Loire Valley Châteaux

Destination 01

Tours

9 places

Lively university city and rail hub for the western châteaux. Stay 2 days.

• Photo: Michael Volchok · Google

  Château de Villandry

  Last great Renaissance château on the Loire, known for its geometric kitchen gardens.

  Tip The gardens matter most; allow time to climb the keep for the view.

  SeeVillandry$$2.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST · CC BY 3.0

  Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

  Renaissance château set on an island in the Indre, reflected in its moat.

  SeeAzay-le-Rideau$$1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: H S · Google

  Place Plumereau

  Square of half-timbered medieval houses filled with café terraces.

  SeeVieux ToursFree45 minEvening
• Photo: Nidhi Bansal · Google

  Tours Cathedral

  Gothic Saint-Gatien Cathedral with 13th-century stained glass.

  SeeCentreFree45 minMorning
• Photo: Casper Moller · CC BY 2.0

  Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

  Fine arts museum in the former archbishop's palace, with a giant cedar in the courtyard.

  SeeCentre$75 minAfternoon
• Photo: Eric.B · Google

  Les Halles de Tours

  Covered market for rillettes, goat cheese and Loire produce.

  Tip Busiest Saturday morning.

  ShopLes Halles$45 minMorning
• Photo: Le Petit Patrimoine · Google

  Le Petit Patrimoine

  Small bistro serving Touraine dishes like rillons tart and local wines since 1991.

  Tip Book ahead; closed Sundays and Mondays.

  EatCentre$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: Brédif Marc (Ets) · Google

  Marc Brédif

  Historic Vouvray house with tastings in troglodyte cellars cut into the hillside.

  Tip Cellars are chilly; bring a layer.

  DrinkRochecorbon$$75 minAfternoon
• Photo: Neil Savla · Google

  Cave de Vouvray

  Growers' cooperative with tours of rock galleries and sparkling Vouvray tastings.

  DrinkVouvray$75 minAfternoon

Destination 02

Amboise

9 places

Riverside royal town with Leonardo's last home, close to Chenonceau. Stay 2 days.

• Photo: Cfvrc Vacalu · Google

  Château Royal d'Amboise

  Royal château on a ridge over the Loire, with Leonardo's tomb in its chapel.

  SeeCentre$$1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Nadègevillain · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Clos Lucé

  Manor where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years, with models of his inventions in the park.

  SeeCentre$$2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Alin Militaru · Google

  Château de Chenonceau

  Château spanning the River Cher on arches, shaped by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici.

  Tip Arrive at opening; trains stop at Chenonceaux station nearby.

  SeeChenonceaux$$$2.5 hrMorning
• Photo: fr:Utilisatuer:Christophe.Finot · CC BY-SA 1.0

  Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire

  Château, stables and an annual international garden festival.

  Tip The garden festival runs roughly April to early November.

  SeeChaumont$$$3 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Henning Gieseke · Google

  Pagode de Chanteloup

  18th-century Chinese-style pagoda in a park, with lawn games and views.

  SeeChanteloup$75 minAfternoon

• Loire à Vélo

  Signed riverside cycle route; the Amboise–Tours stretch is about 25 km and flat.

  Tip Rent bikes in town; trains carry bikes back.

  DoLoire riverside$3 hrMorning
• Photo: Adèl · Google

  Amboise Market

  Riverside market with cheeses, charcuterie and produce.

  Tip Held Friday and Sunday mornings.

  ShopRiverside$60 minSunday morning
• Photo: Patisserie Chocolaterie Bigot · Google

  Maison Bigot

  Pâtisserie and tearoom below the château since 1913.

  Tip Try the local pavé royal.

  EatCentre$$45 minAfternoon
• Photo: Michel C · Google

  La Cave aux Fouées

  Cave restaurant serving fouées, puffed bread with rillettes and goat cheese.

  Tip Book ahead; fixed rustic menu.

  EatQuai des Violettes$$1.5 hrDinner

Destination 03

Saumur

10 places

Tuffeau-stone town known for horses, sparkling wine and cave dwellings. Stay 2 days.

• Photo: Kamel15 · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Château de Saumur

  Fairy-tale château above the Loire, home to decorative arts and equestrian museums.

  SeeCentre$$1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Cadre noir de Saumur · Google

  Cadre Noir

  France's national riding school; watch training sessions and gala shows.

  Tip Check the calendar for morning training sessions.

  DoSaint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent$$1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud · Google

  Fontevraud Abbey

  Vast royal abbey holding the tombs of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

  SeeFontevraud$$2.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Marc Ryckaert · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Château de Brézé

  Château with an underground fortress of tunnels and dry moats.

  SeeBrézé$$2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Antonov14 · CC BY-SA 2.5

  Musée des Blindés

  One of the world's largest tank museums.

  SeeSaumur$$2 hrMorning
• Photo: Didier Chevallier · Google

  Bouvet-Ladubay

  Sparkling Saumur house with tours of extensive tuffeau cellars.

  DrinkSaint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent$$75 minAfternoon
• Photo: Caves Ackerman · Google

  Ackerman

  Saumur's oldest sparkling-wine house, with cellar visits and tastings.

  DrinkSaint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent$$75 minAfternoon
• Photo: Champignonnière Le Saut Aux Loups · Google

  Le Saut aux Loups

  Mushroom-farm cave restaurant serving baked stuffed galipette mushrooms.

  Tip Terrace overlooks the Loire in good weather.

  EatMontsoreau$$1.5 hrLunch
• Photo: Pat K · Google

  Les Nobles Fouées

  Troglodyte restaurant baking fouées in a wood oven.

  EatSaint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: Mariekro · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Montsoreau

  Riverside village of white stone with a château facing the Loire.

  SeeMontsoreauFree60 minEvening