The 50 must-see Loire châteaux in Touraine this year

The thousand personalities of the Loire châteaux

Each monument tells a unique story. In Touraine, this history is often expressed in feminine terms, with the decisive meeting of Joan of Arc and Charles VII at the royal fortress of Chinon, the presence in Loches ofAgnès Sorel (the first official court favourite), the marriage ofAnne of Brittany at the Château de Langeais (which resulted in Brittany becoming part of the Kingdom of France), and the rivalry between Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis at the Château de Chenonceau.

At Amboise, the Renaissance could hardly have had better ambassadors than Francis 1st and Leonardo da Vinci. Closer to our own time, the love affair between Rodin and Camille Claudel at the Château de l’Islette and the epic wedding of a Windsor at the Domaine de Candé open a page that could almost be described as… “celebrity”!

Historical figures of Touraine

Rendez-vous in the gardens

Renaissance castles

©Christmas in the Land of Castles - Royal City of Loches|ADT Touraine - JC COUTANDHEUT

Christmas in the land of châteaux

Châteaux that care about the environment

©Vélos au château du Rigny-Ussé|ADT Touraine - JC Coutand

The châteaux of the Loire Valley by bike

Experiences A day at the castle

If you don’t know where to start, let yourself be inspired!

Castles with a difference

As well as the temporary exhibitions, which bring a new dimension to your visit, you’ll love :

Scenes and an introduction to medieval trades at the Montbazon fortress;
the fairytale gardens at Château du Rivau;
an electric boat or canoe trip on the Cher, passing under the arches of Chenonceau château, or a paddle on the Indre at the foot of Azay-le-Rideau château;
panoramic picnic evenings and summer breakfasts at the Royal Château of Amboise;
Leonardo da Vinci’s creations at the Château du Clos Lucé;
the Monument Game at the Royal Fortress in Chinon, as well as Escape Games at the Châteaux du Rivau,Islette, Gizeux, Clos Lucé and Jallanges;
Castle Murder ” sessions at Montpoupon;
Halloween, at the Domaine de Candé.

©Bateau électrique La Bélandre au château de Chenonceau|ADT Touraine - JC Coutand

Family castles

Some châteaux are still inhabited by their owners, who, generation after generation, make it a point of honour to maintain this heritage and perpetuate a unique legacy. Push open the doors of the châteaux of Gizeux, Champchevrier,Ussé andIslette!

Unusual and exceptional: you too can experience life in a château for one or more nights, in a château hotel or bed and breakfast.

When is the best time to visit the châteaux of the Loire Valley?

Whatever the date of your visit, you can be sure of a royal welcome. The period from May to September is ideal for enjoying the gardens in full bloom and the summer events(Villandry‘sNights of a Thousand Fires, tasting under the stars at Château de Chenonceau, the evenings at Château de l’Islette, the Amboise Destinées Royales show at the Château royal d’Amboise…).

The autumn and winter months reveal a different face, with a more subdued atmosphere and slightly fewer people… except for theHalloween and Christmas events in the land of castles. Treat yourself to something special for the festive season!

Good to know for your visit

Book your tickets in advance. You can use the online ticketing service offered by the Tourist Offices to benefit from a reduced rate.

In addition, on Heritage Days, free admission is offered to the Cité royale de Loches, the royal fortress of Chinon and the château d’Azay-le-Rideau. Admission to the latter is also free on the first Sunday of the month in low season.

Fun offers for families

There are a range of activities for young audiences, so that children and parents alike can have a great time.

Top 10 family activities

How can I visit the châteaux of the Loire without a car?

If you’re keen on touring holidays, the GR®3, La Loire à Vélo and the Cyclo Bohème are all well worth a visit. Cycling is also a good option for the following sites:

Château du Rivau: hire a bike in Chinon, then cycle a few kilometres along the Richelieu-Chinon greenway;
Château d’Ussé: hire a bike in Chinon, then cycle a few kilometres on the Loire à Vélo.
Valmer castle and Montbazon fortress: hire a bike in Tours, then cycle a few kilometres north or south on the Saint Jacques à Vélo cycle route.

