The best Loire Châteaux for children

Are you looking to explore the Loire Châteaux on a family holiday? In the Loire Valley, you definitely won’t be bored visiting the châteaux and gardens. They’ve thought of everything to grab the attention of people of all ages, with gamebooks, treasure hunts, interactive tablets and more. These enjoyable and enthralling visits are the promise of memorable adventures where learning is always great fun. An overview of the best Loire Châteaux for children! 

Châteaux for budding little explorers  

Investigations and riddles, mysteries and clues… Budding explorers will need to be resourceful to unveil the secrets that await them.

Children can explore the Château de La Bussière with their very own simple descriptions and a fun little quiz at the end. The Cabins Trail in the grounds will put their detective skills to the test to solve the riddles. Again as a family, enjoy the wooden games and a trip out on the lake on a rowing boat.

At the Château de Cheverny, fans of the Adventures of Tintin will enjoy meeting the famous little reporter and his friends. When visiting the château, children will be given a free gamebook (for 7-14 year-olds) to investigate the mystery of the château’s clocks showing the wrong times. The adventure then continues in the gardens where they will enjoy running around and exploring, before going for a stroll through the wooded part of the estate on an electric boat or in an electric car.

A few kilometres away, at the Château de Villesavin, young adventurers will be given a free guide to set off ‘In search of the ghost’. Once they’ve found all the answers to the riddles, they’ll get a surprise. Children can also meet the animals on the little farm.

D. Darrault – ADT Touraine

The Château du Clos Lucé is also on the list of best Loire Châteaux for children. Venture into the fascinating world of Leonardo da Vinci as a family. In the grounds, the kids will be captivated by the life-size models of his inventions, as they activate Leonardo’s aerial screw, cross the swing bridge or climb aboard the tank. A fun and educational tour! 

During the summer holidays, the whole family will need to work together as a team to find their way out of the giant escape room in the Château de La Ferté-Saint-Aubin’s fifteen rooms before the time runs out!

The knights’ châteaux

In these châteaux, valiant knights will encounter all the essentials of the Middle Ages, from armour to the sentry walk, keeps and even dungeons.

The Château de Sully-sur-Loire surrounded by a moat, was the residence of Maximilien de Béthune, King Henry IV’s minister. As they explore the royal apartments to the very top of the keep, the kids (aged 7-12) can use their gamebook to solve riddles and take on challenges.

The Château de Meung-sur-Loire near Orléans is an impressive place with a towering medieval facade. Children can go on their own special tour that will guide them all the way down to the dark underground galleries. In the grounds, there’s an animated bestiary on the dragons trail devoted to these fantastic, mythical creatures, including a giant 14-metre basilisk!

At Montbazon Fortress, the tour with audio guide whisks families back to the era of the Foulques Nerra, or ‘The Black Falcon’. Blacksmith, saddler, potter… discover the professions of the Middle Ages and even get the chance to try your hand at these ancient techniques. You’ll be able to take your creations away with you! Don’t miss the demonstrations of medieval war machines and axe-throwing!

Another of the best Loire Châteaux for children, come and venture inside the Royal Fortress of Chinon, protected by its ramparts and many defence towers. The whole family will enjoy the captivating tours of this monument thanks to the games booklet called ‘A tour with Bertille’, and the HistoPad tour, a digital tablet with a treasure hunt for the little ones or an escape room (from the age of 9).

Châteaux fit for princes and princesses 

The elegance of Renaissance architecture, royal furnishings… The best Loire Châteaux for children invite you to come on a journey back through history and walk in the footsteps of the kings and queens of France! 

The Château de Chambord has everything you could possibly need for a fantastic family day out. Learn all about the history of the château that Queen Elisabeth and Lady Diana both visited on their trips to France. The HistoPad is a digital tablet with a treasure hunt for the little ones. The ‘Logis des Enfants’ children’s area, the equestrian show and short trips on an electric boat or in a little electric car are all ideal for exploring Francis I’s estate and gardens. 

In Blois, the Château Royal has played witness to countless key moments in the history of France. This impressive monument was the residence of seven kings and ten queens of France and as well as the HistoPad with a fun tour adapted for the little ones, children can also choose to go on an audio adventure led by a mischievous porcupine with anecdotes and captivating history quizzes. Unless they’d prefer to follow Cornelia into the royal apartments with her games booklet.  

Léonard de Serres – OT de Loches

At the Cité Royale de Loches, walk in the footsteps of Charles VII and the beautiful Agnès Sorel, his favourite. With the HistoPad, the whole family can go on a treasure hunt in the keep. The ‘Emeline & Amaury’ gamebook helps children learn all about the history and secrets of the lodgings and keep. 

At the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, wander around the famous International Garden Festival after visiting the château.

Once again, families can expect a colourful adventure as they explore the plant-based installations, play games and make some fantastic discoveries!

Visit a prince’s palace: the Château de Valençay was once the residence of the Prince of Talleyrand, Napoléon’s minister. Outdoors, venture into the huge 2,000 m² maze named after the emperor himself, and follow the fascinating treasure hunt to try and reach the Emperor’s tower. Younger visitors will love seeing the animals on the little farm and the deer near the pleasure garden.

Surprising adventures for budding little gardeners  

Vegetable gardens full of colourful vegetables, delicate flowers and vast meadows. On holiday, gardens are extraordinary playgrounds for people of all ages!  

The gardens at the Château de Villandry are iconic in the Loire Valley and the whole family will find them captivating. Don’t miss the vegetable garden and the countless vegetables that grow there. After that, head up to the second terrace and have fun getting lost in the medieval-inspired maze. Once you’ve reached the centre, you’ll need to find your way out. A great laugh guaranteed!  

At another of the best Loire Châteaux for children, come on an enchanted adventure at the Château du Rivau. With the audio guide, you’ll be able to learn all about the château’s history and explore the fairytale gardens with Gargantua’s vegetable garden, Alice’s maze, the garden of Eden and the giant boots and watering can. And children can dress up for the visit as knights or princesses (costumes on loan)!

Visitors come to the Parc Floral de La Source in Orléans to run around, explore and have fun! There are quadricycles available to hire, a crazy golf course, playgrounds and a little farm complete with animals. And of course, you can’t miss the butterfly house and its many colourful specimens that will come and land on your shoulder.

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The Parc Floral in Apremont-sur-Allier is an enchanted garden! You’ll love the ‘follies’ that were an important feature of 18th-century English gardens. From the Turkish Pavilion to the Chinese Bridge and the Belvedere, this garden takes visitors on a tour of the globe where English-style gardens are blended with French-style parks.  

Discover more family activities!

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Make your way to the Loire Valley’s family parks in France 

Family cycling holidays

Best animal parks in the Loire Valley for families

Visiting the gardens of the Loire Valley as a family