10 Castles to See in the Loire

The Loire Valley, located in central France, is one of the favorite destinations for those seeking a natural vacation: rural landscapes, pristine forests, and woodlands are the essential elements of the region.

In this spectacular setting, starting from the 10th century, the sumptuous residences of French sovereigns and nobles who chose the region as their summer residence were built.

The Loire castles allow you to relive the splendor, virtues, and charm of a time when kings and aristocrats indulged in celebrations and hunting outings.

Their function, as evidenced by the wide and luxurious halls, the large and numerous windows, and the exquisite interior decorations, was quite different from that of medieval fortresses.

The prestige that these residences have conferred upon the Loire has led to the region being designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Of the over 300 castles set in the landscape, we present 10 to allow you to breathe in the enchanted and lavish atmosphere of old: make way for your imagination and you will find yourself immersed in the luxury of court life.

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1

The Château d'Amboise, located in the Loire Valley, was home to the serene and luxurious life of Queen Charlotte until her passing.

Her successor, Charles VIII, was responsible for the renovations that enhanced the grandeur of the castle: the spiral design of the Hurtault and Minimes towers is especially innovative.

Perpendicular to the Gothic wing dedicated to Charles VIII, his heir, Louis XII, built another wing in Renaissance style.

The first houses the rooms of the King and Queen, while the second contains 19th-century apartments. Another attraction of the castle is the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci, who was hosted in Amboise by Francis I.

The genius of the Renaissance rests in the chapel of Saint Hubert, outside the main body of the castle.

In addition to being a setting for feasts, balls, and various extravagances, the Château d'Amboise was also the scene of the Conspiracy that ignited the French Wars of Religion.

Opening Hours: every day.

January: 9 AM - 4:45 PM

February and October 22 - November 6: 9 AM - 5 PM

March: 9 AM - 5:30 PM

From April to June: 9 AM - 6:30 PM

From July to August: 9 AM - 7 PM

September - October 21: 9 AM - 6 PM

From November 7 to December 24: 9 AM - 12:30 PM and 2 PM - 4:45 PM

Ticket Price: adults €13.50, students €11.60, ages 7-8 €9.20, free for ages 0-7. The ticket includes a visit to the Castle, the Tomb of Leonardo, and the Gardens.

How to Get There: by car: A10 Highway, exit Amboise; A28 Highway, Tours south interchange; A85 Highway, exit Bléré Amboise Chenonceau. By train: TGV Tours-Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station is 20 km from the castle with SNCF connections to Amboise.

2

On the ruins of an ancient mill from the 12th century stands this other masterpiece of the Loire Valley, created by Thomas Bohier. Upon his death, his son ceded the castle to the Crown to pay off his father's debts.

Once a royal residence, the Château de Chenonceau was the stage for lavish parties organized by the king at court.

The imprint left over time by all the female figures who inhabited here has given the construction the nickname "Castle of the Ladies": the style and elegance of the feminine touch are unmistakable.

Every part of the castle deserves a visit: from the Courtyard, to the Chapel, to the Gallery up to the various rooms where important works of art by authors like Correggio, Rubens, and other French artists from the 17th and 18th centuries are housed.

Various anecdotes related to the history of the Château de Chenonceau: during World War I it served as a hospital to care for the wounded, while during World War II it provided an excellent escape route from the Nazi-occupied Vichy area.

Opening Hours: Opening Hours: every day.

• January-March and November 2 - December 16: 9 AM - 4:30 PM

• April and May, December 17-31: 9 AM - 5:30 PM

• June: 9 AM - 6 PM

• July and August: 9 AM - 7 PM

• September: 9 AM - 6:30 PM

Ticket Price: adults €15, ages 7 to 27 (students with ID) €12, ages 0-7 free

How to Get There: The Castle is located in Touraine. From Paris:

2 hours by car via the A10 "Aquitaine" (exits Blois or Amboise)

1 hour by TGV Paris-Montparnasse / Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (Tours)

1 hour by TGV Paris-Roissy-CDG / Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (Tours)

25 minutes by TER Tours-Chenonceaux

The SNCF station is close to the ticket office (400m)

3

The unique architecture of the Château de Chambord makes it the epitome of excess: 426 rooms, 282 chimneys, and 77 staircases spread over a structure that is 56 meters high and 156 meters long.

While still retaining the appearance of a medieval fortress, with the keep surrounded by four towers and a surrounding wall; the addition of loggias, a terrace, and pillars makes the construction a perfect synthesis between forms of the past and the innovative architecture of the Italian Renaissance.

Originally conceived as a hunting lodge and country residence, the Château de Chambord captivates with its refined balance despite its colossal dimensions.

Of particular interest is the double helix staircase designed by Leonardo, located at the center of the main body. This staircase consists of the overlapping of two spirals that twist around the same core.

Two people using each ramp of the stairs, while catching glimpses of each other through the openings, will never meet.

Opening Hours: every day except New Year's Day, November 29, and Christmas.

