The Loire Valley is home to a number of beautiful castles, but which castles to visit in the Loire?
The Loire River has a length of one thousand kilometers, it runs only through France being the longest river in the country. The area of the Loire Valley and its castles is known as the garden of France and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Indice:
How to visit the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley area extends approximately between Nantes and Orleans, and has along the way countless towns and castles to visit.
The type of tour will depend a lot on the amount of days you have available. You can start in Nantes and end in Orleans, or vice versa, while stopping at the end of the day in one of the villages, towns or accommodations along the way. Or, if you plan to do a tour of a few days in the valley, you can, like us, make a “base” in one of the villages and thus leave every day to different points in this valley of the Loire River.
Where to stay
The three most equidistant points to stay are: Blois, Ambois, or Tours, of course you have countless more to search on the map, and surely all are very good options, there are even charming accommodations outside the towns, even castles where to stay and “live” more the area.
After much thought, we chose Blois, and stayed at the Ibis Centre Chateau de Blois. Ibis Centre ChateauWe stayed at the Ibis Centre Chateau, partly because of its location (in the historic center of the city, almost opposite the castle), and partly because of the good price for those dates.
Find your accommodation in the Loire Valley
Booking.comVisit our post about the most beautiful villages in the Loire where to stay.
How to visit the Châteaux of the Loire
Although there is no official list of “Loire Castles”, it is considered that they range from 40 to 70, but according to other lists they say that there are many more. So you can imagine that you will have to choose among the main ones to visit.
Let’s go here with a possible list, shall we start?
The castles can be divided into those that you can see outside even if you do not pay the entrance fee to access it, and those that you do not get to see anything at all until you pay your ticket and access the enclosure. The latter is an important fact, as often the interior visit becomes repetitive, but yes, we want to see it from the outside and take some nice pictures, so it is a fact to consider when planning a visit to the Loire Valley.
As for the entrance fees, they are somewhat high, especially considering that in general we come with the idea of visiting several, so you have to choose them well to keep the budget.
You can book tours to a selection of castles selection of castles if you don’t want to get complicated and go more relaxed.
The most beautiful châteaux of the Loire
1- Chambord
Chambord is one of the castles that if you want, you can access the parking, pay for your car of course, and if you are not interested in entering you can look outside and take beautiful pictures of the exterior. But if, like us, you want to visit the halls and garden, you go to the ticket office and start the visit.
This is one of the most visited castles, along with Chenonceau, in the Loire Valley, so the advice is to visit it early in the morning, and then, yes, to visit other castles with fewer visitors in the afternoon.
Built from 1519 at the request of King Francis I, Chambord is an icon of the French Renaissance in Europe. The castle was not designed as a permanent residence, and Francis I stayed there only for a few weeks. Chambord was an architectural achievement that the king was proud to show off.
The plan of the castle and its decorations comes from a central axis, the famous double helix staircase, inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Under the reign of Louis XIV the construction is finally completed. In 1840 the Chambord castle is registered in the first list of French Historical Monuments, and since 1981 it is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
It is the largest castle in the Loire area, with 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces.
HOURS: March 30/October 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 28th / March 29th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(last entry half an hour before closing)
PRICES: Parking: cars from €5 to €6 per day (depending on the distance to the castle). Motorhomes €11 per 24 hs.
Access to the castle and gardens: €16
Free admission for children under 18 and EU residents from 18 to 25 years old. Reduced admission for non-EU residents from 18 to 25 years old.
For more information on the castle’s opening hours, rates and parking, visit the castle’s website.
For more convenience you can book your private tour. Private visit to Chambord Castle
2- Chenonceau
The castle of Chenonceau is also known as the castle of the ladies, due to the importance that many women have had in their changes. It was built between 1513 and 1521 and is one of the most visited castles in the Loire Valley.
As we told you about the Chambord castle, the advice is to try to visit it in the morning, so you can visit it with fewer tourists and appreciate it better.
Today it is privately owned, but is open to the public and is fully restored. In 1914, during the First World War, the castle was transformed into a hospital that treated more than 2000 wounded soldiers, during the Second World War the gallery served as a passage to the resistance from one side to the other and during the last war it was bombed.
This is another of the castles that you don’t get to see until you are inside the enclosure and have paid your entrance fee.
SCHEDULES: the schedules change according to the season of the year and start between 9/9.30 am and 5/19.30 pm. Check their website for more detailed information about the opening hours ►webof the castle. It is open every day of the year.
PRICES: parking: free
Castle and gardens: €15,50
3- Cheverny
Here we come to the famous Tintin’s castle, as it is said that the creator of the comic was inspired by it for the drawing of the Moulinsart castle that appears in the story. If you want you can also access an exhibition about Tintin, at the ticket office you have the different types of tickets to choose from.
But leaving Tintin aside, Cheverny is one of the most visited castles in the Loire, and personally is one of the ones I liked the most. Not as big as Chambord, but with a beautiful decoration inside, and beautiful gardens to enjoy a quiet morning or afternoon. It is a Renaissance style castle with French and English style gardens.
Cheverny is another of the castles that you don’t see until you enter the site with your ticket.
