Loire Castles from Paris

Written by Viator, November 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Tip - General Travel, Castle, Town / City

The gentle green landscape of the Loire Valley lies within easy reach of Paris. While not lacking in scenic vistas and historic towns, it is the region’s magnificent concentration of chateaux which make it an irresistible detour from the French capital.

Just as the Renaissance was ushering in a new age of learning, investigation and artistic excellence, French aristocrats were following the monarch’s lead and building lavish residences on or near the Loire River, commissioning the finest architects and artisans in France and beyond.

Over 300 chateaux were built in the region, but only a handful are open for public visits. Among them is Chateau d’Amboise, which dates back to the 11th century but reached its apogee under King Francois I. He invited Amboise’s most famous non-royal resident, Leonardo da Vinci, to work there and the Italian genius is buried in the chateau’s chapel of Saint-Hubert.

Da Vinci may be responsible for one of the most compelling details of an even more spectacular chateau – Chambord – namely the double-helix staircase, where two sets of stairs interweave without meeting. Chambord’s façade is one of the Loire’s most famous, rising from a solid base and becoming more fanciful the higher it climbs, with a jumble of gable windows and towers jutting from its roof.

Meanwhile, instantly recognizable Chenonceau is one of the great monuments of the French Renaissance, suspended on arches over the river Cher and admiring its own reflection in the calm waters. The chateau’s fascinating history is dominated by powerful women.

While all of these buildings express the aspirations of different epochs, you don’t need to go further than the rambling Chateau de Blois to see a whole range of styles in one spot. Here successive monarchs left their marks without fully erasing traces of their predecessors. Blois also distinguishes itself by its location – not in grand, landscaped gardens like many in the region, but in the middle of a town.

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All Loire Castles from Paris Reviews

Reply by Viator, November 2012
Doing what: Loire Valley Castles Day Trip: Chambord, Cheverny and Chenonceau

I highly recommend this tour! The castles were all very different and quite beautiful. A word of warning, it is cooler in the Loire Valley than in Paris and Chambord in particular is cold, so dress warmly! The content of the material presented and the castles were wonderful. My only disappointment is that we were in the Spanish and English group so the time was split between each language. I think this took away a bit from the tour and slowed us down a bit on the tour, but regardless, would do it again!

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Reply by Viator, November 2012
Doing what: Loire Valley Castles Day Trip: Chambord, Cheverny and Chenonceau

The trip to the Loire Valley Castles was excellent. The 3 tour guides on the bus were all extremely helpful. Christine, the English speaking guide was very friendly and her knowledge of the area and the history of the places we visited was incredibly good. I liked the idea of the audios that we were given as it meant we could still hear her without being in close proximity. The lunch that was provided was delicious and served efficiently.

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Reply by Viator, November 2012
Doing what: Loire Valley Castles Small Group Day Trip from Paris by Minivan

The Loire Valley is very serene and lovely. The castle tour was magical and interesting. The day went by quickly and was well worth the trip. Very good guide and very well organized trip. Everything went off without a hitch. I enjoyed it and was happy that I did the tour.

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