From March 28 to October 25: 9 AM - 6 PM

From January 2 to March 27 and from October 26 to December 31: 9 AM - 5 PM

Ticket Price: adults €14.50. Reduced €12. Free up to 18 years and students up to 25 years with ID.

How to Get There: The castle is located 15 km from Blois.

By car: A10, exit at Mer (n°16) or Blois (n°17). Paid parking is 200 meters from the castle.

By train: Austerlitz station in Paris, stop at Blois.

4

A combination of heterogeneous buildings gives life to one of the most important castles of the Loire.

The buildings that compose it date back to different eras, creating a mix of styles ranging from Gothic to Renaissance to classical taste.

The Château de Blois is situated on the hillside on the right bank of the Loire, and besides having hosted the courts of Louis XVII and Francis I, it is where the Archbishop of Reims blessed the young Joan of Arc.

From the inner courtyard, you can better appreciate the extraordinary nature and beauty of its architectural structure, while its interior houses the Archaeological Museum where the Carolingian and medieval artifacts found in the area are kept.

The history of the castle is inextricably linked to the history of the town of Blois: the uniqueness and beauty of this small medieval center are an interesting diversion from the castle visit.

Opening Hours: every day except New Year's Day and Christmas.

January - March and November 7 - December 31: 10 AM - 5 PM

April - June and September - November 6: 9 AM - 6:30 PM

July - August: 9 AM - 7 PM

Ticket Price: adults €13, students €10, ages 6-17 €6.50. Ages 0-6 free.

How to Get There: the castle is located in Blois.

By car from Paris: A10: Paris/Bordeaux - exit Blois, or RN 152: Paris / Orléans / Blois

By train from Paris (Gare d'Austerlitz): the lines Paris / Tours and Paris / Nantes.

5

On a rocky plateau above the Maine river stands the Château d'Angers dominating the namesake city.

On already existing Roman walls, Louis IX ordered the construction of one of the most important fortresses of the Middle Ages, whose walls are defended by 17 towers extending over more than a kilometer in length and ranging in height from 40 to 50 meters.

To prevent the castle from falling into the hands of the Protestants during the Wars of Religion, Henry III ordered the demolition of the entire building; however, the dismantling efforts did not go beyond the destruction of the towers on which artillery positions were installed.

The main attraction inside the castle is the series of Apocalypse tapestries: six panels depicting 69 subjects that narrate the apocalypse according to the Gospel of John.

To reach the Château d'Angers you must cross a drawbridge that extends over a moat which has now become a beautiful flower garden.

Opening Hours: every day except New Year's Day, Christmas, and May 1st.

From September 5 to April 30: 10 AM - 5:30 PM

From May 2 to September 4: 10 AM - 6:30 PM

Ticket Price: adults €9.50. Free for up to 25 years.

How to Get There: the castle is located at Promenade du Bout du Monde, 2.

By car from Le Mans: A 11 or N 23 to Nantes, From Nantes: A 11 or N 23 to Le Mans. From Tours: A 85 then A 11 to Nantes. From Rennes: N 157 to Laval, then N 162 to Angers.

By train: SNCF from Paris.

6

Anna Maria Luisa d'Orléans (known as the Grande Mademoiselle) wrote: "Nothing is more gallant and more comfortable than the interior of this Castle".

And it is the beauty and magnificence of the interiors that make the Château de Cheverny one of the most visited among the castles of the Loire. The interior decorations are from the time of Louis XIII and have remained practically unchanged from the 17th century to today, thanks to the care of the Hurault family, who have owned the castle and still reside here since its construction.

The tapestries from the Ateliers de Paris or from Flanders, the state bed in the King's Room, and a rare Louis XIV chest are some of the must-see items.

Although having a classic design, the Château de Cheverny features many details that recall Renaissance style and is situated within a visitable English garden, which features magnolias, cedars, and other rare plants in perfect harmony with the entire structure of the building.

A visit to the Park will allow you to immerse yourself in the tranquility surrounding the castle, moving among the various floral and faunal species.

Opening Hours: every day.

From January to March and from October to December: 10 AM - 5 PM

From April to September: 9:15 AM - 6:30 PM

Ticket Price: adults €13.50, students and ages 7-14 €9.50, free for ages 0-7.

How to Get There:

By car from Paris: A10, Paris - Bordeaux, exit n°17 Blois

By train from Paris: Paris Austerlitz, stop at Blois-Chambord station. Paris Montparnasse station, stop at Vendôme station.

7

The charm of this castle seems to have inspired the writer Charles Perrault in writing "Sleeping Beauty".

The poet was indeed a friend of Marquis Thomas Bernin de Valentinay, one of the many characters that owned the castle.

Despite modifications that have been made over four centuries of history, the Château d'Ussé has retained an overall, uniform beauty. A structure in Gothic and Renaissance style that rises on the banks of the Indre river, in an enchanted location near the Chinon forest, combined with the richness of the interior furnishings, offers a valid reason for a visit.

