Valençay.

However, after Napoleon's rule, the valley returned to slumber. As a result, most of the Loire Valley is not particularly industrialized and the castles and nature in it have been preserved in all their charm. The railways that were laid during the 19th century brought quite a few tourists to these castles for the first time and made the valley one of the tourist centers of France.

And now after the historical introduction, all you have to do is start planning your trip.

Loire Valley Map – Castles, Palaces, Attractions and Some Recommended Restaurants

Before we begin, I thought it would be a great idea to show you a Google map I created, which contains a huge portion of the castles that can be found in this valley. Using the map, you can easily see where each castle is located and thus plan your trip.

legend:

Castles marked with a star

Restaurants are marked with a knife and fork

Over the next few months I will try to update this map and add additional restaurants and attractions, so it's always worth returning to the article and checking what's changed.

As you can see, the Loire Valley is littered with castles (there are currently about 300 of them and not all of them appear on the map). Of course, there is no way you can visit all of them, so you have no choice but to focus on the most famous castles if this is your first time in the valley. If you have already visited the Loire Valley, I have taken the liberty of providing you with a list of some less famous castles that I particularly like.

So let's get started:

Must-see castles that you shouldn't miss

These are the most important and most visited castles in the Loire Valley. If this is your first time there, it is recommended to visit at least three or four of them (depending on the amount of time you have).

Chambord

This is the largest castle in the Loire Valley and quite possibly the most famous (although here it has a close battle with Chenonceau Palace). The castle was built during the reign of François I and some claim that Leonardo da Vinci himself was responsible for the castle's plans (others attribute the castle to Domenico da Cortona).

There is no doubt that, as you saw in the video, this is a super impressive castle. When you enter the castle, you will discover dozens of rooms and particularly wide and impressive staircases. And of course, if you go all the way to the top, you will get to see a spectacular view of the Loire Valley.

Please note: Since this is one of the most popular castles in the Loire Valley, it is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines at the box office (especially in summer).

Buying an entrance ticket to Chambord

Chenonceau Palace

This is without a doubt my favorite palace in the Loire Valley and if you had to visit only one palace then I would definitely recommend it. This charming palace was built during the 16th century and later had an additional wing added to it that functioned as a bridge over the Cher River.

The palace housed two of the most famous mistresses in French history: Diana of Poitiers Lover of King Henry II (2-1547) וGabriel D'Astra, the mistress of Henry IV (4-1589). Two French queens also resided in this charming palace: Catherine de Medici וLouise of Lorraine, who painted one of the rooms black when she learned of the murder of her husband Henry III (3-1574). She did not leave this room until the day she died.

As you have probably understood, I highly recommend visiting this palace, both for its history and its charm. You will discover not only fascinating stories (which is why it is recommended to take a guided tour), but also a small wax museum and even a winery that sells its wines. In short: this is a must-see castle.

As I wrote about the Palace of Chambord, since it is a very popular palace, it is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance in order to save time standing in line.

Buying tickets to the Schonnos Palace

• Come To Paris

Azay-le-Rideau

If you liked the concept of a castle standing as a bridge over a river, you will surely love the concept of a castle standing next to a lovely lake. This charming castle was built by François I and unlike the gigantic Chambord, this is a small castle on human scale.

After watching the video, you will understand that it is not surprising that this is one of the most popular castles in the Loire Valley with about 300,000 visitors per year. Therefore, as with the other popular castles in this episode, it is highly recommended to buy tickets for the castle in advance.

Buying tickets to Azay-le-Rideau Castle

• Come To Paris

Blois Castle

Blois Castle is my second favorite castle in the Loire Valley (right after Chenonceau Castle). The main reason for this is the historical richness you will find in the castle.

Many of the Loire Valley's palaces were built slowly over centuries, so you can find wings from different periods. But no palace shows this more clearly than the Château de Blois. You'll find the Louis XII wing, the François I wing, and the Gaston-de-Orléans wing, each built in a completely different style.

