France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France's garden and its royal storybook: a broad, lazy river flanked by Renaissance châteaux, troglodyte villages and vineyards producing some of the country's most food-friendly whites. Many of those châteaux now take guests, making it possible to sleep, dine and wake inside the scenery.

Best areas to stay

Amboise & central Touraine

The royal heart of the valley, with Amboise, Chenonceau and Leonardo da Vinci's Clos Lucé clustered along the river east of Tours.

Chinon & western Touraine

A medieval fortress town amid Cabernet Franc vineyards, close to Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry's gardens and the abbey of Fontevraud.

Saumur

Sparkling-wine cellars, the Cadre Noir riding academy and tuffeau-stone streets on the south bank, with troglodyte restaurants in the cliffs.

The Sologne & Chambord

East of Blois, forest and marshland surround François I's colossal hunting château and quieter estates such as Cheverny.

Dining & nightlife

Loire tables pair river fish, goat's cheeses and game from the Sologne with Vouvray, Sancerre and Chinon from the surrounding slopes. Evenings favour long château dinners and cellar tastings; Tours provides the region's liveliest streets.

Travelling as a family

Châteaux with moats, mazes and falconry displays keep children engaged, and the flat, signposted Loire à Vélo cycle route suits all ages. Chambord's rooftops and Beauval's zoo near Saint-Aignan are dependable favourites.

Travelling as a couple

Sleeping in a turret suite, hot-air ballooning over Chenonceau and candlelit visits to the châteaux give the Loire an easy romance. Add a private tasting in a tuffeau cave for the full effect.

Cultural highlights

Chambord's double-helix staircase and rooftop lantern towers
Chenonceau arched across the River Cher
The Renaissance kitchen gardens of Villandry
Fontevraud Abbey, resting place of the Plantagenets

When to visit

April to June brings gardens at their best and comfortable château-hopping, while September and October add harvest and golden riverbanks. July and August are warm and busiest at the headline châteaux; many run evening sound-and-light shows in high summer.

Gentle, temperate climate — the 'garden of France' rarely sees extremes, though summer heat spikes are increasingly common.

Practical notes

High-speed trains from Paris reach Tours in a little over an hour; Paris airports are the practical gateways
A car is the easiest way to link châteaux; cycling the Loire à Vélo is a fine alternative
Book timed entries for Chambord and Chenonceau in summer
Many châteaux and gardens reduce hours or close from November to March

View Loire Valley on the map

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Daily discoveries from Loire Valley and beyond.

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