Touring the Loire Valley by Car – 5 Best Chateaux to Visit In the Loire Valley

It’s all about the châteaux in the Loire Valley!  Part of our awesome trip through Northern France was touring the Loire Valley by car. We’ve listed 5 of the best chateaux to visit in the region. Though there are many others listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, you won’t want to miss these 5 on your tour.

Touring the Loire Valley by Car

 

Château de Villandry

Opened to the public in 1920, the Château de Villandry was Lucy’s favorite.  While she liked the château, it was the gardens that stole her heart.

The château was the last in the Loire Valley to be built during the Renaissance period. Once the site of an old fortress, it was built as the home of Jean Le Breton, Minister of Finance for François I.  After remaining in the family since 1534, the château was purchased and restored by the Marquis of Castellane in 1754.  The interior was updated to include wood panelling and a Louis XV staircase along with many other changes.  The updates to the exterior, however, are viewed with a little less enthusiasm and are said, by some, to have had a negative impact on the character of the Château.

Then in 1906, Dr Joachim Carvallo and his wife, Ann Coleman, heir to an American iron and steel empire, purchased Villandry and started to restore the château back to its original Renaissance glory. Restoration work is still being done by their great-grandson.

What to See:

The Renaissance gardens were gorgeous and separated into 4 distinct gardens – ornamental, herbal and medicinal, and the kitchen gardens.  Hours could be spent in the gardens alone – there was even a children’s maze and play area!

The château is well restored and a great value for the money.  The rooms were all well decorated, but not overly so, giving visitors a sense of the rooms use, but without unnecessary distraction.

Lucy was bummed we forgot our instant camera.  She thought the château would be perfect for her instant shots.

Access Info:

Website – http://www.chateauvillandry.fr/en

Tickets –
Adults
Chateau and gardens : 11€
Gardens only : 7€

Children (ages 8-18 and students)
Chateau and gardens : 7€
Gardens only : 5€

Audioguide: 4€

Reduced rates are also available during the winter, and if visiting multiple historic sites in Touraine. Tickets are available for purchase online as well, so you can skip the queue. See the website for information.

 

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

We made an unexpected visit to Château d’Azay-le-Rideau and are so glad we decided not to skip this one. This Château was built on an island in the Indre River.  Gilles Berthelot, adviser to King Louis XII and Treasurer of France, purchased the old fortress of Azay in 1510, knocking part of it down. Not long after the completion of his home, an investigation by Francis I revealed embezzlement from the crown. Gilles Berthelot fled, abandoning his wife and the newly built Château d’Azay-le-Rideau.

The château changed hands a couple of times over the following years.  In 1617, King Louis XIII even stayed here. In 1791, it was purchased by Charles de Biencourt, the Marquis of Biencourt, who restored the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau to it’s current form. Since 1905, it has been owned by the State.

What to See:

The interior is spectacular – it even had fun moving displays. While the gardens don’t have the same “wow” factor as other châteaux in the region, the grounds are still inviting and were made even more enticing by the reflection pond, which is lovely. The grand staircase included a unique sculpted handrail and vaulted ceiling with landings allowing visitors to see outside at several levels. You’ll want to also keep an eye out for the 17th century Flemish tapestries.  Derrick enjoyed seeing the attic and supporting framework – men!

Access Info:

Website – http://www.azay-le-rideau.fr/en

Tickets –

Adult: 10.5€
Reduced (18 to 25 years old – not EU nationals regularized Eu residents): 8.5€
Children (under age 18): FREE

Audioguide: 3€

Tickets are available for purchase online as well, so you can skip the queue.

 

Château de Chenonceau

The Château de Chenonceau was gorgeous and has an interesting history. In 1547, Henry II offered the château as a gift to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers.  Following his death, Queen Catherine de’ Medici had her removed from the château.  Later, Louise de Lorraine, wife of King Henry III, moved here during her mourning.  The château was home to other influential women over the years and later became a military hospital during the Great War and was even used in WWII to smuggle people fleeing the Nazi’s.

What to See:

The “ladies château” was one of my favorites and even featured Catherine de Medici’s bedroom.  The gallery was built by Catherine de’ Medici over Diane de Poitiers bridge and has 18 windows and an exposed joist ceiling. Every room was packed with stunning artwork and tapestries.

We could have spent an entire day here, exploring the château, gardens and grounds and, as it was one of the most expensive châteaux, I wish we had done just that.

Access Info:

Website – https://www.chenonceau.com/en

Tickets –

Adults: 14€
Children (ages 7-18 years) and students: 11€

Audioguide: 3.50€

Again, tickets are available for purchase online as well, so you can skip the queue.

 

Château de Chambord

Another famous and incredible château, Château de Chambord, should also be on your list.  Influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, construction was ordered by a young king François I. Intended as a symbol of power, the château was never meant to be a permanent residence.  It was finally completed during the reign of Louis XIV and is now owned by the State.

What to See:

This is another one that you could spend several hours touring. It’s one of the largest and most visited châteaux in the Loire Valley. I loved the view from the rooftops and the massive double helix staircase. The formal French gardens were also lovely.  While I think this is a must visit, it’s so massive that I did prefer the more intimate interior of the other châteaux over this one. But you cannot ignore the fact that the exterior details are simply magnificent.

Had we not been short on time, we could have made good use of a HistoPad. These iPads were available in 12 languages providing a history of the château and even included a treasure hunt for children.

Access Info:

Website – https://www.chambord.org/en/

Tickets –

Adult: 13€
Children (under age 18): FREE

HistoPad 6.50€ each or 17€ family (3 tablets)

Tickets are available for purchase online as well, so you can skip the queue.

Château de Blois

In 1498, Louis XII starting transforming this 13th century medieval fortress into a Gothic palace. Then in 1515, François I commenced his first building project by adding the Renaissance style to the Château de Blois including a massive staircase. The Classical style was added in 1634 by Gaston d’Orleans, brother of Louis XIII and heir to the throne. The additions over the years exhibit the changes of French architecture from the 13th – 17th centuries.

Interesting fact –  During the Renaissance period, 7 kings and 10 queens lived, for a time, in the château.

What to See:

The château is home to more than 35,00 works of art and is classified as a museum of France. A noteworthy feature of the Château de Blois is the presence of Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Classical facades from each of the 4 wings.  Take time to wander through the reconstructed gardens originally created by Louis XII and the Medicinal Herb Garden on Rue Vauvert. There is also a unique Sound and Light Show in the evening from April to September showcasing the history of the castle.

Access Info:

Website – http://en.chateaudeblois.fr

Tickets –

Adult: 12€
Children (ages 6-17): 6,50€

Tickets are available for purchase online as well, so you can skip the queue.  Price above doesn’t include the Sound and Light Show.

Perfect for a quick weekend trip or an extensive week-long adventure, touring the Loire Valley by car is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the history, art and architecture of France.  See the stunning gardens of Château de Villandry, marvel at the reflections of Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, spend an afternoon wandering the “ladies château”, become awestruck at the sheer size of Château de Chambord, and admire 4 styles of architecture at the Château de Blois. You won’t want to miss these châteaux and more on your next visit to France.

See more information with our Northern France travel guide and read our tips for a 2 week roadtrip to Normandy, Brittany & Loire Valley.