The Loire Valley

More than 300 chateaux along one river, built by kings and courtiers. This is the heartland of the French Renaissance.

The Château de Chambord seen across the water. Photo by Dorian Mongel on Unsplash.

The Loire Valley runs about 280 km through central France, across the Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire regions, and is nicknamed the Cradle of the French and the Garden of France. Wikipedia counts more than 300 chateaux built between the 10th and 20th centuries, and France.fr says the kings made it the crucible of the French Renaissance.

Wikipedia says UNESCO inscribed the central part of the valley, between Chalonnes-sur-Loire and Sully-sur-Loire, in 2000. UNESCO's own page would not load when we checked, so confirm the details on its site.

Highlights

What to see

Château de Chambord

Work was ordered to begin on 6 September 1519 and finished in 1547. Wikipedia counts 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases. The wooded park is enclosed by a 31 km wall.

Château de Chenonceau

Built from 1514 to 1522 on the foundations of an older mill and spanning the River Cher. It was commissioned by Thomas Bohier, with work overseen by his wife Katherine Briçonnet. Wikipedia calls it the most visited chateau in France apart from Versailles, citing about 800,000 visitors in 2007.

Château d'Amboise

Charles VIII rebuilt it from 1492, and Francis I was raised there. Leonardo da Vinci came to the Amboise area in December 1515 as a guest of Francis I and died on 2 May 1519. He is traditionally buried at the chateau, though Wikipedia says accounts of the remains differ.

Château de Villandry

Built from 1536 around a 14th-century keep. It is known for its Renaissance gardens, with water, ornamental and vegetable gardens laid out in formal low box-hedge patterns.

Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

Founded in the 10th century by Odo I, Count of Blois, and rebuilt from 1465 to 1475. It hosts an annual garden festival from April to October, according to Wikipedia, and sits between Blois and Amboise.

Food and wine

Wikipedia gives the valley's wines as running from Muscadet near the Atlantic to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, and names cherries, artichokes and asparagus among its produce.

When to go

The official sources we read gave no single best season for the Loire. Our when to go page has monthly weather for Tours.

Good to know

A few facts

More than 300 chateaux, built between the 10th and 20th centuries (Wikipedia).
Wikipedia gives the valley length as about 280 km, which is the valley, not necessarily the inscribed UNESCO stretch.
Wikipedia gives conflicting figures for Chambord's park, so we quote only the 31 km wall.

Keep planning

Other regions

Questions

Quick answers

How many chateaux are there in the Loire Valley?

Wikipedia says more than 300, built between the 10th and 20th centuries.

When did Chambord open?

Work was ordered to begin on 6 September 1519 and finished in 1547, according to Wikipedia.

Is the Loire Valley a UNESCO site?

Wikipedia says UNESCO inscribed the central part of the valley, between Chalonnes-sur-Loire and Sully-sur-Loire, in 2000.

Sources

Facts on this site come from gov.uk, Atout France, regional tourism boards, UNESCO and the operators named, each listed at the foot of the page. Check dates, prices and entry rules with the provider before you book.