Châteaux of the Loire
France
The Loire Valley is the garden of France, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Renaissance royal châteaux, troglodyte wine cellars cut into chalk cliffs, and river islands of white-sand beaches linking Chinon's medieval fortress to Chambord's Renaissance fantasy.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Chinon
A cliff-top medieval fortress above half-timbered wine streets where Joan of Arc identified the Dauphin in 1429. The Chinon appellation produces the Loire's most powerful Cabernet Franc reds.
- Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
A Renaissance water castle built on two islands in the Indre river, its reflection obsessively photographed since the 1840s. The interior is a complete museum of the French Renaissance.
- Château de Villandry
The last great Renaissance château on the Loire has the finest formal garden in France: three terraced levels of vegetable parterres, ornamental water, and ornamental bowers across 6 hectares.
- Tours
The cultural capital of the Loire Valley, with a medieval half-timbered quarter at Place Plumereau and one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in France at its heart.
- Amboise
Leonardo da Vinci spent his last three years at the Clos Lucé manor here at François I's invitation. His machine models fill the house; the château looms above the Loire on a limestone spur.
- Château Royal de Blois
Four centuries of French architecture collide in one courtyard: medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical wings. The open spiral staircase is one of the wonders of French Renaissance design.
- Château de Cheverny
The most perfectly furnished château on the Loire, privately owned by the same family since 1634 and filled with original tapestries, Louis XIV furniture, and Flemish masters. Hergé modelled Marlinspike Hall on it.
- Château de Chambord
François I's fantasy hunting lodge: 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and a double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The rooftop terraces of lanterns and chimneys are the most extravagant in France.
Where to Eat
- L'Étape GourmandeFrench
A charming farmhouse restaurant near Villandry, offering traditional French cuisine with fresh, local ingredients.
- La Maison d'à CôtéGourmet
A Michelin-starred restaurant in Montlivault, serving innovative dishes in a contemporary setting.
- Le ShakerCocktail Bar
A riverside bar in Amboise, known for its creative cocktails and stunning views of the Loire River.
Things to Do
- Clos LucéHistoric Site
Explore Leonardo da Vinci's final residence in Amboise, featuring exhibits of his inventions and artworks.
- Château de ChenonceauHistoric Site
Visit the 'Ladies' Château' spanning the Cher River, renowned for its unique architecture and gardens.
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de ToursMuseum
Discover an extensive collection of fine arts housed in the former archbishop's palace in Tours.