Several railway stations are also less than 20 minutes’ walk from these monuments. These include the châteaux of Amboise, Langeais, Chenonceau and l’Islette, the Royal Fortress of Chinon and the Royal City of Loches. And let’s not forget the Château de Tours, where the Jeu de Paume organises some wonderful photographic exhibitions.

The châteaux of the Loire, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance

As early as the Neolithic period (9,000 to 3,000 BC), the promontory atAmboise was fortified by the Turones, who took advantage of its 40-metre overhang on the banks of the Loire. At the end of the Roman Empire, the rocky promontory of Chinon was also fortified.

Guelduin II of Saumur (975 – 1040), a Viking nobleman, chose the site of today’s Château d’Ussé to build his first fortress. This was followed by hostilities between the Houses of Anjou and Blois, who clashed over control of Touraine. Foulques III Nerra, Count of Anjou, had dungeons and medieval fortresses built, notably at Loches, Montbazon, Langeais and Montrésor.

During the Hundred Years’ War, the English conquests led Charles VII to take refuge in Chinon. His successor, Louis XI, was raised successively in Loches and Amboise, before reigning from the manor of Le Plessis, just outside Tours. As for his son Charles VIII, he was the only king to be born and die in a castle on the Loire: Amboise. And while his successor Louis XII made the Château de Blois his residence, it was still Amboise that saw the growth of the future Francis I, who stayed there regularly alongside Leonardo da Vinci.

Gradually, the defensive contingencies of the castles became irrelevant. Kings and court nobility were regular visitors to the Loire Valley, and the Renaissance transformed the Loire châteaux into ceremonial residences, with an aesthetic borrowed from Italy. The austere ramparts gave way to beautiful facades with large symmetrical windows, from which you could admire the carefully designed gardens, conceived as veritable outdoor living rooms.

Which châteaux in the Loire Valley are a must-see?

Medieval monuments

Below is some key information (history of the monument, welcome of a French king, remarkable features, etc.) to help you make your choice of self-guided or guided tours along the route of the Loire Valley’s most beautiful châteaux and gardens. Most of these buildings have been modified over time. Some have elements of both medieval and Renaissance architecture, or even other styles. For ease of understanding, however, we have divided them into two main categories. You’ll be the judge of which châteaux you shouldn’t miss!

Royal fortress of Chinon. Henry II Plantagenet, Jacques de Molay (last master of the Knights Templar, who was later executed in Paris), Charles VII and not forgetting Joan of Arc have all lived in this superb medieval fortress on the banks of the Vienne. It comprises three castles: Fort du Coudray, Château du Milieu and Fort Saint-Georges. Between Azay-le-Rideau and Saumur, a trip to Chinon will also give you the chance to visit a wine estate in this appellation, whose reputation extends far beyond France’s borders.

Montbazon fortress. Beneath its impressive 11th-century keep, visitors can take a trip back in time to medieval times. The guided tour, role-playing (hygiene in the Middle Ages, etc.) and stalls (herbalist, blacksmith, weapon master, etc.) are particularly popular with families: on this beautiful stage of the Indre à Vélo cycle route, you can learn about history while having fun!

Royal City of Loches. Owned by the Indre et Loire Departmental Council, the site comprises two châteaux: the keep built by Foulques Nerra, Count of Anjou, and the Renaissance-style royal dwelling. The latter was visited by Agnès Sorel, Joan of Arc and Anne of Brittany. There is also a pretty medieval garden at the foot of the keep. Each year, a new exhibition is on offer alongside augmented reality tours on Histopad tablets.

Château du Rivau. Its silhouette leaves no room for doubt: it comes straight from the Middle Ages. But it’s also furiously reminiscent of the castles in fairytale books! So much so, in fact, that its owner, Patricia Laigneau, has taken great pleasure in creating superb themed gardens with evocative names: “the garden of Little Thumb”, “Alice’s labyrinth” or “the garden of Princess Rapunzel”. You can also visit the stables, where Joan of Arc collected her fighting horses for the siege of Orléans. Add to that a hotel and two restaurants (including the secret garden), and you’ve got an unmissable stop-off on the Richelieu-Chinon green route!

