Loire Valley Castles
From Chambord to Chenonceau, the royal route through the finest Renaissance castles.
Four days in the land of the Loire châteaux, the largest architectural ensemble of the French Renaissance. The route links the must-sees: Chambord and its double-helix staircase, Blois with its layered styles, elegant Cheverny, Chenonceau spanning the Cher and Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci rests. It's a royal journey of gardens, river and Loire art de vivre. Four days are enough for the most emblematic without overload: two châteaux a day is a good pace, broken up with stops in villages and vineyards. Spring and autumn, milder and quieter, are ideal; book guided tours and arrive early at Chambord and Chenonceau, quickly overrun in summer.
Practical info
- Stops
- 6
- Duration
- 4 days
- Transport
- 🚗 Car
- Distance
- ≈ 110 km
- Best time
- Spring and autumn
Itinerary
- 1
Château de Chambord
Le plus grand château de la Loire, chef-d'œuvre de François Ier.
- 2
Château de Blois
Quatre ailes, quatre styles, de la Gothique au Classique.
- 3
Château de Cheverny
Le château de Moulinsart, intérieurs meublés d'époque.
- 4
Château de Chenonceau
Le château des Dames, enjambant le Cher.
- 5
Château d'Amboise
Résidence royale, dernière demeure de Léonard de Vinci.
- 6
Château de Villandry
Jardins à la française parmi les plus beaux d'Europe.
