How about a weekend in the châteaux of the Loire Valley? Whatever the season, you’re sure to appreciate the mildness of the banks of the Loire. A weekend to combine discovery and relaxation!
Your weekend in the Loire châteaux near Blois
During your visits, you’ll cross paths with the many kings and queens of France who have left their mark on the Loire Valley. At the Royal Château of Blois, no fewer than 7 kings and 10 queens of France have lived here. Their emblems adorn the walls, including the porcupine of Louis XII and the ermine of Anne de Bretagne and Claude de France. As for François 1er, the wing bearing his name features a sumptuous exterior staircase. From April to September, the night-time show “Ainsi Blois vous est conté” (Thus Blois is told to you) retraces in sound and light the great moments in the castle’s history on its beautiful facades.
You’ll be reunited with François 1er at the Château of Chambord. A jewel of the Renaissance and the dream of a young king, the château dazzles with the elegance of its architecture and the finesse of its decor, set in a wooded estate of over 5,400 hectares! Stroll through its many rooms, climb its famous double-revolution staircase to reach the terraces. Stroll through the formal gardens before strolling through the alleys of the kitchen garden. Stroll through the park on foot or by bike. Join the many observatories. With a little patience and silence, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the many deer and hinds on the estate.
Just ten kilometers from Chambord, don’t miss the Château of
Villesavin. This pretty château was once known as “La cabane de chantier de Chambord”. A funny nickname due to the fact that it was the residence of Jean Le Breton, governor of the castle works, commissioned by the king. There’s also a wedding museum and an impressive dovecote.
This weekend in the châteaux of the Loire Valley will be an opportunity to pay a visit to the most famous of all little reporters. Tintin, for that’s who he is, awaits you at the Château of Cheverny, whose classical façade inspired Hergé to create the Château de Moulinsart, Captain Haddock’s stronghold. A permanent exhibition takes you back to the adventures of Tintin and his companions. You’ll be equally enthralled by a tour of the interior of this residence, inhabited by the same family for over six centuries. Finally, all around the château, its various gardens display their colors from spring to autumn.
A vast landscaped park overlooking the Loire, works of art to accompany your visit, an internationally renowned Garden Festival… You’re at the Château of Chaumont-sur-Loire! Cross the drawbridge to visit the château that was exchanged by Catherine de Médicis for that of Chenonceau on the death of King Henri II, in retaliation for the death of his favorite, the beautiful Diane de Poitiers. Outside, you can admire the splendid stables, which in their day were the most modern in Europe.
Because there are so many of them, here are a few castles to add to your list of weekend visits: the château of Fougères-sur-Bièvre, the château of Beauregard and its famous gallery of 327 illustrious characters, the château of Selles-sur-Cher, the château of Talcy witness to Ronsard’s love affair with the beautiful Cassandre…
Your weekend in the Loire châteaux near Tours
You’re bound to be familiar with its elegant silhouette, whose gallery soars above the Cher River. With the changing seasons and the changing lights, the Château of Chenonceau dazzles its visitors. Known as the “Château des Dames”, it was built, pampered and protected by women over the centuries. Among them were Diane de Poitiers, who had a bridge built over the river, and Catherine de Médicis, who had the famous double-storey gallery added, which you’ll pass through as you explore the twenty or so rooms on the tour. Outside, the gardens are a showcase for the château.
In Amboise, not one, not two, but three châteaux open their doors to you! The first of these dominates the Loire River: the Royal Château of Amboise. Charles VIII and François 1er spent their childhood here on the banks of the river. The tour takes you from the underground passages through the royal apartments to the top of the imposing Tour Cavalière des Minimes. Outside is the Chapelle St-Hubert, the burial place of Leonardo da Vinci.
If Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb is at the Château Royal d’Amboise, you’ll find him just a few yards away. The Château of the Clos Lucé was the home of the Italian master invited to France by François 1er. His workshops, models of his inventions (some of which are giant and can be manipulated in the park), his bedroom, the kitchen where he liked to have his meals… everything here draws you into the world of this visionary genius!
At the Royal Domain of Château-Gaillard, oranges are the star attraction. During your visit, while admiring the many varieties of oranges and citrus fruits in this conservatory, you’ll learn that it was here that the first orange trees in France were acclimatized. It was Dom Pacello de Mercoliano, a renowned monk and botanist gardener, who achieved this on behalf of King Charles VIII.
With its imposing ramparts and towers overlooking Vienne, the Royal Fortress of Chinon preserves more than 1,000 years of history within its walls. In 1205, after a nine-month siege, the fortress was retaken from the English by Philippe Auguste. In 1308, four dignitaries of the Knights Templar, including Grand Master Jacques de Molay, were imprisoned by order of Philippe le Bel. Graffiti in the Coudray tower bear witness to their imprisonment. It was also the site of the 1st meeting between Charles VII and Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years’ War. But you’ll learn a lot more during your visit!