Château de Langeais. A fortified castle facade (drawbridge, towers, machicolations…), but on the garden side, a residence marked by the Renaissance style! In this château 200 metres from the Loire, the marriage between Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany sealed Brittany’s attachment to the kingdom of France. Richly furnished, this monument belongs to the Institut de France.

Renaissance castles

Château Gaillard. Louis XII entrusted it to Dom Pacello, the famous landscape gardener of the Italian Renaissance, who acclimatised the first orange trees in France. Magnificent gardens are revealed along the “seven paths of paradise”. You can round off your visit with a tasty orange cake!

Royal Château of Amboise. François I, who built the Château de Chambord, spent part of his childhood in Amboise, before succeeding Charles VIII and Louis XII. The chapel of Saint-Hubert houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci, and a garden honours the memory of the Emir Abd el-Kader, who was held prisoner for 4 years in Amboise.

Château du Clos Lucé. Welcome to Leonardo da Vinci‘s last home. On the programme, discover the many models of his inventions, both in the château and in the grounds. Engineering, but also art, science, botany and town planning: Leonardo da Vinci’s genius was at home in many fields!

Château de Chenonceau. The famous château des dames, remarkable for its arches elegantly spanning the Cher river, is notably marked by the rivalry between Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis. On the death of Henri II, the latter reclaimed Chenonceau and offered Diane the estate of Chaumont-sur-Loire, near Blois.

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. Visit a masterpiece of the early French Renaissance, reflected in a mirror of water fed by the Indre. Built by Gilles Berthelot, Treasurer of France, the château was later confiscated by François I and given to Antoine Raffin, captain of his bodyguards! On site, you’ll particularly appreciate the pretty English-style park and its majestic trees (Sequoia, Cedar, Tulip tree…).

Château de Villandry. The short-lived property of Jérôme Bonaparte, the Château de Villandry is best known for its splendid gardens, in particular its Sun Garden and Renaissance kitchen garden. Like the Royal Château of Amboise, the estate is also a refuge for the French League for the Protection of Birds. The art of living takes on its full meaning here as you stroll along the avenues, and extends to the interior of the château, through its furnishings, décor and atmosphere.

Château d’Ussé. Built on the banks of the River Indre, this château inspired Charles Perrault to write Sleeping Beauty! In fact, the tour includes some scenes from the fairytale. But above all, this monument will be remembered for its great elegance, just like the gardens created by André Le Nôtre, Louis XIV’s famous gardener, who is also responsible for the gardens at Versailles, Vaux le Vicomte and Chantilly.

Château de Montrésor. Marked by the presence of Xavier Branicki, a wealthy Polish count in exile and friend of Jérôme Bonaparte, this historic monument hides a large collection of objects that plunge us into multiple stories. An Ali Baba’s cave in a beautiful setting, in the centre of one of France’s most beautiful villages.

Château de l’Islette. A favourite rendezvous for Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin, who made sweet love here in the peace and quiet of the Indre. Boats are available for hire, so you can enjoy canoeing in the heart of a beautiful, romantic park.

Montpoupon Castle. Here we discover life in a castle at the beginning of the 20th century, in the footsteps of Louise, the chambermaid. Although it is not haunted (a priori!), the scenography suggests that its former inhabitants are likely to return at any moment. A pleasant forest walk completes the visit, as does a museum devoted to hunting.

Château de Gizeux. Patiently maintained and restored by the de Laffon family, Gizeux is a very pleasant place to visit, with its spectacular gallery of castles. There are plenty of activities on offer for families, starting with a treasure hunt.

Château de Champchevrier. Particularly well furnished, King Louis XIII nevertheless slept here on straw! This elegant château stands in the middle of a large forest, which in the 19th century was home to many wolves. That’s how its hound-hunting team came to be. During your visit, you’ll see the pack of dogs, a cross between English Fox Hounds and French Poitevins.