Add to this a juicy history that ends with a murder (of the Duke of Magyar, about which I wrote previously in an article about Hotel de Sauvage in Paris) and you will receive one of the most interesting castles in the Loire Valley. And if you have already arrived at the castle during the summer, do not miss the audiovisual show held there every evening.

Buying tickets to Blois Castle

• Skip-the-line castle entrance ticket

Amboise Castle

Another castle that I really like is Amboise Castle. I like it for exactly the same reason I like Blois Castle: history, history and more history. Quite a few kings were imprisoned here during the 15th and 16th centuries, and the palace saw rebellions and even the rather stupid death of one king. I am referring, of course, to Charles VIII (8-1483), who ran on his way to a game of tennis in the courtyard and, on the way, hit his head on a low doorpost and died.

So yes, Amboise is undoubtedly one of the castles that is highly recommended to visit during your tour of the Loire Valley. You will discover not only luxurious rooms there but also the church where Leonardo da Vinci is buried. And if you get there you will get 2 palaces for the price of one because not far away is the house of the genius artist, which is also open to the public.

Buying tickets to Amboise Castle

• Come To Paris

Clos Lucé Palace

This is the palace that Leonardo da Vinci received from King François I and where he lived during the last years of his life. The palace is very close to the Château de Amboise and there is even an underground passage that leads from the château to da Vinci's house. The purpose of the passage was to allow the king to visit the great artist whenever he wanted.

Here you will find drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, models of his inventions (including the famous tank) and of course one of the rooms in which he lived and worked. This is undoubtedly a must-see for Da Vinci lovers but also for parents traveling in the Loire Valley with their children.

Buying tickets to the Clo-Lusa Palace

• Come To Paris

Château de Villandry

If until now the emphasis has been on the castles themselves and what goes on within their walls, in Boilendrie what is really interesting is outside the castle. This refers, of course, to the magnificent French-style gardens planted outside the castle.

What's interesting is that the gardens, which are the main attraction here, were actually planted in the early 20th century and have no connection to the history of the castle itself. Despite this, they are spectacular gardens, as you can see in the video above, and they are undoubtedly worth a visit (especially if you've already seen one castle that day and are looking for something different so you don't see more of the same thing).

Buying tickets to Villandry Castle and Gardens

• Come To Paris

Angers Castle

If until now all the castles I have recommended have been Renaissance castles, then about this castle we can say Monty Python's immortal sentence: And now for something completely different. This is a medieval castle that has been preserved almost in its entirety and provides you with the opportunity to get to know fortified castles from the period.

However, beyond the impressive towers and fortifications, Angers Castle holds another important attraction. This is, of course, the huge tapestry displayed in the castle, which tells the story of the Apocalypse.

So if you want to experience something dark and medieval, you are strongly advised not to miss this castle (especially if you live nearby).

Buying tickets to Angers Castle

• Come To Paris

Castles for advanced players

If you have already visited the Loire Valley and seen all the “must-see” castles (or most of them), let me recommend some slightly lesser-known castles that I really like.

Cheverny Palace

The truth is that this palace almost made it onto the list of “must-see palaces,” but at the last minute I decided to leave it off the list due to its impressive length. Despite this, I personally highly recommend it to both beginners and advanced hikers.

The first reason for this is the beauty of the palace. Unlike many of the castles on the Loire that have medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque motifs, the Château de Charnery was built entirely in the 17th century and is one of the most beautiful examples of French Baroque architecture.

And if you or your child loves the comic book series “Tin Tin” you will surely be happy to hear that this castle was the model for the residence of Captain Haddock, one of its main characters. The castle also offers its visitors a kind of show where they feed the hounds. Some of you will love it and some will find it a bit vulgar, but it is undoubtedly an interesting experience.

Information about the Sherwani Palace and the various activities it offers

• Palace website

Ussé Castle (Château d'Ussé)

A small and relatively unknown castle built in the 15th century, with gardens added in the 17th century by the famous garden architect André Le Nôtre.