Built by the architect Jacques Bourgier between 1620 and 1640, it preserves its sumptuous interiors and has been in the hands of the same family for more than six centuries. As we said, its gardens stand out, but it was very amazing for us to find a huge kennel with a hundred beautiful dogs, as dog lovers I stayed quite a long time watching them.
HOURS: from April to September from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, from October to March from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
PRICE: visit to the castle and gardens €13.50
We leave you here the link to the website of the castle so you can get information about opening hours and types of tickets, ►WebCheverny.
It is a good idea to look for accommodation in the area, and why not a castle?
4- Villandry
If there is a castle that can not miss on the list if you like gardens, that is Villandry. In Renaissance style, with museum, orchard and gardens, it occupies six hectares and is privately owned and open to the public.
In this castle the gardens stand out, it is the main thing to see, and they are really wonderful. You can get tickets for the gardens only, or gardens + castle, although we opted for the latter option, I think if you have already visited several castles, seeing only the gardens is enough.
Take your time, because the walk is long, entertaining and it will fly by between the gardens and the orchard.
Built during the Renaissance, it has the particularity of not having been the residence of kings or courtiers, but of Jean Le Breton, finance minister of Francois I . Interested in architecture, Jean Le Breton was also interested in the art of gardening, which he had the opportunity to study when he was ambassador in Rome.
Since its construction in the sixteenth century until the early twentieth century it was always in the hands of the French aristocracy. In 1906 it was bought by a married couple, the same were the great-great-grandparents of the current owner. The owners still live there, in an area that is not visited.
HOURS: from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 or 6:30 p.m. depending on the season.
PRICE: castle and gardens entrance €13, gardens only €8
For better timetable information give Villandry website , on the website of the castle.
5- Sully Sur Loire
Perhaps this is one of the castles that you have not felt named among the most beautiful of the Loire. But I assure you that it deserves a visit, and mainly because this is one of the castles that you can get close and see it from the outside without paying any entrance fee. Of course, there is a cost to access inside the castle.
It is small, built at the end of the 14th century, it is completely surrounded by a water moat, since it was a defensive fortress.
Located at the eastern entrance of the Loire Valley, it was declared a historical monument in 1928. Illustrious personalities such as Joan of Arc, Louis XIV, or Voltaire frequented this castle.
Entrance hours vary according to the season and range from 10 am to 5/18 pm.
Ticket price €8
6- Blois Castle
We chose to visit this castle only at night to see the sound and light show that takes place in it. It is not the only place, there are several places where this kind of shows are performed at night, but taking into account, as we already told you, that we were staying in Blois, in the Ibis hotel just a few steps from the castle, it was very nice and comfortable to cross there after dinner.
The light and sound show is performed from April to September, and evokes episodes of the history of the castle, it is necessary if you do not speak French, to rent an audio guide, but it is a highly recommended activity.
Inaugurated the show in 2018, it takes place at nightfall, around 10 pm, the 360° sound and visual staging is really worth it.
For more information visit their website.
The castle of Blois was the favorite residence of the kings of France during the Renaissance. In 1429 Joan of Arc was blessed in its chapel, before going to the siege of Orleans.
PRICES: light and sound show €13, combined ticket to visit the castle (during the day) and light and sound show €21.
►Book your ticket for the light and sound show.
►Book your ticket for Blois Castle
7- Amboise Castle
For almost two centuries, the history of the Château Royal d’Amboise was closely linked to the history of France.
Palace of the kings Charles VIII and Francis I during the Renaissance, it is also the burial place of Leonardo Da Vinci, who resided in the castle and Clos Lucé in the same locality.
This castle is one of those that you can see from the outside on the banks of the Loire River. And in fact that is what we did because we did not make the interior visit.
HOURS: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:45 pm in low season, and 9:00 am to 6:00 pm in high season, but it varies a little depending on the month you visit, so check the website.
PRICE: €15
►Book your ticket for the Château d’Amboise
Have you already thought about where to stay, Amboise can be a good place, look for your . hotel in Amboise.
8- Chaumont
The Chaumont Castle is the highlight of the Chaumont International Festival, a festival of contemporary garden designs that has been held every year since 1992. It is one of the castles that you cannot see until you enter the grounds.
Prices vary according to the type of visit you want to make, one day or two days, and the dates chosen, as well as schedules, so I leave here the link to your page with detailed information, Chaumont website.
9- Clos Lucé
Clos Lucé is located in Amboise, it was the residence of Leonardo Da Vinci and in the visit to this city it is a very good option to visit both castles.
HOURS: January from 10 am to 6 pm, February from 9 am to 7 pm, July/August from 9 am to 8 pm, September from 9 am to 7 pm, November from 9 am to 6 pm.
PRICE: €17 high season, €14 low season.
10- Royal Fortress of Chinon and Castle of Angers
To finish the tour we leave two more beautiful castles, Chinon and Angers. In both cases they are beautiful buildings that are worth visiting.
If you still don’t know which town or village to choose to stay in during your stay in the Loire Valley we help you in this post ► The most beautiful villages in the Loire.
If you are touring France renting a car will surely be a must, look for prices here
EXTRAS: map and video
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NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links.
