Visiting Castles in the Loire Valley: 8 Picks + Local Tips

If you want to live out your fairytale dreams or explore centuries of art and architecture, the best castles in the Loire Valley are the place to do it. Most are only 90 minutes from Paris by train, making them an easy day trip or weekend getaway to tack onto your travels in France. 

My boyfriend is from the region, so I’ve spent the past eight years getting to know the ins and outs of the castles in the Loire Valley. And I’ve been especially lucky because his dad is a history teacher and gives us the full scoop when we tour them each year. I’ve visited each Loire Valley chateâu multiple times and across different seasons, so I feel like I have a few tidbits to pass on to anyone interested in a trip to the region.

Below you’ll find my top eight picks for Loire Valley chateâux, with practical information for visiting each one, plus how to get there, where to stay, and tips for castle hopping. 

Map of Loire Valley Castles

Travel Tip: If you don’t have a car or just want someone else to handle the logistics, a guided tour from Paris is the easiest way to see two or three Loire Valley castles in a day. You get round trip transportation, an English speaking guide who can fill you in on the history, and most tours throw in lunch or a wine tasting. There are one day, two day, and three day options depending on how much time you want to spend in the area. 

Best Castles in the Loire Valley: 8 Chateaux to Visit

1. Château de Chenonceau 

While Chambord gets most of the attention, Château de Chenonceau is actually the Loire Valley castle I recommend the most. Built in the 16th century and opening to the public in 1913, this is the most visited castle in France behind Versailles, and spans the Cher River with arches to support the chateâu in the water. 

Aside from the architecture that distinguishes Château de Chenonceau from other castles of the Loire Valley, it has a rich, woman focused history and is even dubbed le Château des Dames, or the Castle of Women, dedicated to those who shaped it across history. 

There are two gardens and large grounds to visit along with touring the castle. It’s a reasonable size, so I’d recommend giving yourself a half day for the visit. And if you’d rather see Château de Chenonceau from the water, I highly recommend renting a canoe and paddling through the arches. If you don’t feel like paddling yourself, there are guided boat tours of the area that include the castle and wine tasting. 

Book Château de Chenonceau tickets here or visit on a guided tour from Paris. 

2. Château de Chambord

Chambord is the crown jewel of Loire Valley castles and lives up to the hype with a sprawling domain and massive construction. It’s the largest chateâu de la Loire, commissioned by Francois I as a hunting lodge in the 16th century. The castle has more than 400 rooms, nearly 300 fireplaces, and 83 staircases, with ornate details everywhere you turn. Given it grandure, Chambord is a standout reason to take a day trip to the Loire Valley from Paris, especially if you want to see something less played out than Versailles.

Château de Chambord has been a UNESCO Heritage site since 1981 and there’s plenty to do besides tour the enormous castle. It sits on 5,440 hectares of wooded land and visitors are free to have a walk along the 20+ kilometers of trails, ride a bike through the park (this e-bike tour from Blois to Chambord includes a wine tasting), or listen to the mating calls of animals, called the brame, from watchtowers in the Chambord forest during the fall — it’s an annual tradition for a lot of local families (I go with my in-laws every year!).

The domain is full of wildlife, so keep your eyes open for unique birds, boars, deer, and all sorts of aquatic critters during your visit. Pack a picnic to enjoy during your visit, or stop at one of the restaurants on site or in the village for lunch. And definitely don’t leave without grabbing a package of Chambord brand biscuits — they’re the best souvenir from castles in the Loire Valley.

To really enjoy Château de Chambord, allow yourself an entire day, and keep your eyes out for seasonal events like concerts and special tours of the grounds. Better yet, stay at the boutique hotel on the grounds to make a trip out of it. 

Book skip the line tickets here or opt for a guided tour. If you’re coming from Paris, this is a great full day tour with round trip transportation.

Related: The Ultimate Paris Travel Guide

3. Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau is a bit different from the other Loire Valley castles, mainly because it was built by private financing rather than royalty. 

It still dates back to the 16th century (though the foundations trace to a 12th century medieval castle) and sits on an island in the Indre River. This chateâu in the Loire Valley is one of the cleanest examples of French Renaissance architecture, combining classic French elements with Italian Renaissance inspiration. It was even referenced by Balzac as “a faceted diamond… mounted on pillars covered with flowers.”

Rather than a solid block, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau follows an L-shaped layout, which is unique for castles in the Loire Valley. The stars of the visit are the grand central staircase, rooms decked out with tapestries and old furnishings, and the castle’s reflection in the surrounding water on a clear day. 

