The castles of the Loire Valley are extraordinary works of art, part of a fairytale land long nicknamed the ‘Garden of France’. This is the fairytale land of castles, where nature, with its mythical landscapes, has joined hands with the craftsmanship of French artisans to create a place of beauty dominated by history. This is a special place that UNESCO has included in its World Heritage List since 2000 and that every tourist to the region between Sully-sur-Loire and Saint-Florent-le-Viel must see.
The first castles began to be built as early as the 12th century. And the great architects of the time were involved in their construction. In fact, if historical sources are to be believed, the famous Leonardo da Vinci, known for his many talents as an artist, engineer and architect (although at the time, all these occupations were not quite well defined), was among the masters called upon.
By the 12th century, as armed conflicts began to fade in the region, the original grim and unsightly castles started to change. Each lord tried to give his own edifice greater resistance to the newly introduced artillery (cannons wreaked havoc on old fortresses with too thin walls) but also a more elegant, sophisticated look.
This development gave rise to architectural masterpieces typical of the French spirit. Vast, spacious buildings with windows large enough to let light flood in. And outside, extensive, elegant gardens, perfect for strolling. As a result, the castles of the Loire Valley gradually became a place of interest for the nobility of the time, who discovered these places as the ideal site for leisure.
Today, many travellers have the castles of the Loire Valley on their wish list. Touring them is an excellent option for a trip, whether or not you’ve visited France before.
Even though there are beautiful castles in other regions, the Loire Valley is famous for its density of superb palaces (there are over 300 of them!), perfectly positioned in the heart of nature. No wonder French kings and nobles loved this area. After all, they built the wonderful chateaux out of a desire always to have somewhere to return to in their spare time.
How do you get to the Loire Valley?
As told before, Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the centre of France. You can get here by booking flights to Paris, then hire a car to explore as many castles as you like. It’s the best option, giving you maximum flexibility.
If you don’t want to or can’t rent a car, you can also get to the Loire Valley by train from Paris to Blois – it’s an hour-and-a-half journey.
Which castles to visit in the Loire Valley
There are many châteaux along the Loire Valley – over 300, as I said, some smaller, some larger. It’s practically impossible to visit them all in one holiday. But if you’re planning a stay here mainly to get to know these works of art, then there are definitely a few you shouldn’t miss under any circumstances. Let’s see them one by one:
Chambord Castle
The most famous of the Loire castles, a symbol of the French Renaissance throughout the world, was built to the glory and by the will of King Francis I in the heart of the marshy lands of Chambord. The young sovereign, passionate about architecture, father of the Arts and Letters, surrounded by artists, made no secret of his ambition: the construction of a building destined to dazzle the world. 40 rooms, 77 staircases, and 282 fireplaces, the power of the sovereign is displayed everywhere, from the double revolution staircase – attributed to Leonardo da Vinci – to the busts of the monarch. Francis, I was only 24 years old when he began this colossal project – a dream in stone that would see his king die before its completion. For the historian Jean Martin-Demézil, Chambord is “of the race of the great pyramids”.
The largest forest park in Europe, the Chambord estate covers 5440 hectares, the equivalent of the surface area of Paris. Chambord has always remained uninhabited. It has never been the permanent residence of a sovereign; some have never been there, others have only stayed there in the autumn: its domain is above all forested and has always been a hunting reserve. New classical formal gardens were laid out in 2017, as well as a permaculture vegetable garden on the site of the former stables.
Chenonceau Castle
Conversely, Chenonceau remains one of the most famous and admired of the Loire Valley Castles. That’s because its architecture is extraordinary, even if the construction is based on a former fortified mill. But few things still remind us of the old mill, and Chenonceau has earned its name of the Women’s Castle because some of the most famous and influential women in France lived here. We’re talking about King Henry II’s mistress Diane de Poitiers, Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont, the last of the queens from the House of Valois. Then, there’s Madame Dupin, a distant relative of the famous George Sand, and then Madame Pelouze, who will restore the building.
Even the castle’s gardens are a reminder of women’s talent for decoration. To this day, they still form a key part of the castle, made up of majestic alleys lined with multicoloured flowers. The former royal stables and a full-fledged farmhouse are also located in this area.
Not so long ago, using plans drawn back in time, a superb green labyrinth was erected here, its walls made up of Taxus baccata shrubs. And let’s not forget that of all the castles in the Loire Valley, this is the only place the famous Honoré de Balzac mentioned in his book Catherine De’Medici.
Amboise Castle
Once a fortress overlooking the valley, the Château d’Amboise became the home of kings during the Renaissance and was home to both Francis I and Charles VIII. This royal residence steeped in history is also famous for being the burial place of Leonardo da Vinci. Even today, the building is a testimony to the profound changes in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. A visit to the balcony of Amboise is recommended, which offers a 360° view of the Loire landscape, a World Heritage Site.
The castle is open all year round for all visitors and is accessible by train and car. The SNCF train station is only a few minutes’ walk from the ticket office, and the location is less than two hours from Paris.