Beyond being a beautiful and charming castle, it is particularly suitable for families who want to visit the Loire Valley with children, and all thanks to its connection to the story of Sleeping Beauty. You can read more about it in the article Ussé – Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Information about Osa Castle and the various activities there

• Palace website

Valençay Castle

The Château de Valence became famous when it was bought by Talleyrand, who was at the time Napoleon's foreign minister, and later became a (very delightful) prison for the deposed king of Spain and his son.

This is a charming castle with a beautiful garden and quite a few charming rooms and an interesting history, as you would expect from a castle. FrenchHowever, in my opinion, its great importance comes from being the place where the famous French chef Carême, who is responsible for quite a few famous dishes of French cuisine, lived and worked.

So if you love the culinary history of France and are looking for a charming and slightly less touristy castle, this is undoubtedly the castle for you.

Buying tickets and information about Valence Castle 

• Castle site

Brissac Castle

All the castles I wrote about earlier have long since become museums and belong to the state or town. However, there are a few more castles whose owners still live in them, and these castles have a special charm for me.

Brissac is one of these castles and is one of the castles that impressed me the most in the Loire Valley. Not only because it is one of the tallest castles in France (7 stories) but because of the story of the family to which the castle belonged.

You can read more about the castle in the article Château de Brissac – When you meet the Duke walking in the palace garden.

Information about Brissac Castle

• Castle site
• Residence at Brissac Castle

Fontevraud Abbey

True, it is not a castle, but a charming monastery with a very rich history, so it is highly recommended to visit here. Some of the most famous kings of England are buried here, including Richard the Lionheart. Later, the place was transformed from a monastery into a prison where, among others, the playwright Jean Cocteau was imprisoned.

I highly recommend visiting this monastery if you are in the western part of the Loire Valley, and if you would like more information about my experiences there, you are welcome to read the article. Fontevraud – the monastery of the kings of England that became a French prison.

Information about Fontevrault Abbey

• Monastery site

The Loire Valley with children

True, the main charm of the Loire Valley is in its castles. However, if you plan to travel to the Loire Valley with children, you will have to combine additional attractions or you will have a rebellion (or an Israeli version of it).French Revolution).

Luckily, you can find some attractions that children will love, and if you integrate them correctly into your trip, there's a chance they'll allow you to enjoy the castles and other topics that are a little less interesting to children.

Futuroscope

https://youtu.be/Fr6PjDExsGo

I immediately decided to start with the attraction that is the furthest from castles or history. It is a multimedia-based amusement park that contains a 4D cinema and even a 2D cinema (God knows what that is). The place is visited by about XNUMX million people a year and has attractions that cannot be found in any other amusement park, as you will see in this video.

After watching the video, you will understand that while all the tourists are running to EuroDisney, the Futuroscope is the French's best kept secret. I promise you that your children will have fun there and you will have a special experience too.

Since this is a super popular park, it is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance.

Tickets to the Futuroscope Park

• Tiqets

Puy De Fou

And now we will move on to an amusement park that is better connected to the Loire Valley and its castles. It should be noted that this park is not in the Loire Valley itself but south of the city. NantesHowever, since the city of Nantes is close to the western border of the Loire Valley, the distance from there is not great and the nature of the park makes it a great attraction that will complete your castle experience.

So what is this park about? In two words: French history. Here you will find a series of complexes, each of which is dedicated to a different historical period (the Viking invasions, the Middle Ages, the period when the Three Musketeers operated, the French Revolution, and more). In each such complex there are quite a few attractions that you can experience and learn about the history of France together. In short, an especially fun experience for both parents and children. Don't believe me? Watch the following short video and I'm sure you'll be convinced 🙂

In addition to all this, in the evening there are super impressive performances in the complex featuring dozens of actors dressed in period costumes. Therefore, it is recommended to dedicate at least two days to the park and make sure to purchase tickets as early as possible, as tickets for the performances are limited and sell out quickly.

Tickets to Pois du Pous Park

• VIATOR

Accommodation in or near Puy de Pau Park

Hotels can be found in the park itself or in the immediate vicinity. בLink this.