Among its walls are housed 17th-century furniture, collections of tapestries and weapons, and a Florentine desk from the 16th century. You can also admire significant works in the Chapel, and during your visit, you will encounter wax statues recreating scenes from the fairy tale set within these walls.

Opening Hours: every day from February 13 to November 13: 10 AM - 6 PM. From April to September it closes at 7 PM.

Ticket Price: adults €14, ages 8-16 €5, ages 0-8 free.

How to Get There: the Château d'Ussé is located less than 500 meters from the Loire, in Rigny-Usse. It can be reached by car from Paris via the A10 and by train arriving at Tours station.

8

The Château de Chaumont is probably the one among the Loire castles that has the least history and secrets to tell, but the charm exuded by its structure is indisputable.

It stands on a small hill, from which it dominates the entire country, and was built in the 11th century by Odo I, count of Blois.

In 1560, Catherine de Medici became the owner of the castle and from one of the towers, the queen, along with her master of occult sciences, delighted in studying the stars, drawing mysterious signs from them.

Nostradamus was one of many astrologers, due to the queen's passion for the subject, who was invited to court.

Upon the death of her husband, Henry II of France, Catherine de Medici forced Diane de Poitiers, the king's mistress, to cede her Château de Chenonceau in exchange for Chaumont.

The new owner lived here for a short time before retreating to her estate in Anet. Inside Chaumont, you can admire, alongside the chambers of the two rival ladies, some furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries, a collection of ceramics, and tapestries from Brussels and from Aubusson.

Opening Hours: every day except New Year's Day and Christmas. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

January 10 AM - 5:30 PM

February, March, and October 10 AM - 6 PM

April - August 10 AM - 8 PM

September and October 10 AM - 7 PM

November 7 - December 31 10 AM - 5:30 PM

Ticket Price:

From April 21 to October 3: full price €19, ages 12-18 and students €12, children ages 6-11 €6.

The rest of the year: full price €14, ages 12-18 and students €8, children ages 6-11 €4.

How to Get There: by car from Paris via A10 exit Blois. By train from Austerlitz station in Paris - arrival at Onzain / Chaumont-sur-Loire station.

9

Unlike all the other castles of the Loire, the Château de Langeais does not dominate the city but is perfectly integrated into it.

This late medieval fortress retains richly decorated interiors within its walls.

Destruction and reconstruction have affected the castle during the medieval and Renaissance periods, but around 1465 King Louis XI of France gave the building the appearance it still holds today.

Each room has specific features, and the furnishings, paintings, and sculptures reflect the decor and tastes of the time.

Don't miss the main hall of the castle where King Charles VIII of France married the Duchess Anne of Brittany, then a fifteen-year-old. The marriage is narrated by Jean Favier, and as the story unfolds, the characters are illuminated and projected onto a wall of the hall.

The Hall of a Thousand Flowers, the Hunting Room, and the Hall of New Heroes also constitute other must-see attractions.

Opening Hours: every day.

February and March 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM

From April to November 11 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM

From November 12 to January 31 10 AM - 5 PM, at Christmas 2 PM - 5 PM.

Ticket Price: adults €10, ages 18-25 €8, ages 10-17 €5. In high season, the price increases by €1.

How to Get There: the castle is located in Place Pierre de Brosse in Langeais. It can be reached by car from Paris via the A10 and A85, or by train: the SNCF station is a 5-minute walk away.

10

The beauty of the architecture and the splendor of the furnishings alone do not account for the fame of the Château de Valençay, its history has certainly contributed to its notoriety.

For over thirty years, the castle was the property of the diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, who, guided by Napoleon, welcomed into his "humble abode" all the most important personalities of the time: ambassadors, officers, painters, and musicians enjoyed the pleasure of attending the lavish receptions organized in their honor.

The Empire-style furniture, the kitchens, the dining room, and the service room allow for imagination and intuition of the splendor that characterized these refined court festivities.

From 1808 to 1814, the Château de Valençay became the gilded cage for the princes of Spain, who were hosted here following their exile. The external garden is a significant precursor of the charm and magnificence that await you inside.

Today, part of the grounds has been designated for a zoo, where you can spot enclosures for kangaroos, deer, and llamas among the trees.

Opening Hours: every day from March 19 to November 13 except Christmas and New Year's Day.

March to September: 10 AM - 6 PM

October and November: 10:30 AM - 5 PM

Ticket Price: adults €14.50, ages 7-17 and students €11.50, ages 4-6 €5.

How to Get There: the castle is located at Rue de Blois 2, Valençay. It can be reached by car: A85: exit 13 (from Tours) and exit 14 (from Paris) A20: exit 10. By train with SNCF: the station is 10 minutes away on foot.

If you are looking for a hotel near the Loire Castles, we recommend Booking.com. About 5,000 hotels with photos, amenities, prices, and reviews from those who have already stayed. Go to Booking.com.