I am continuing with my Loire Valley theme (you can find my other articles on the subject by following this link) to tell you about the rest of our journey along the Loire with my favorite photographer, and today I’m taking you to visit the famous Châteaux of the Loire (well, just a few of them…). The Loire Valley actually refers to the “bed” of the longest and wildest river in France (and the last wild river in Europe as well). It is also where you will find the most beautiful châteaux (more than a hundred of them shine across this territory), which were established near the Loire or its tributaries: the Cher, the Indre, or the Vienne.
Furthermore, in addition to the major sites, a multitude of private châteaux dot the territory and also open their doors to the public. It can therefore be a good idea to alternate visits to famous sites with more intimate, lesser-known locations.
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Table of Contents
Château du Clos Lucé
The Château du Clos Lucé was the final residence of Leonardo da Vinci. It is located in the heart of the beautiful royal city of Amboise. You can immerse yourself in the Master’s worlds within the château, admire his inventions, and stroll through the Leonardo da Vinci Park, a true open-air museum. The Clos Lucé, currently owned by the Saint Bris family, is entirely dedicated to the memory of Leonardo da Vinci, who was invited to stay there by Francis I. It is an opportunity to discover the Painter’s Studio, the library, and Leonardo da Vinci’s study with full-scale models, machines you can operate yourself, and large lawns that invite you to run around, which are a delight for children.
Château du Clos Lucé
2, rue du Clos Lucé 37400 Amboise
Rates: €19 / €17 reduced / €13.50 students and children aged 7 to 18
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Exhibition ‘Léo, behind the scenes of the animation film’
The château estate also has a building dedicated to temporary exhibitions. This is where the temporary exhibition ‘Léo, behind the scenes of the animation film’, directed by Jim Capobianco (co-writer of Ratatouille!), is located. The latter highlights the titanic work required for the creation of such a film. Between the different professions involved in creating the sets, models, and characters, we discover that it is the result of teamwork of extreme precision. They produced 4 seconds of film per day (per filming set)!
The museography is designed in such a way that it tells the entire journey of the project, from the original idea to the post-production of the film (voice recording), through the stages of storyboarding, set creation, frame-by-frame animation… You leave the visit with knowledge of all the important stages! Moreover, there are explanations for both children and big children (adults), which makes ‘Léo, behind the scenes of the animation film’ accessible to everyone from 7 to 77. In short, a playful and educational delight, much like the film ‘Leo’ that I highly encourage you to go see.
Temporary exhibition ‘Léo. Behind the scenes of the animation film’
From February 1st to May 11th, 2025
Additional exhibition rates: €5 adult / €3 reduced / €1 for 7-18 year olds and students / free for those under 7
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Lunch at the Auberge du Prieuré
Located on the château estate, this inn offers a gastronomic journey to the time of Leonardo da Vinci. On the program: recipes inspired by the Renaissance and service provided in period costumes. The menu, punctuated by historical anecdotes, is also announced in traditional old “François”.
Auberge du Prieuré
open only for lunch
Price: from €26.50 for adults and €17 for children under 12
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Château and Gardens of Villandry
This château, completed in 1536 and built by the Finance Minister of Francis I, is the last of the great châteaux built on the banks of the Loire. It owes its fame in particular to the exceptional collection of its magnificent Renaissance gardens in terraces that surround it.
The Night of a Thousand Lights
We had the chance to discover this place during the Night of a Thousand Lights, a magical evening where, at nightfall, 2000 candles illuminate the château and the gardens for a fairy-tale moment. It was an enchanted moment that I am not ready to forget, and it is an incredible experience that I advise you not to miss if you have the chance to be in the area on the right date (as there are only 2 consecutive evenings of the ‘Mille Feux’ per year at the château; this year it was July 7th and 8th).
On the program: acrobatic artists, mapping projected onto the west facade of the château, the Luminéoles by Porté par le Vent (imaginary birds of light with graceful wings that performed a dreamlike ballet against a moonlit sky), and finally a pyrotechnic show that reflects on the water mirror at the end of the evening.
Our video of this magical evening
Château de Villandry
3 rue Principale 37510 Villandry
Special Night of a Thousand Lights rates: €9.50 adult / €7.50 reduced / free for under 8s
For those who visited the château and/or the gardens during the day: supplement of €3
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Château de L’Islette in Azay-le-Rideau
This superb Renaissance château (completed around 1530) has belonged since the mid-60s to a family of enthusiasts who have very generously opened their château to visitors since 2010 from May to September. It is a magnificent place and much less known than its neighbor in Azay-le-Rideau, but it is a place full of charm and much less crowded. The garden that surrounds the main building is charming and encourages wandering and strolling in this park where water is very present; you can even go for small boat rides (available for rent).
