Castles of the Loire: the unmissable ones

1

J.-F. Souchard - CRT Centre-Val de Loire

Proud, discreet, imposing or graceful… Medieval, gothic or Renaissance style… the La Loire à Vélo itinerary is overflowing with châteaux and outstanding monuments. The fruit of human genius, the Loire Valley châteaux invite visitors to dive back into the past or enjoy stunning walks in magnificent settings.

Château of Cheverny

Sophistication of its charming decor. You will see: paintings by the masters, tapestries by the Paris workshops, 17th century Flander […]

CHEVERNY

CHÂTEAU DES DUCS DE BRETAGNE – COUR DU CHÂTEAU

NANTES

Château of Chaumont-sur-Loire

Château of Chaumont-sur-Loire

Panoramic viewpoint on the Loire river, the Chaumont-sur-Loire estate spread over 32 hectares with more than 400 000 visitors per […]

CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE

Château of Chambord

Château of Chambord

Chambord is an exceptional work of art and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built to match the dreams of François […]

CHAMBORD

Royal Château of Amboise

Royal Château of Amboise

Perched on a headland overlooking the Loire, there’s a variety of ways to explore Charles VIII and François I’s château: […]

AMBOISE

Château of Chenonceau

Its arches gracefully straddle the Cher. Beloved home of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis, Chenonceau is the second […]

CHENONCEAUX

Château Gaillard

Château Gaillard

The Royal Estate of Château Gaillard is a 15 hectares paradise of greenery located in the heart of the city […]

AMBOISE

Château and Gardens of Villandry

Château and Gardens of Villandry

A host of colours: purple basil, red peppers, blue leeks… The exceptional beauty of the decorative kitchen garden is what […]

VILLANDRY

Château of Langeais and its park

Château of Langeais and its park

With its working drawbridge, wall-walk and machicolations, the castle built on Louis XI’s orders presents a defensive presence at first […]

LANGEAIS

Château de Sully-sur-Loire

Château de Sully-sur-Loire

Many people have heard the famous French phrase: “Pasture and ploughing are the two teats from which France is fed…” […]

SULLY-SUR-LOIRE

Château of Clos Lucé – Leonardo da Vinci Park

Château of Clos Lucé – Leonardo da Vinci Park

Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 30 years of his life in a beautiful pink stone building. From his restored […]

AMBOISE

Royal Fortress of Chinon

Royal Fortress of Chinon

After a colossal renovation project that lasted six years, 150 metres of ramparts were restored at the Chinon Royal Fortress […]

CHINON

Château of Azay-le-Rideau

Château of Azay-le-Rideau

The castle of Azay-le-Rideau, listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, offers the scenes of monumental restoration, where stonemasons, carpenters […]

AZAY-LE-RIDEAU

DOMAINE NATIONAL DU CHÂTEAU D’ANGERS

DOMAINE NATIONAL DU CHÂTEAU D’ANGERS

Discover one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in France. Angers castle with its emblematic 800m of castellated enclosure looks as […]

ANGERS

CHÂTEAU DES DUCS DE BRETAGNE – MUSÉE D’HISTOIRE DE NANTES

CHÂTEAU DES DUCS DE BRETAGNE – MUSÉE D’HISTOIRE DE NANTES

The Museum of the History of Nantes, with its resolutely contemporary scenography, tells the story of the city: from ducal […]

NANTES

ABBAYE ROYALE DE FONTEVRAUD

ABBAYE ROYALE DE FONTEVRAUD

FONTEVRAUD-L‘ABBAYE

LE CADRE NOIR DE SAUMUR – ECOLE NATIONALE D’EQUITATION

LE CADRE NOIR DE SAUMUR – ECOLE NATIONALE D’EQUITATION

SAUMUR

CHÂTEAU DE SAUMUR

CHÂTEAU DE SAUMUR

SAUMUR

Royal Château of Blois

Favorite residence of the Kings of France in the Renaissance. Explore several centuries of history by visiting the Royal château […]

BLOIS

All Loire Valley châteaux

See the page

Other must-sees