The Loire reflects the great chapters of our history. From Charles VI to Henri IV, the ballet of monarchy was almost constant in the Loire Valley. The river was considered the boulevard of kings, who graced it with their finest finery. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape, the Val de Loire region today boasts a priceless heritage of 22 buildings belonging to the "Grands Sites du Val de Loire" network. Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, Cheverny, Blois, Fontevraud... Let's discover the 15 most beautiful châteaux of the Loire, where the French art of living was established.
1. Chambord, symbol of diplomacy by François 1er
An architectural masterpiece of monumental proportions, Chambord is the star of the Loire Valley castles! Born of the extravagant dream of the young king François I, this hunting palace embodies both the power of his power and his visionary spirit, already turned towards the Italian Renaissance. It was built like a medieval fortress, but all its decorative elements are inspired by the Italian model:
- double-revolution staircase,
- bands with classical moldings,
- pilasters with capitals,
- interlacing,
- rosettes..
Don't waste any time and book your guided tour ticket to Château de Chambord ! The 40 dwellings, now bare, are brought back to life by digital tablets, allowing you to rediscover the Chambord of five centuries ago. The estate, Europe's largest enclosed forest park, is also a National Wildlife Reserve.
For a truly original experience, you can also book a hot-air balloon flight. Flying over the most beautiful châteaux of the Loire Valley, you'll enjoy an unforgettable experience!
2. Chenonceau, the Château des Dames
Known as the Château des Dames, Chenonceau embodies all the feminine grace of its illustrious owners. From its delicate silhouette to the richness of its interiors, this Renaissance masterpiece preserves magnificent art collections in perfectly preserved rooms. The park and gardens are a delight. They include :
- the circular labyrinth,
- the climbing roses of the Jardin de Diane de Poitiers,
- the flower beds of Catherine de Médicis' garden,
- the kitchen garden.
Each element bears witness to the French tradition of garden design. Chenonceau is the most visited château in France after Versailles. You can buy buy your your ticket for the Château de Chenonceau!
3. Château de Villandry and its superb gardens
The Château de Villandry owes its renown to its splendid formal gardens, which form a green setting around an elegant château. Each of the gardens forms a thematic tableau of greenery, arranged in terraces:
- The decorative vegetable garden forms a multicolored checkerboard that evokes the art of embroidery.
- The ornamental garden, with its harp-shaped boxwoods, sets the stage for music.
- The Water Garden is reflected in a Louis XV mirror-shaped water feature.
- The Sun Garden invites reverie.
- The Jardin des Simples arouses curiosity with its aromatic and medicinal plants.
The château's interiors bear witness to the French art of living. A few exotic touches complete the picture, including the astonishing Mudejar-style ceiling in the Oriental Salon.
4. Le Clos Lucé, last residence of Leonardo da Vinci
As the pleasure residence of the kings of France and the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, Le Clos Lucé offers a fascinating fascinating visit in the footsteps of this genius. The charming building, listed as a Monument Historique, takes visitors back into the master's daily life, from his apartments to his recently renovated workshops. Thanks to 3D animations and scale models, visitors can follow the master's inventions and see previously unseen objects that once belonged to him.
The park has staged a cultural walk, where visitors can have fun operating the life-size machines inspired by his sketches. If you listen carefully, you can hear the thoughts of the Renaissance's greatest mind.
5. Azay-le-Rideau, the Renaissance pleasure castle
The splendor of Azay-le-Rideau lies in the delicate form of a château that glistens in the water. This Renaissance jewel basks in a romantic ambience, set in landscaped grounds on an island in the middle of the Indre River. The tufa stone gives it an unrivalled brilliance, and its turrets a silhouette of great finesse.
Renovated and meticulously maintained, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau now boasts a new visitor itinerary: a unique reconstruction of the Marquis de Biencourt's 19th-century apartments and a dreamlike space on the1st floor, where works by artists Piets'O and Peter Keene rub shoulders with period furniture. The best way to discover the château is to opt for a guided tour ticket !
6. Château de Cheverny, the French art of living
From the perfect balance of its facades to the detail of its rooms, Château de Cheverny embodies classic French style. It boasts some of the most sumptuous interiors in the Loire region, maintained by the same family for over 6 centuries. But the Marquis and Marquise de Vibraye have decided to bring the château up to date, with a permanent exhibition devoted to the adventures of Tintin.