I find the surrounding town super cute, with a handful of great restaurants. There’s also a place for ice cream at the castle during summer, which is a must if you ask me. Azay-le-Rideau can easily be visited in an hour or two, but the place is so charming you may find yourself making a half day out of the trip. 

Book Azay-le-Rideau tickets here or take a private tour of the castle to learn all of its secrets. 

4. Château Royal d’Amboise

I’ve been to Amboise a couple of times, and love coming here because of the expansive 360 views you get over the town, river, and surroundings.

Château Royal d’Amboise towers over the little village below, and though it’s a smaller castle in the Loire Valley, it has a serious wow factor. Probably because French royalty actually lived here instead of just camping out while hunting. Francois I was raised in these halls, and the history of the castle is deeply tied to Leonardo DaVinci, who lived in Amboise and was buried in the chapel on the chateâu’s grounds. Beyond DaVinci, Château Royal d’Amboise has a rich history, which is told on panels throughout the castle visit. Another particularly interesting story is the captivity of an Algerian resistance leader at Amboise in the mid 1800s. 

It takes less than an hour to visit the castle if you move at a decent pace. Be sure to follow the order of the visit so that you hit all of the watchtower viewpoints. Then, there are gardens to enjoy just outside the castle, still perched over the town. It’s a good place to have a picnic (there are some chairs) or chill out in the shade of one of the old trees. 

To really get a feel for Amboise, pair your trip to the castle with a visit to Davinci’s house, the Château de Clos Lucé on the other side of town. And definitely don’t leave Amboise without having a drink with a view of the castle at Le Shaker. 

The town of Amboise itself is fairytale like, with a fully pedestrian city center filled with shops, restaurants, and a few ice cream stops (that always have crazy long lines). There’s a lot to do in the area, like e-bike tours, local wine tasting, and hot air balloon rides, making it a great base to experience the best of the Loire Valley. 

Book entry tickets here for the castle and here for DaVinci’s house and museum. 

5. Château de Cheverny

My favorite and in my opinion the best castle in the Loire Valley. Château de Cheverny has everything — stunning gardens, a captivating chateâu to tour, and best of all, a pack of hunting dogs (which is why I love coming here). 

Château de Cheverny is well known for being featured throughout Tintin, and this 17th century chateâu even has an interactive exhibit where you can learn about how the two came together. Because it was built a bit later than other castles in the Loire Valley, Cheverny swaps out the classic watchtowers and defenses for a clean, symmetrical design. 

This chateâu is the first privately owned castle to open to the public, and in addition to living here, the family is actually the descendants of those who purchased the castle in 1824. They also have suites if you want to stay at the castle yourself. 

The interior is decked out to the nines, and I feel like the rooms are properly furnished here, compared to some of the scarcer castles in the Loire Valley. The chateâu if filled with priceless art and the grounds are covered in six different flourishing gardens: flowers, fruits, and even a kitchen garden that supplies the on site restaurant, plus a gorgeous sculpture garden.

There’s a lot to see at Cheverny, from the castle to the grounds, exhibits, and especially the dogs. You can even take an electric boat to tour the surrounding canal! I’d give yourself at least 3-4 hours to experience the full visit.

Book a guided tour from Paris here.

6. Château de Blois 

My boyfriend is from Blois and I’ve spent more time here than anywhere else in France (despite living in Paris for nearly three years). I love coming to the Chateâu de Blois and particularly love imagining my boyfriend’s dad playing hide and seek in the castle halls, as he did when he was a kid. He’s a history teacher and has taught me so much about the history of this castle and others in the region. I highly recommend taking a tour of the Chateau de Blois with a local guide to learn its secrets. 

This chateâu is one of the coolest Loire Valley castles because it’s actually four different castles layered on top of each other across four centuries, beginning in the 9th century. Each rendition has its own style that melds together to create a rich mix of medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Classical architecture surrounding a central courtyard (in the summer, they have awesome evening lightshows here). But the most famous feature is the double helix staircase built under Francois I and originally designed by Leonardo DaVinci. 

Throughout French history, a handful of significant moments happened here like Joan of Arc receiving a blessing before liberating France in 1429, Louis XII moving here in 1498, turning Blois into the political capital of France until 1544, and the assassination of Henri I in 1588. 

