12 Gorgeous Châteaus to Visit in France’s Loire Valley
Travelers who want a taste of the opulent and ornate while visiting France often head straight for Versailles, which is only a 30-minute train ride from central Paris. But while the Hall of Mirrors and Marie Antoinette’s bedroom are certainly sights worth seeing, a day trip to the Loire Valley—or, better yet, a weekend escape—is a great way to experience the ultimate in French luxury. The region, which spans about 170 miles and mostly runs along the Loire River, is home to some of the country’s oldest Gothic and Renaissance châteaus, the onetime fortresses and retreats of kings and queens, lords and ladies. From Paris, it’s just over a two-hour train ride to Blois or Tours—two gateway cities, from which it’d be worth renting a car. In between touring the magnificent palaces and gardens, you’ll find plenty of Sancerre-producing vineyards and goat cheese farms worthy of a visit, too.
Getty Images/Hemis.fr RM1/12Château de Chenonceau
As the former residence to Diane de Poitiers, King Henry II’s mistress (and later Catherine de Medici, King Henry II’s wife), this castle is the second most visited in France, after Versailles. But aside from its historical significance, and perhaps provocative reputation, the château’s most magnificent feature is its location spanning the Cher River. From the outside, the Gothic columns over the water form a magnificent bridge, whereas from the inside, the gallery’s spectacular checkered floor and crystal chandeliers make it a mesmerizing step through time. chenonceau.com
De Agostini/Getty Images2/12Château du Clos Lucé
Situated on a hilltop above the charming walled town of Amboise, this 1471 château’s claim to fame is its most celebrated resident: Leonardo da Vinci. The famed Tuscan was invited to France by King Francis I—who appointed him his official painter, engineer, and architect—and lived and worked at this residence from 1516 till his death, in 1519. The property features exposed brick walls, gigantic stone fireplaces, and a lush botanical garden where Da Vinci sketched. vinci-closluce.com
3/12Château d’Amboise
Though often overshadowed by its sister, Clos Lucé, this grand castle is not to be missed. Charles VIII is the royal responsible for transforming it from a medieval fortress into an extravagant Gothic palace. He created two smartly designed horseman’s towers with spiral ramps that allowed horse-drawn carriages to easily ascend the 131 feet from ground level to the terrace of the lofty castle. Inside, spaces like the music room, with its red walls, standing harp, and grand piano, exude extravagance. Another draw to the property? Its Saint-Hubert chapel is the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci. château-amboise.com
4/12Château de Chambord
As the largest of Loire Valley castles, this UNESCO World Heritage site deserves at least a few hours visit. Its architecture infuses elements from both medieval France and the Italian Renaissance, with vaulted ceilings, corbeled walkways, and, perhaps its most beguiling feature, the double-helix staircases on which people can ascend simultaneously in sight of one another, but never meet. The castle’s grounds are nearly the size of old city Paris and enclosed by a 19-mile wall. chambord.org
Getty Images/Photononstop RM5/12Château de Blois
This château, located in central Blois—capital city to the Loire-et-Cher region with a population of around 50,000—is a good starting point if you plan to visit several spots over the course of a few days. Functioning more as a museum than the other châteaus, it’s worth a visit to understand the why all these regal residences were built in the region. Key architectural elements include an open cloister vault crowned by an oval cupola on pendentives. It’s also the place where Joan of Arc came to have her banner blessed in 1429. châteaudeblois.fr
6/12Château de Cheverny
Close to Blois and Chambord, this castle is something else when it comes to its interior design and furnishings, which were created by a local craftsman hired by Marie de' Medici. Wallpapers feature exquisite patterns, while curtains and drapes shimmer from the natural light let in by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Other highlights include a 17th-century Gobelin tapestry, a Boulle style chest of drawers, and a museum dedicated to Tintin. (The estate was a model for the cartoonist Hergé, who created the popular character.) château-cheverny.fr
Getty Images7/12Château de Villandry
The elaborate gardens are the main attraction at this property built in 1532 and restored in the early 20th century by Spanish medical researcher Joachim Carvallo. His main focus was reviving the home’s Renaissance style with ornamental landscapes, including manicured hornbeam hedges, wide terraces, and ponds in the form of a Louis XV mirror and sun. Don’t skip the Kitchen Garden, where 40 different vegetable species are planted in alternating colors with rose bushes dotted throughout. châteauvillandry.fr
Getty Images/Hemis.fr RM8/12Château de Usse
Regarded as the inspiration for the 17th-century tale of Sleeping Beauty, whose author, Charles Perrault, was a guest, this castle will delight both romantics and schoolchildren alike. Its blue-slate roofs, Gothic turrets, tall towers, and spiral staircases are, indeed, picturesque, but it isn’t just the architecture that’s so fantastically fairy-tale–like: Decor details like a trompe l’oeil marble ceiling and a red silk brocade four-poster are sure to induce sweet dreams. châteaudusse.fr
Getty Images/Hemis.fr RM9/12Domain and Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
While the property does include a château that belonged to Catherine de Medici, who lived here before forcing forcing her mistress rival Diane de Poitiers to give up Chenonceau, the larger draw here is the contemporary arts center and annual garden festival that runs from late April until mid-October. The arts center wonderfully meshes design with nature, presenting works crafted for the space, such as Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata’s tree huts and German artist Cornelia Konrads’s branch gate, which features twigs that almost appear to be levitating. domaine-chaumont.fr
Getty Images/Hemis.fr RM10/12Château de Langeais
If ever there were a two-faced castle, this would be the one. The Château of Louis XI, built in 1465, has two opposing façades: a feudal exterior to give the appearance of a fortress and a Renaissance courtyard that reflects the prestige of a regal residence. Adding to the interwoven theme, this castle is also famous for a significant marriage that occurred within its walls: that of King Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany, which joined the duchy to the Crown of France and hence signaled the end of its independence. The property is also the site of the Foulques Nerra Tower, built in 994, which features the oldest keep in France. chateau-de-langeais.com
11/12Château Azay-le-Rideau
Built on an island in the Indre River, Azay-le-Rideau has been undergoing a meticulous restoration to bring it back to its 16th-century glory. Gilles Berthelot transformed the existing medieval castle into a Renaissance château that Balzac once described as “a faceted diamond set in the Indre.” While the château is on the smaller side (compared to others in the Loire Valley), it boasts impressive interiors, 16th- and 17th-century tapestries, and 19th-century gardens. azay-le-rideau.fr
Photo: Nathalie Cuvelier/Getty12/12Château de Chinon
A must-visit for history buffs, the Château de Chinon is a royal fortress set near the Vienne River. Parts of the structure were built as early as the 12th century, and the site was host to some important historical figures and events, including the death of Henry II and the meeting between the future Charles VII and Joan of Arc. The UNESCO World Heritage site underwent a seven-year restoration and excavation ending in 2010. forteressechinon.fr