Conceived as an interactive show, it plunges visitors back into the whimsical events that took place at the mythical Château de Moulinsart, straight out of Hergé's imagination.
7. Château d'Amboise, elegance and royalty
In French history, the Château d'Amboise holds a special place: it was the favorite residence of the kings of France, as well as their nurseries. It was the first to introduce Italian taste to the Loire Valley, through the graces of Charles VIII, then FrancisI and Leonardo da Vinci, buried in the adjoining chapel.
An interactive game has been developed via an app, to give thanks to the Tuscan genius. The visit to the château itself is captivating: secret passages, labyrinths and hidden rooms are open to you to discover what goes on behind the scenes of history.
8. The Château Royal de Blois, a blend of 3 styles
Home to 7 kings and 10 queens, the Château Royal de Blois has been at the heart of monarchic power. Each of its buildings is a place of remembrance. Its variously styled facades reveal the different architectural styles that have prevailed from era to era: Gothic, Renaissance and Classical.
A scenography trail highlights the rich collection of art, furniture and objects from the period, in interior settings that have been meticulously restored. An interpretation area and architecture and mediation rooms enhance the tours, which end, in fine weather, with a Sound and Light show projected onto the château's facade. Buy your your admission ticket!
9. Chaumont-sur-Loire, a castle with an eventful past
Floating above the Loire River in its mantle of greenery, the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire has a proud appearance, with its slate-capped turrets. Well-known for its International Garden Festival and Art Center, the château is also an invitation to other discoveries. Your visit will plunge you into the heart of its apartments and prestigious stables, a legacy of the de Broglie family. Its historic and private apartments reveal precious treasures, some dating back to the 15th century.
Finally, all eyes turn to the park, which cultivates English romanticism. It was designed by Henri Duchêne, the most talented landscape architect of the late 19th century. Enjoy this estate by reserve your your ticket here!
A word of advice from Le Petit Futé : don't hesitate to explore the area in slow tourism mode. They're perfect for it! Paths have been laid out to enable you to discover the châteaux of the Loire by bike, in a fun way.
10. Fontevraud Abbey, a richly animated place
Fontevraud Abbey is a fascinating place, as much for its history as for the stories it tells us today. A mixed abbey run by abbesses, it was once conceived as an ideal city. Today, this ideal is embodied in a place that combines heritage, living space and contemporary artistic creation.
Equipped with innovative technological devices, this pious building houses an art center, a design hotel and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Visitors to Fontevraud come to see the Royal Necropolis and the Chapter House. Enjoy a lively experience, thanks to exhibitions, concerts, shows, screenings, conferences and workshops.
11. Ussé, the castle of Sleeping Beauty
An idyllic picture set against a backdrop of greenery. The Château d'Ussé is adorned with numerous towers, giving it the air of a fairytale castle. In fact, this 15th-century edifice is said to have inspired Charles Perrault to write Sleeping Beauty.
Chateaubriand was also seduced by the château and its superb gardens, when he came to visit the Duchess of Duras. This timeless exterior - which has stood the test of time - also features a pretty Renaissance chapel. An impressive, superb and inspiring château! Let yourself be carried away by the intoxicating colors of the French gardens designed by Le Nôtre... Let yourself be guided through the château's underground passageways, which exude a touch of magic and mystery with every step..
12. Château de Loches, a medieval royal city
This castle, with its well-defined shapes and many eye-catching spikes, was once the residence of François1er, as well as Joan of Arc. One of its most impressive features is the keep, almost 40 meters high. This magnificently well-preserved jewel of Gothic architecture is a delight to visit.
The royal city of Loches lies in the heart of Touraine. This is where the Valois dynasty liked to stay. Today, you can book a guided tour of the keep and the royal dwelling.
13. Château du Rivau, a Renaissance masterpiece
Although not the largest of the Loire castles, the Château du Riv au is a truly original attraction. Located near Chinon, it was once the home of King Charles VII. It comprises a fortified castle dating back to the Middle Ages, whose superb keep is a must-see. The château is enhanced byroyal stables dating from the Renaissance.
If the building itself is superb, its gardens are no less so. There are 16 of them, designed and cultivated with passion around different themes. Young and old alike will marvel at Gargantua's Garden, Princess Rapunzel's Garden and Alice in Rivau Land's maze. The enchanted forest is also worth a visit, as is the garden of edible plants. Continue your magical stroll along the chemin des fées and the garden of Petit Poucet. These 16 gardens also include :
- the secret garden
- the garden of love potions,
- the orchard of paradise,
- the lavender parterre,
- the truffle garden,
- the butterfly garden.
