Things to do in Loire Valley

Best time to visit Loire Valley

• a note or something on   ✦ an occasion worth the trip

• April to June and September and October

  The season; the Chaumont garden festival runs April to October.

• July and August

  Busiest, hottest, highest prices.

• December

  Noël aux châteaux; a lovely short trip.

• January, February, March and November

  Quiet; some châteaux run reduced hours.

What's on

• Festival international des jardins April to October

  The garden festival at Chaumont.

• Son et lumière summer evenings

  At Blois and Chambord.

• Noël aux châteaux December

  The great houses decorated for Christmas.

Best things to do in Loire Valley

• Château de Chambord

  $$

  The great one: the double-helix staircase and the rooftop terraces.

• Château de Chenonceau

  $$

  The bridge château over the Cher; book the timed ticket.

• Château de Villandry

  $$

  The gardens are the point: the kitchen garden, water garden, maze.

• Château d'Amboise

  Amboise · $$

  The royal château above town; pair with the Clos Lucé.

• Clos Lucé

  Amboise · $$

  Leonardo's last home, with the models of his inventions.

• Château de Blois

  Blois · $$

  Four wings, four centuries; the François I staircase.

• Château de Cheverny

  $$

  The lived-in family château; the hounds and the Tintin link.

• Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

  $$

  The jewel on the water, reflected in the Indre.

Where to stay in Loire Valley

• Amboise

  a first base

  The prettiest town, central to Chambord, Chenonceau and Blois.

• Blois and the countryside

  centrality

  Between Chambord and Chenonceau, with the manor houses in reach.

• Tours

  food and trains

  The region's city: old town, market halls, the TGV.

Think twice about

• Orléans as a château base

  Too far east; every château day starts with an hour's drive. Sleep west.

• A different hotel every night

  The châteaux cluster; moving costs half a day each time.

• Right by a big château in August without booking

  Limited rooms and high prices; book the manor houses ahead.

Best restaurants in Loire Valley

• L'Épicerie

  Tours · $$

  The beloved Tours bistro; book.

• La Planque

  Amboise · $$

  Natural wines and small plates; the evening spot.

• Les Arpents

  Amboise · $$

  The Amboise dinner booking.

• Le Lion d'Or

  $$$

  The Sologne inn; game in season.

• L'Ambacia

  Amboise · $$$

  The refined Amboise hotel dinner.

• Les Halles de Tours

  Tours · $

  The covered market; the lunch counters.

• Domaine des Hauts de Loire

  $$$$

  The estate's gastronomic restaurant; the special dinner.

Outdoor things to do in Loire Valley

• La Loire à Vélo

  $

  Flat signposted cycling between the château towns.

• Vouvray wine caves

  $

  Chenin blanc tastings in the tuffeau caves.

• Sancerre

  $

  Sauvignon blanc on its hill; the eastern wine day.

• Fontevraud Abbey

  $$

  The Plantagenet abbey; Eleanor and Richard lie here.

• Canoe under Chenonceau

  $$

  Paddle under the château's arches at dawn; book ahead in summer.

• ZooParc de Beauval

  $$$

  One of Europe's great zoos; the family non-château day.

Best hotels in Loire Valley

• Le Manoir Les Minimes

  Amboise · $$$$

  The Relais and Châteaux manor in Amboise.

• Le Manoir Saint-Thomas

  Amboise · $$$$

  The manor hotel in town.

• Domaine des Hauts de Loire

  $$$$

  The estate hotel between Blois and Amboise.

• Château du Perreux

  $$$$

  The manor by the river near Amboise.

• Les Trésorières

  Tours · $$

  The Tours B&B.

Is Loire Valley expensive? What a day costs

A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room

What to book ahead

• Château de Chambord: a few days ahead
• Château de Chenonceau: a few days ahead
• Canoe under Chenonceau: a few days ahead
• ZooParc de Beauval: a few days ahead
• Le Manoir Les Minimes: weeks ahead
• Le Manoir Saint-Thomas: weeks ahead
• Domaine des Hauts de Loire: weeks ahead
• Château du Perreux: weeks ahead

• Chenonceau: book the timed ticket, especially in summer.
• Chambord in summer and ZooParc de Beauval: book ahead.
• The good Amboise and Tours restaurants on summer weekends: book ahead.

Is Loire Valley safe?

• Low-risk region. Standard caution on river paths and canoe trips; wear the outfitters' life jackets. Emergency 112.

Loire Valley travel tips: tourist traps to skip

• The midday crowds at Chenonceau and Chambord; go early or late.
• Tourist-menu crêperies by the château gates; eat in the towns.
• Souvenir wine at the château shops; buy from the winemakers' caves.

Getting around Loire Valley: public transport and more

• A car makes the château days far easier; the châteaux spread along 100km of river.
• Trains serve Tours, Blois and Amboise; the TGV reaches Tours in about an hour.
• La Loire à Vélo links the towns on flat signposted cycle paths.
• Château car parks fill by late morning in summer; arrive early.

Who Loire Valley suits

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