Beauval ZooParc

This is one of the largest zoos in France and also one of the most popular. You will find more than ten thousand different animals here, which live in a relatively open environment. In addition, you can enjoy a long line of shows here, such as a game bird show, which will definitely impress your children.

You can get a taste of what this zoo has to offer in the following video:

This zoo is located southeast of the castles of Nantes and Chambord, so it is recommended to consider visiting it during your trip there. Furthermore, as you can see in the video, you can stay in several luxurious hotels on the zoo grounds (not a bad option for stargazing).

Buying tickets to ZooParc de Beauval

As with any popular site, it is a good idea to buy tickets in advance to avoid wasting time at the box office. You can find tickets at the following link:

• TIQETS

Accommodation at ZooParc de Beauval

As mentioned, the place offers its visitors a number of not bad places to stay, which allow for a relaxing visit to the zoo. If you would like to stay there or in the immediate vicinity, you are welcome to click on theLink this.

Hiking route in the Loire Valley

So after I wrote about the castles and main attractions of the Loire Valley, it's time to provide you with a travel itinerary that will connect all the points. For the itinerary, I'm starting from a few assumptions:

• You don't need organized tours in the Loire Valley. If you want a guided tour of a day or more, you are welcome to enter the article A day outside Paris and find some recommendations there.
• You are going to rent a car (otherwise the traffic in the Loire Valley between castles will be a nightmare because public transportation is not that developed there). If you are looking for good sites for renting a car, I recommend reading the article Car rental in France.
• My third assumption is that you leave Paris and return to it.

As you will see, this itinerary lasts a little over a week. I am completely aware that not everyone has time to spend a week in the Loire Valley, and I am also aware that not all of you are leaving Paris and returning. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you treat this itinerary as a kind of modular itinerary from which you can take what suits you and that you are not obligated to do it all.

So after this introduction, let's get started!

Day 1: Departure from Paris and arrival in the Loire Valley

I like to take the car in the southern or southwestern suburbs of Paris to avoid driving in the city (not a very fun experience). After you take the car, let me recommend that you do not immediately drive to the Loire Valley but dedicate the first day to the road itself and stop at some charming places. Here are some ideas:

• Vau de Sernay Abbey – An old monastery that has been turned into a boutique hotel. It’s great fun to tour the place and you can have an excellent lunch there.
• The town of Chartres – where you will find one of the most magnificent cathedrals in France.
• The town of Dreux – Here you will find the magnificent tomb of the Orléans dynasty. One of the most special places I have visited that left a strong impression on me.
• Chateau d'Anet – If you believe that a day without a castle is a day wasted, I invite you to visit the castle of Diane de Poitiers. Although we hear a lot about Henry II’s mistress when we visit the Château de Chenonceau, this castle has quite a bit of charm of its own and is definitely recommended as a “warm-up castle” before the great castles of the Loire Valley.

At the end of that day you should arrive at your hotel or apartment from where you will set off on stargazing in the eastern part of the Loire Valley. In order to get to know this area well and not spend too much time in the car, I highly recommend Accommodation in Blois (In the link I provided you can find quite a few recommended hotels and apartments for every budget).

Day Two – Blois and Valencay Castles

If you took my advice and decided to live around Blois, I would start the day at Blois Castle and visit its various wings. Then I would consider having lunch in the town itself and driving south towards Valence.

This castle is completely different from Blois Castle in both its architecture and history, so a visit there will not give you the feeling of “more of the same.” The emphasis here is on the culinary story of Carm and the art that comes largely from the 18th and 19th centuries. For history lovers, I would recommend taking the opportunity to visit the small church where Talleyrand is buried.

At the end of the day, drive back to Blois and return to the castle to enjoy the spectacular audiovisual show that will do you quite a bit of historical order and make you understand what you saw in the first half of the day. Since the show takes place after dark and since the sun sets late in the summer, you are welcome to have dinner in Blois or on the way there before the show (depending on your hunger).

Day Three Chambord and Cheverny

You will start the day by driving east to the impressive Chambord Castle. Take your time and walk around the grounds around the castle to take pictures of this magnificent palace. If you decide you want to go inside, spend about two hours at the castle itself. Then go have lunch in the area and drive towards the Château de Chambord.

