Loire Valley France Chambord Chenonceau and Local Wine

Château de Chambord

Chambord is the Loire's showstopper, begun in 1519 for Francis I as a monumental hunting lodge in the middle of a vast forest. Its skyline of towers, lanterns and chimneys looks like a city on the roof.

Practical tip: rent a bike or electric cart on the estate, or walk a forest trail at dusk, when you may spot deer. Check the official website for current hours and fees.

Chambord's double-helix staircase lets two people climb at once without meeting. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Daabomb101 assumed (based on copyright claims)., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Royal Château of Blois

In the heart of the town of Blois, this royal residence reads like an architecture textbook, with wings in Gothic, Renaissance and Classical styles arranged around one courtyard. The highlight is the open spiral staircase of the Francis I wing, richly carved with salamanders, the king's emblem.

The open spiral staircase of the Francis I wing is the showpiece of the royal château at Blois. Photo: Zairon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Château de Cheverny

Still owned by the same family that built it in the seventeenth century, Cheverny is a beautifully furnished classical château with a symmetrical pale facade. Fans of Tintin will recognize it as the model for Marlinspike Hall, and a small exhibition celebrates the connection.

Cheverny's classical facade inspired the design of Marlinspike Hall in the Tintin comics. Photo: The original uploader was Manfred Heyde at German Wikipedia. (Original text: de:Manfred…, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Royal Château of Amboise

Amboise rises on a rocky spur above the Loire, and its terraces give one of the finest views over the river and the slate roofs of the town. Charles VIII and Francis I spent time at court here, and the small Gothic chapel of Saint-Hubert holds the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci.

The royal château of Amboise rises above the Loire and holds the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci in its chapel. Photo: Gzen92, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Château du Clos Lucé

A short walk up the street from the royal château, the red brick manor of Clos Lucé is where Leonardo da Vinci lived from 1516 until his death in 1519.

Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life at Clos Lucé, where he died in 1519. Photo: Nadègevillain, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau is often called the most romantic of the châteaux. Its long gallery stretches across the Cher river on graceful arches, and its story is shaped by powerful women, including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici, whose rival gardens still flank the entrance.

Chenonceau's gallery spans the Cher on a series of arches. Photo: Wladyslaw (talk), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Château de Villandry

Villandry was the last great Renaissance château built along the Loire, but its fame rests on its gardens.

Villandry's gardens include an ornamental kitchen garden planted with vegetables in decorative patterns. Photo: Ввласенко, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

Built on an island in the Indre river in the early sixteenth century, Azay-le-Rideau is a jewel of early French Renaissance architecture. Its turrets and pale stone seem to float on the water, and the reflection is the reason most photographers come.

Azay-le-Rideau stands on an island in the Indre river and is famous for its reflection. Photo: DXR, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Royal Abbey of Fontevraud

Southeast of Saumur, Fontevraud is one of the largest monastic complexes surviving in Europe. Its Romanesque abbey church holds the painted tomb effigies of Henry II of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart, a reminder of the Plantagenet dynasty's roots in the region.

The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud holds the tomb effigies of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. Photo: JackyM59, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0