Loire Valley
Amboise
The Chateau of Amboise was the residence of François I from the age of three. His predecessors had been involved in ambitious building projects there and the work continued under François and his son. It is in a beautiful village on the Loire River, a very easy drive half hour from the TGV station near Tours.* Take the road along the river. There are many attractive options for accommodation and restaurants. I always organise to stay there the first night of a Loire Valley tour.
Château of Amboise
BED—
WEBSITE— www.chateau-amboise.com
The Château of Clos Lucé is a 500 metre walk from the Château of Amboise. In addition to restored bedrooms and kitchens you will find Leonardo’s living workshops together with amazing models of his inventions. The beautiful gardens contain full size models of a number of his mechanical designs which, to the delight of children, can be touched.
Château of Clos Lucé
BEDS—
WEBSITE—www.vinci-closluce.com
Blois
Another easy drive along the river from Amboise to Blois takes just over half an hour. Once again you’ll see the Château of Blois on the hill overlooking the Loire river and the 18th century stone bridge. It’s a buzzy town which once again offers a range of hotels and restaurants.
BEDS –
WEBSITE—www.chateaudeblois.fr
*Both Amboise and Blois are directly accessible by train from Paris.
Chambord
The Chateau of Chambord is a 25 minute drive from Blois in the middle of the countryside. Although François I built it as a hunting lodge, it is the largest of the Loire Valley Châteaux. To make the visit even more memorable, you can stay at the Relais de Chambord within the grounds.
BEDS—
WEBSITE— www.chambord.org
Chaumont
The Château of Chaumont was built in the fifteenth century and like Amboise and Blois, it is perched on the top of a hill overlooking the Loire. It is half way between Amboise and Blois and an easy stop en route.
BEDS—
- Catherine de Medici
- Cosimo Ruggieri (Catherine’s astrologer)
WEBSITE— www.domaine-chaumont.fr
Chenonceau
The Château of Chenonceau is a 30 minute drive from the Tours TGV station. It has six beds and is the best furnished of the chateaux with stunning fresh flowers filling the rooms. The gardens are beautiful and the Orangerie has an elegant restaurant which is the perfect lunch venue. Give yourself time to take it all in.
BEDS –
- Catherine de Medici
- Diane de Poitiers
- The Five Queens
- Louise of Lorraine
- Gabrielle d’Estrées
- César de Vendôme.
WEBSITE—www.chenonceau.com
Valençay
The Chateau of Valençay is a little further afield (about 50 kilometres from Chenonceau), but well worth the effort. Under Napoleon’s instructions his foreign minister Talleyrand bought the prestigious Chateau of Valençay to receive foreign dignitaries. For 5 years it became the gilded cage housing the deposed King of Spain, Ferdinand who was replaced by Napoleon’s brother Joseph.
BED –
WEBSITE—www.chateau-valencay.com