The castle is in the middle of the city center, unlike most in the region which are out on the countryside. That means there’s no big domain but easy access from the town, which has lots to do, or the train station. You can find previous parts of the castle grounds scattered throughout Blois, like the old orange grove turned into a restaurant called L’Oratoire, and neighboring rose gardens that were once reserved for royalty. Blois is a lovely place to stay to visit castles in the Loire Valley (you can easily bike from Blois to Chambord) and get to know its culture with boat tours on the river, canoeing and nature exploration, or guided city walks. 

7. Château de Chaumont 

I know I’ve said a few of these castles in the Loire Valley are my favorite, but nothing compares to Chaumont, especially in the summer. 

Yes, the castle is beautiful and well worth a visit, but the true draw to Château de Chaumont are the gardens. Every summer, Chaumont hosts the International Garden Festival, where there’s a central theme around which 30 smaller gardens are built. I’ve been going for the past seven summers, and every time it’s completely different, with unique designs and incredible craftsmanship.

The original castle dates back to the 10th century, but burned down in the 15th century before being rebuilt in a Renaissance style. It’s housed royals throughout history before a handful of private owners, a seizure during the revolution, and an eventual transition to the state.

This chateâu is one of the best decorated, and changes throughout the seasons with intricate installations in every room. There are opulent stables, sprawling grounds and a little model farm that often has small exhibitions. Definitely give yourself a full day here, especially if you’re visiting during the Garden Festival — there’s plenty to see, and you aren’t going to want to miss any of it!

Visit Chaumont from Paris on this private two day tour.

8. Château de Montrésor

This Loire Valley chateâu is easy to miss since it’s much smaller and tucked away in a charming little village that’s rated one of the most beautiful in France. If you want to experience true French countryside life and see something off the beaten path, I definitely rate this as one of the best castles in the Loire Valley.

It’s privately owned by a Polish family who haven’t changed much since the 1860s, preserving the true Second Empire style. Because of this, and the modest size, it’s cozier with a more homely feel than the massive drafty castles that make up most of the Loire Valley. 

Chateâu de Montrésor sits on a rocky overhang protecting the village, with big entrance towers. It saw plenty of French nobility throughout history before its private sale, and you’ll feel like royalty yourself while exploring the various rooms and halls. 

When you’ve finished your castle visit, make your way down to the river and cool off under the shade of some of the trees. Pack a picnic and blend in with locals who you’ll rub elbows with, or grab a drink on one of the terraces on the river banks. If you want a more intimate look at Montrésor, book the guided tour, which takes you around the castle, before going to the underground cellars for a special wine and cheese tasting. I can’t recommend this enough.

How to Get to the Loire Valley Castles

You can reach most of the best castles in the Loire Valley by train, car, or bicycle. Many castles have their own SNCF train stop, while others are connected by a shuttle bus to the station. The easiest way to explore the Loire Valley castles is by car or with a full day guided tour from Paris. 

If you want to take your time (which I highly recommend), you can book a two day or even three day tour of Loire Valley castles from Paris. The benefit of taking a tour is that you get a round trip ride from Paris, an English speaking guide, castle admission, and often extras like a wine tasting or treat. It takes the stress out of navigating the French train system and finding your own way between castles if you don’t have your own mode of transportation. 

To have a bit more freedom, you can also rent a car and take your own chateâu tour of the Loire Valley. You can see so much of the region if you have a car, so I recommend either renting one in Paris and driving to the Loire Valley or taking the train to Tours, Orleans, or Blois and renting one locally – you might get a better deal than in Paris. Compare prices below:

Almost all of the castles in the Loire Valley have parking lots on site (mostly free, though some require a modest fee), and if you drive, you can turn it into a full blown Loire Valley road trip and see more than one chateâu each day. It becomes a bit tight for time if you’re cycling or taking public transportation between the sites, but a very relaxed trip if you’re in a car. 

If you’re biking La Loire à Velo, you can reach all of the castles from the bike route, and most are accommodating with bike parking and gear storage. Even if you aren’t biking the full route, cycling to the castles is a great way to see them and make the most of your time in the region since the trails are mostly flat and forested. You can view a map of La Loire à Velo here and find rentals pretty much anywhere there’s a town. 

Where to Stay to Visit Castles of the Loire Valley

Many castles in the Loire Valley have on site accommodation, while others have nearby boutique hotels that allow you to feel like royalty while visiting chateâus in the region. Here are my top picks for where to stay to visit castles of the Loire Valley (many of which are castles themselves!)

Castle Hotels in the Loire Valley

By Location

Tips for Visiting the Chateau de la Loire

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