Domaine de Candé. The son of a wealthy Cuban sugar cane planting family, Jacques Drake del Castillo inherited the estate. He played a key role in rebuilding the vineyards in Touraine after the phylloxera invasion and attacks of mildew. In 1930, a Franco-American businessman, Charles Bedaux, acquired the estate. He equipped the chateau with the most modern facilities of the time, which led to it being able to host the wedding of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson. As with the fortress of Chinon, this Loire château also plunges us into the history of England!

Château de la Bourdaisière (hotel) also belongs to the family of Renaissance châteaux. Its park and tomato conservatory are open to the public, as are the magnificent terraced gardens of Château de Valmer (the château was destroyed by fire in 1948).

On the road to the châteaux in the Loire Valley

The vast collection of Loire châteaux is not confined to Indre-et-Loire. There are many others to visit in neighbouring departments:

In the Loiret: château de Sully-sur-Loire, château de Meung-sur-Loire, château de Chamerolles…
Loir-et-Cher: Château de Chambord, Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, Château Royal de Blois, Château de Cheverny, etc.
In Indre: Valençay castle, Azay-le-Ferron castle, etc.
In Maine-et-Loire (Anjou): Montsoreau castle, Saumur castle, Brézé castle, Brissac castle, Angers castle, etc.
Downstream of the Loire Valley, in Loire-Atlantique: château de Nantes.

The Loire Valley a world heritage site

Since 2000, this listing has highlighted the interaction between the royal river and the people who live there, in both rural and urban areas. The tufa stone houses, troglodytic caves, gardens, vineyards and, of course, the Loire châteaux make up a unique ensemble. Its classification as a “cultural landscape” recognises that human activity here has evolved over the centuries in harmony with the environment.

World Heritage

Frequently asked questions

Which is the most beautiful château in the Loire Valley to visit?
Although this is one of the most frequently asked questions, the answer is highly subjective, so it’s up to each person to make up their own mind. However, if the virality of the photos posted on social networks is anything to go by, the châteaux of Chenonceau, Ussé and Amboise are very popular.

What can you do around Tours and which Loire château can you visit nearby?
People often think of Villandry, surrounded by its magnificent gardens. And it’s a good idea, especially as you can cycle the whole way. Two other châteaux are also nearby: the Domaine de Candé and the Fortress of Montbazon. The Château de Tours also hosts photographic exhibitions.

Which châteaux offer temporary exhibitions?
Owned by the Indre-et-Loire Departmental Council, the royal city of Loches and the royal fortress of Chinon organise major exhibitions every year from April to November (on the Templars, Joan of Arc, Agnès Sorel, the legend of King Arthur, King Francis I and Emperor Charles V, royal armour, fantastic animals of the Middle Ages, etc.).

In the heart of the Leonardo Da Vinci park, the Halle muséographique du Clos Lucé also hosts an annual exhibition linked to the emblematic figure of the site: Leonardo da Vinci.

Do I have to buy tickets in advance?
With the exception of certain very popular sites such as the Château de Chenonceau, it is not necessary.

Where can I buy tickets to visit the Loire châteaux?
Most châteaux offer online ticketing on their websites. The local tourist offices also offer online ticketing, but you can also buy tickets directly on site. There are also international websites that sell tickets online (Viator, GetYourGuide, Tiqets, etc.).

Which Loire châteaux are best visited with children?
In the Loire Valley, the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci often attract a large family audience to the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise. That said, most of the châteaux have something for young visitors and families.

Histopad tablets are available at the Château Royal d’Amboise, the Cité Royale de Loches and the Royal Fortress of Chinon. Younger visitors can also dress up as princes and princesses during visits to the Château du Rivau and the Château de l’Islette. The treasure hunt at the Château de Gizeux and the tree house at the Château de Langeais are also very popular, as is the Monument Game at the Fortress of Chinon.

Children’s events are also held during the school holidays. For more information, see the ” For the whole family ” page.

Which is the last château on the Loire?
In Touraine, the Château de Villandry was the last of the great châteaux to be built.

What is the oldest keep in France?
It would appear to be that of the fortress of Montbazon, built in the 9th century!