Try to get to the castle grounds close to the time the dogs are fed and then take a walk inside the castle itself. While Blois (except for the Gaston of Orléans wing) was built in the 16th century, Chevreigne is a product of the 17th century. As a result, you will get to enjoy two quite different castles and you will not feel like you are repeating the same experience. Another option, if you do not want to go to Chevreigne, is to go to the Château de Valençay, which will also provide you with a different experience than the one you had at the Château de Blois.

Return to Blois at the end of the day and pack your bags. We leave tomorrow for our next accommodation.

Day 4: Amboise, Clos Lucé and the city of Tours

Leave Blois in the morning towards the town of Amboise. There you will find two castles that are almost within walking distance of each other. I would start with a visit to the Amboise castle, then a tour of the town and lunch. After lunch I recommend going to visit Leonardo da Vinci's house in Calo Lusa.

After you have finished visiting Clos Lousse, drive towards the city of Tours. I highly recommend staying overnight in the city of Tours or its surroundings in order to tour the castles of the central and western Loire Valley. If you accept my recommendation, you are welcome to go to the article Accommodation in the city of Tours.

Have you settled into your hotel or rented apartment? You are welcome to come to the city of Tours and have dinner there.

Day five Futuroscope

After so many castles it's time to do something completely different today, so I recommend visiting Futuroscope. This theme park is about an hour's drive from Tours, so you won't have to waste much time on the road and you can use the whole day to enjoy this park. There is no doubt that dealing with the modern and scientific will not only be fun, but will also make you want to go back to the castles again.

After you're done spending time in the park, return to the city of Tours for dinner or eat at one of the restaurants in the villages along the way. Tomorrow we'll continue with the palaces.

Day Six Azay Le Rideau and Fontervaud Abbey

Pack your bags and head to Azay-le-Rideau Castle, located about a half-hour drive from Tours. Visit the castle and don't forget to stroll around the grounds around the lake. Simply magical.

After visiting the castle, you are invited to travel west to Fontbrough Abbey, which will provide you with a completely different experience than the one you had at the castle. Here, as mentioned, you will visit a Gothic building with a long history of nearly 1000 years, accompanied by an excellent multimedia display.

After you've finished walking there, drive to the town of Angers, where I recommend spending the next few evenings. If you take my recommendation, you can find great hotels and apartments in the article dealing withAccommodation in Angers.

Seventh day Puy De Fou

True to the strategy of diversification, today we will head to the Puy de Fou amusement park, located about an hour from Angers. It is a very large park, so you will spend the whole day there (even the most discerning will stay there for a night or two to get everything done).

If you decide not to stay overnight at the complex, you are welcome to return to the city of Angers and have dinner there.

Day Eight: Angers and Brissac Castles

Since you live in Angers or its surroundings, it is recommended to start the day with a visit to Angers Castle itself and, of course, not to miss the display of the Doomsday Tapestry.

After having lunch in Angers (there are quite a few excellent restaurants there), drive to Brissac Castle. This castle is completely different from Angers Castle because it is a magnificent residential palace and not a fortress. Therefore, as such, it is very suitable for a visit on the same day as your visit to Angers.

After you're done, return to Angers for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: End of the trip in the Loire Valley and return to Paris

After seeing so many castles, I think it would be a good time to end the trip before you reach complete saturation. Here are a few options:

1. Return the car in Angers and take a train to Paris.
2. Travel back to Paris by car (if you want to break up the relatively long trip I would recommend Stay overnight in Orleans) Then you can see another castle that is on the way that you haven't seen before.
3. Go to Nantes, return the car there and fly back to Israel. If you need a hotel there, go to my article about it. בHotels in Nantes.

Have fun and good luck!

Looking for more information about the Loire Valley?

If all this wasn't enough for you, you are welcome to read all the articles I have ever published about the Loire Valley (some mentioned here and some not). I'm pretty sure that after you read all these articles you will be pretty much ready to go :-).

The articles can be found on the page The Loire Valley for the Traveler.