Best Chateaux of the Loire Valley
The Top French Chateaux Lie by the River Between Orléans and Nantes
Aug 1, 2008
Follow the River Loire from Orleans down to Nantes and along the way you will pass some of the finest châteaux, or castles, in France. They range from small historic buildings that might still be someone's home to grand palaces. Some Loire Valley châteaux have been turned into luxury hotels and others into more intimate guesthouses. Many are open to the public, and here are some of the best Loire châteaux to look out for:
Château d'Amboise
Dating back to the 11th century, this was taken by the French King Charles VII in the mid-15th century and became a royal palace. François I based his court here and he invited Leonardo da Vinci to move to Amboise, where he would spend what would be the last four years of his life.
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Azay-le-Rideau was constructed in the early 16th century, one of the first French châteaux to be built in the Renaissance style. It's a real fairy tale castle with its moat and turrets, and has a romantic location on an island in the River Indre. Now owned by the French state, it appeals for its more intimate nature.
Château de Blois
The Château de Blois is one of the finest and grandest in the whole of the Loire Valley, and one not to be missed. It was first built in the 13th century and was the home of King Louis XII. It is also where Joan of Arc was blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before she went off to do battle with the English at Orléans.
Château de Chambord
Chambord is the biggest of all the Loire châteaux, one of the finest buildings in all of France, and has been described as the Versailles of the 16th century. It was begun by King François I in 1519, and today it has 440 rooms and is set in a 13,000 acre forested estate. Allow several hours for a visit.
Château de Chenonceau
Chenonceau is another of the grand buildings that should be on everyone's Loire Valley châteaux list. It's stunningly beautiful, with parts of it standing over the River Cher. It was built between 1515 and 1521 by a rich tax collector, Thomas Bohier, but later fell into the hands of various French kings and queens, including Catherine de Medici who was responsible for many of the present building's most impressive features,
Château d'Ussé
The Château d'Ussé is on the edge of the Chinon forest and inspired the French author of fairy tales, Charles Perrault. He used the château as the setting for one of his most famous tales of all: Sleeping Beauty It's easy to see how it influenced Walt Disney and his own idea of what Sleeping Beauty's castle should look like.
Château de Valençay
Work began on this château in 1540, and it's a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Little wonder that the Emperor Napoleon instructed his Foreign Minister, Talleyrand, to buy it so that he could impress visiting dignitaries. It remains impressive and one of the greatest of the Loire châteaux.
Château de Villandry
Villandry is one not to be missed. It was built in 1536, and after the French Revolution the Emperor Napoleon acquired it as a home for his brother. Its most stunning feature today is the glorious garden. This was the work of Dr. Joachim Carvallo, who bought the château in 1906 with his American wife Ann. Together they laboured to turn it into what has become of the finest gardens in the world, not just in the Loire Valley.
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