In the Indre valley, the Château of Azay-le-Rideau is like a jewel. Balzac was right when he described it “like a faceted diamond set by the Indre” in his novel “Le Lys dans la Vallée”. For it has all the trappings of a piece of jewelry. Elegant facades, delicate decorations, graceful turrets… you’ll fall under the spell of the château, reflected in the tranquil waters of the river that surrounds it. As for its vast park, it’s not only a pleasant place to stroll around, but also a great place to admire the monument from every angle!
It has all the makings of an extraordinary garden, and the adjectives used to describe it are just as abundant as the flowers and vegetables in its Renaissance parterres. Just a few kilometers from Tours, the gardens of the Château of Villandry are a feast for the eyes! From the nine squares of its vegetable garden, whose colors change with the seasons and plantings, to the ornamental garden, via the water garden and the Garden of the Sun… follow the pathways, which offer different views of these formal gardens laid out in terraces. Get up high to admire them. A belvedere in the wood overlooking the gardens allows you to contemplate them from an even different angle.
Other attractions not to be missed during your weekend in the châteaux of the Loire: Château of the Rivau and its fairytale gardens, Château of Ussé, which inspired Charles Perrault to write “Sleeping Beauty”, Montbazon Fortress, Château of Langeais, the Royal city of Loches, Château of Montpoupon, Château of Gizeux, Château of Montrésor in the heart of one of France’s most beautiful villages.
Your weekend in the Loire châteaux near Orléans
During your weekend in the Loire châteaux, push open the doors of Château of La Bussière. This elegant red-brick château is reflected in the waters of the surrounding pond. Kitchen, living room, dining room, linen room… the tour takes you through a dozen rooms decorated with family furniture. Outside, the gardens are surrounded by high walls. Vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, flowers and fruit trees are pampered by the château’s owners and gardeners. If you come in summer, you can even pick delicious strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants… to be weighed at the boutique where you’ll find other gourmet products.
The Château of Sully-sur-Loire was home to one of the most emblematic figures in French history. Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, was in charge of finance during the reign of King Henri IV. His castle, with its tall medieval silhouette and moat, , is today the gateway to the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll discover the main hall, the apartments, the king’s bedroom and his wardrobe… Then you’ll head upstairs. Here, the guardroom awaits you, with its incredible framework over six centuries old, as well as the keep and its covered walkway.
In the Orléans forest, on the Route de la Rose, a visit to Château of Chamerolles combines history, roses and fragrance. Owned by Bertrand Dulac in the 15th century, the château was built under the direction of his son Lancelot du Lac, named after the hero of the chivalric novel. Today, visitors can discover the architecture of the monument, which displays both medieval and typical Renaissance elements. A museography showcases perfume and hygiene practices from the 16th century to the present day. Outside, the gardens feature vegetable patches and flower gardens, with roses taking pride of place!
On one side, an austere facade flanked by high towers, on the other, a softer facade tinted a delicate red. The château of Meung-sur-Loire is aptly named the château with two faces. Until the French Revolution, it was the sumptuous residence of the bishops of Orléans. The interior tour also holds many surprises in store. From the dark underground passageways where the poet François Villon was imprisoned, to the attic, 25 furnished rooms reveal over 2,000 objects – some very unusual – from daily life. A true immersion in castle life!
At the Château of La Ferté Saint-Aubin, you’ll visit a 17th-century private residence. Inhabited for over 350 years, the château reveals its various living spaces during the tour. On three floors, you’ll move from the billiard room to the dining room, from the bedrooms – including those of the household staff – to the toy loft, home to porcelain dolls and antique games. Not to mention the splendid kitchens with their gleaming brassware. The park and stables offer just as many surprises
During your weekend in the Loire châteaux around Orléans, you can also discover the Château of Beaugency – Centre d’Art Numérique, the Château of Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire, the Château of Mez-le-Maréchal or the Château-musée of Gien…
Your weekend in the Loire châteaux
Immerse yourself in history with a visit to Château of Valençay! Located in the southern part of the Loire Valley, this former residence of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, an illustrious diplomat, embodies the art of 19th-century living. Nestled in a 53-hectare green setting, invites you to discover its fascinating collections, stroll through its gardens bordered by a vast forest, or admire the refined details of its small theater hidden away in the outbuildings. An unforgettable visit!
Less than an hour from Paris, a little-known gem awaits you in the heart of the Eure valley: the Château of Maintenon. In 1674, Françoise d’Aubigné, the future Madame de Maintenon, acquired this enchanting site. In love with the estate, she transformed and enlarged it to welcome the Sun King himself. The château now opens its doors to you for a timeless interlude. Its splendid formal gardens, recreated in 2013 in the spirit of Le Nôtre, offer a constantly renewed spectacle. Now enhanced by poetic lighting and sound effects, the gardens reveal all their magic. This estate on a human scale conceals a fascinating history. Let yourself be charmed by the timeless soul of Château de Maintenon.
Enjoy your weekend in the châteaux of the Loire Valley!
Thematics