Villandry Castle
Villandry is as remarkable for its elegantly simple castle as for its gardens. Built by François I’s finance minister Jean Le Breton in 1532, it is the last of the great Loire Valley châteaux. Although it lost some of its Renaissance charisma when it changed owners in the 18th century, it was finally renovated and brought back into the fashion of the time at the beginning of the 20th century, at the initiative of Joachim Carvallo and Ann Coleman. The estate is still in the family today, and its owner is as committed to preserving it as his forebears.
Blois Castle
A 360° tour of the central courtyard of the Château de Blois gives you an idea of its history: the gothic wing of Louis XII, who ruled the Kingdom from Blois from 1498 and whose equestrian statue is above the entrance, the Renaissance wing that François I had built from 1515 to 1524 and adorned with his famous staircase, the classical wing of Gaston d’Orléans (brother of King Louis XIII) built in the 17th century, and of course what remains of the 13th-century royal fortress, namely several towers of the François I building, part of the rampart, the Foix tower and the Salle des États Généraux.
Azay-le-Rideau Castle
Delicately set between two arms of the Indre, Azay-le-Rideau stands out from the other châteaux of the Loire by its L-shaped architecture. Built from 1518 onwards under the aegis of François I, it shows nothing of its defensive aspect since its parapet walk (present only on the two outer facades) is closed off by the attic. The building is surrounded by a magnificent landscaped park, encircled by the water in which it is gracefully reflected… and it is undoubtedly this peaceful appearance that makes it one of the favourite castles for visitors: around 300,000 per year!
Cheverny Castle
Deep in the forest, a castle for Tintin fans: it inspired Hergé to build Moulinsart, Captain Haddock’s home. In the heart of the Loir-et-Cher, on the edge of the Sologne, the Cheverny castle, set on a meticulously maintained lawn, surrounded by an English-style garden, is a testimony to the reign of Louis XIII. Yet, it owes its fame to the little reporter with a puff of hair. A wing is now dedicated to a museum on this masterpiece of the 8th art – the exhibition is playful and interactive. There is a weapons room and galleries of period portraits. To be visited with the family! The estate is also a major hunting centre: the kennels date back to 1850 and are home to around a hundred hunting dogs, crossbred between French Poitevins and English Fox Hounds.
Ussé Castle
Once upon a time, a fortress became a pleasure castle over the centuries. Harmoniously combining its high defensive towers with its French gardens, the fairytale castle of Ussé is said to have inspired Charles Perrault to write his tale Sleeping Beauty at the end of the 17th century. Building on this reputation, the site offers visitors the chance to relive scenes from the story as they pass through the dungeon and along the wall walk. They can then discover the furnished rooms of the palace, its outbuildings and its flowered terrace designed by Le Nôtre; a magical viewpoint (as in a fairy tale) over the Indre and the countryside.
Saumur Castle
Before becoming the municipal museum in 1912, the Château de Saumur, one of the most important castles in Anjou, had several lives: a royal fortress in the 13th century, the palace of the Dukes of Anjou at the end of the Middle Ages, it then became the residence of the governors of the town and was used as a prison from the 17th to the 18th century. Although Napoleon I carried out work to turn it into a real state prison, the building was finally transformed into a simple arms depot during the Restoration. Far from this military past, the museum now presents its collections of objects dedicated to the decorative arts and horses because Saumur has been a Mecca of traditional French horse riding for over two centuries!
Chinon Castle
This architectural marvel, located on the borders of Poitou, Anjou and Touraine, dominates the landscape of the Vienne river (a tributary of Loire) and the medieval city of Chinon from the top of its rocky outcrop. Both imposing and admirable, this fortress is strategically positioned, allowing it to control the passages over the Vienne and the city below. A privileged place for diplomatic meetings and military strategy, Chinon has a rich history that you will enjoy discovering during your visit.
The last refuge of Henry II Plantagenet, King of England, its thousand-year-old walls welcomed Eleanor of Aquitaine, Charles VII and Joan of Arc during the major turning points in French history.
The “three castles” that make up the only royal medieval fortress in the Loire Valley now reveal their secrets through reconstructions, immersive tours and various activities. Visiting the Royal Fortress of Chinon means walking in the footsteps of Joan of Arc, understanding how a war machine works or admiring the magnificent panoramas of the Loire Valley.
Sully-sur-Loire Castle
The castle of Sully-sur-Loire is, in fact, two castles in one. In the Middle Ages, the keep and a small castle stood at either end of the present inner courtyard. Over time, new buildings were constructed (artillery tower, covered galleries, stables, bridge, etc.), some were moved (church), others were demolished (13th-century Philippe-Auguste tower), and a gallery, together with a wing, were finally built to link the small castle to the keep. The whole site is now closed and, to make matters worse, richly furnished!
Conclusion
These are 10 of the castles in the Loire Valley, perhaps the most important in this area, which would be extraordinarily beautiful even without these spectacular buildings. But on the other hand, the Loire Valley Castles have brought fame to France and are the main reason why thousands of tourists come to this area every year. Prepare to visit them, then tell me which one you liked best.
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