All that's left to do is stroll through the Cassinina and the Lovers' Wood, to complete this fairytale stroll!
14. Château de Chinon, a medieval landmark in the Loire Valley
The royal fortress of Chinon, overlooking the Loire, is a privileged witness to the great moments of the Middle Ages. Great historical figures such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, Charles VII and Joan of Arc took refuge here. The château underwent several metamorphoses, first under the Comte de Blois, then at the behest of Philippe Auguste, who succeeded in conquering it.
Today, animations and historical reconstructions allow visitors to discover this landmark of French history. Technology fully immerses us in the atmosphere of the site as it once was. A real leap into the past! Let yourself be transported back in time by the royal chambers, the war machines and the incredible panorama that stretches out at your feet. This visit is a marvel of the kind you often see when visiting the châteaux of the Loire Valley! Visit this royal fortress by buy your your ticket here!
15. The astonishing and mysterious Château de Brézé
This U-shaped royal edifice is quite unique... In fact, it'sa castle under a castle, as underground galleries house the 11th-century seigneurial dwelling. Château de Brézé can be visited both above and below ground, following its troglodyte galleries. Stables, kitchens and other rooms have been dug to a depth of 9 m below ground level, providing 100% shelter from the elements. The building, located 10 km from Saumur, is a listed historic monument. The atmosphere is absolutely unique! You can feel the desire to isolate and protect yourself, while creating a life as comfortable as living above ground. An absolute must-see if you want to take the grand tour of the Loire castles!
What's the most beautiful Loire château to visit?
If you have to visit just one chateau in the Loire Valley, we recommend Chambord. It's the most emblematic of them all, whose beauty rivals its rich history. We invite you to admire this architectural masterpiece in a variety of ways. A visit to the château and gardens is a must. You can round it off with a hot-air balloon ride, which offers a majestic view of this edifice from another era, which continues to dazzle the crowds.
A visit to Chambord means discovering an entire estate:
- the château,
- the formal gardens
- the stables
- the kitchen garden,
- the vineyard,
- the surrounding estate.
To prepare for your visit, you can also try out the connected nature rally application. With 10 themes, this interactive rally takes you on a real treasure hunt as you discover this jewel of French architecture.
Which Loire châteaux to visit with your family?
Two Loire châteaux stand out for your family trips. The first is Le Rivau. Its remarkable gardens offer a playful adventure, thanks in part to the many amusing features scattered throughout. Each garden immerses you in a fairytale world, sure to delight children. Children can also discover the Cité through a fun booklet entitled "Emeline and Amaury". It's all designed with them in mind, to make their visit as enjoyable and fun as possible.
The second castle to visit with the whole family is the Cité royale de Loches. It is committed to welcoming families as they should be. To this end, the site has joined the community of "joyful" cultural sites, through the Môm'Art association.
Which Loire châteaux to visit first?
If you're planning to visit more than one Loire Valley chateau during your stay, there are a few you'll want to prioritize. In addition to the famous Chambord, we recommend a visit toAmboise, once a royal mecca. Continue your cultural visits with the châteaux of Cheverny and Clos Lucé. Other not-to-be-missed castles include Azay-le-Rideau and Chenonceau. Last but not least, the Château de Chinon , with its many historical events, is also well worth a visit!
Which Loire châteaux to visit in 3 days?
If you're planning a 3-day tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley, here's how you can stagger your little journey:
- On the first day, start in the west, with the châteaux of Rivau, Chinon and Ussé.
- On the second day, continue eastwards to the châteaux of Azay-le-Rideau and Chenonceau.
- On the third day, head for Cheverny, Blois and Chambord.
A real little cultural road trip that won't leave you a minute's rest, but will fill your head with memories! Start each day as soon as the first château opens, so you'll have time to visit as many as you can during your stay.
Climb aboard a hot-air balloon to discover the châteaux of the Loire, or get on your bike. So many great ways to visit these remarkable historical monuments, relics of our past. We can't get enough of the beauty and prestige of these châteaux! Middle Ages, Renaissance... Whatever the period, it's always a pure pleasure to plunge into our past.
