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The Loire Valley follows France's longest river through the gentle countryside of central France, a region of vineyards, forests, river towns and the grand residences built by kings and nobles during the Renaissance. Its long role as a favored retreat of the French court left an extraordinary concentration of châteaux, and a large section of the valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes is listed by UNESCO as a cultural landscape.
Château-hopping is the main pursuit. Chambord, with its double-helix staircase and forest of rooftop chimneys, is the largest, while Blois displays several architectural periods around a single courtyard. Cheverny remains furnished as a lived-in home, and Chaumont-sur-Loire hosts an annual international garden festival. In Amboise, the royal château looks over the river, and nearby Clos Lucé is the manor where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. Chenonceau spans the Cher River on graceful arches, Villandry is known for its formal kitchen gardens, and Azay-le-Rideau seems to float on its moat.
The region rewards an unhurried pace, mixing two or three châteaux a day with wine tastings, market visits and cycling along the Loire à Vélo routes, which make car-free touring practical. Tours is the main city and a convenient base, with good rail links and a lively old quarter, while Amboise and Blois are smaller, walkable alternatives. Late spring and early fall bring pleasant weather without peak summer crowds.
WiserMap travel guideLoire Valley France Chambord Chenonceau and Local WinePlan a Loire Valley trip: Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise and Villandry, plus Saumur, Fontevraud, local wines and cheeses, where to stay and how to get around.Read the guide
The largest chateau in the Loire Valley, begun in 1519 for King Francis I, with a skyline of towers and chimneys and a famous double-spiral staircase where two people can climb without meeting. It sits in a huge walled forest park. Climb to the rooftop terraces, and rent a bike or boat to explore the grounds.
A royal residence in the center of Blois whose four wings show different eras, from Gothic to Renaissance to Classical, around one courtyard. The Francis I wing has a striking open spiral staircase, and the rooms tell dramatic stories of French kings. In summer an evening sound and light show is projected on the walls.
A royal chateau on a rocky spur above the town of Amboise and the Loire, home to several French kings. The small Gothic Chapel of Saint-Hubert holds the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. Terraces and gardens give sweeping river views. Combine it with Clos Luce, a short walk away along a street of cave dwellings.
An elegant classical chateau still owned by the same family after centuries, with richly furnished rooms, tapestries and paintings. It inspired the Marlinspike Hall of the Tintin comics, featured in a permanent exhibition. Time your visit for the daily feeding of the hunting hounds, a popular spectacle.
One of the most beautiful chateaux in France, built across the River Cher on a series of arches, with a long gallery spanning the water. It is called the Ladies' Chateau after the powerful women, including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici, who shaped it. Arrive at opening to avoid the crowds.
An early Renaissance chateau built on an island in the Indre River, where its white walls and turrets reflect in the still water around it. Restored inside and out, it has furnished rooms and a romantic English-style park. Walk around the moat to the back of the chateau for the classic reflection photo.
A fairy-tale chateau on a bluff above the Loire, with grand stables and a large park. It is best known for its International Garden Festival, held from about April to November, with dozens of creative show gardens, plus contemporary art installations in the grounds. Allow at least half a day for the full estate.
A Renaissance chateau west of Tours famous for its spectacular formal gardens, restored in the early 1900s. The ornamental kitchen garden is planted with vegetables in geometric patterns, alongside a water garden, a garden of love and a sun garden. Climb to the belvedere for the best view over the patterns.
The brick manor house in Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked for the last three years of his life, as a guest of Francis I. Inside are his bedroom, workshops and models of his inventions, and the park has large working models to try. It is very good for families and takes about two hours.
Tours is a lively university city and a handy base for visiting the chateaux, with fast trains from Paris. Its old quarter centers on Place Plumereau, a square of half-timbered houses filled with cafe terraces, and the Gothic Saint-Gatien Cathedral. Try local Vouvray wine and rillettes in the old town.
A riverside town in Anjou, overlooked by a white chateau on a hill above the Loire. Saumur is famous for its horse riding school with the elite Cadre Noir riders, and for sparkling wines aged in caves cut into the soft tufa stone. Book a cellar tour and tasting, and check dates for riding displays.
One of the largest medieval abbeys in Europe, with a vast church holding the painted tomb effigies of Henry II of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. The abbey also served as a prison until the 1960s, and now includes a modern art museum. Do not miss the unusual octagonal Romanesque kitchen.
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