We continue the visit with the discovery of the interior of the château, which is still the residence of the family who owns the premises today. The château is also famous because it notably housed the romance of Camille Claudel and Rodin. Indeed, we find evocations of this idyll throughout the tour of the château.
The little extra: the charming tea room where you can sit on the terrace for a hot or cold drink, or buy some local products to put together your picnic, which you can then enjoy in the estate.
Château de L’Islette
9 route de Langeais 37190 Azay-le-Rideau
open every day from 10 am to 7 pm from May 1st to September 30th from 10 am to 7 pm
Price: €9 adult / €5.50 reduced / free for children under 8
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Château de Chambord
This unique château, located in the heart of a 5440-hectare forest reserve, is one of the masterpieces of the French Renaissance and an impressive architectural feat, notably with its central double-helix staircase, the architect of which (contrary to what one might believe) is unknown… Therefore, in principle, nothing proves that it is the work of Leonardo da Vinci as people like to claim… It is the madness of grandeur of Francis I (a character we encounter quite regularly along the Loire, for that matter) that expresses itself here. His emblem (the Salamander) and his initials are engraved throughout the château (it borders on megalomania, all of this…). In the end, this masterpiece is an architectural delirium fueled by the artistic and architectural innovations of the Italian Renaissance and was a symbol of royal power and the might of France, even though it was not ultimately used much by its patron.
I highly advise you to take the unusual tour (2h / €7 per adult and €5 for 5-17 year olds on top of the entrance fee); this actually gives access to areas closed to the general public (mezzanines and attic of the château) and, besides, the building and what hides behind its construction are very difficult to understand, I think, without explanation and without a guide.
Château de Chambord
41250 ChambordRates: €13 / €11 reduced
Parking nearby but paid (€6 / day)Free admission: under 25s for European Union nationals; persons with disabilities + 1 companion
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Château de Talcy
This Renaissance château bears the mark of Bernard Salviati, the Florentine banker of Francis I, who was its owner in 1517. Its wood-paneled apartments with their 18th-century furniture are perfectly preserved (classified as a Historic Monument) and seduce with their refined and intimate atmosphere. The visitor first discovers the large ground-floor room and the kitchen. Then there are several bedrooms, including the one known as “Charles IX’s room” with its woodwork and Hungarian stitch curtains. An intact bathroom shows us a bathtub covered with a sheet of grime: it was used to collect the grime from the bath, with the same water being used by the whole family…
As for the reception rooms, we admire the living room and especially the splendid dining room with its blue ‘indienne’ fabric on the walls, the flower motifs of which were finished by brush! All the château’s guests have a plate with their name on it (Stendhal, Thiers, Mérimée, Albert Stapfler…). In this château under the sign of the poets, the well on which a rose bush grows reminds us that Cassandra, the owner’s daughter, inspired Ronsard, who was in love with her, to write his famous poem “Mignonne, allons voir si la rose…”. Finally, special attention should be paid to the dovecote and the wine press, even if a very bad boiled wine was made in the latter, which was transformed into brandy! On this 550-hectare agricultural estate, the vines were soon replaced (at the end of the 19th century) by apple trees. Today, you can still visit the garden and the vegetable patch, whose fruits are offered free of charge to visitors.
Château de Talcy
18 rue du Château, 41370 Talcy
Open every day, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm
(5 pm starting September 5, 2019; closed on Tuesdays from October 1st to March 31, 2019)
Full price: €6 / reduced rate: €5
Free admission: under 26s, people with disabilities, job seekers…
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Château de Troussay
Located 3 kilometers from the Château de Cheverny, it is the smallest of the châteaux of the Loire, and you can access it by bike. Its particular character lies in its joyful mix of periods and styles. This large residence, classified since 2000, includes elements from the Renaissance. But also later ones, since after having passed through the hands of Robert de Buggy, squire to Francis I, it belonged to the de la Saussaye and Marcotte families (since 1900). Inside, it is a whole mosaic of ancient decor and furniture ranging from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
A very special charm emanates from the place, undoubtedly due to the personality of its current owner, Isaure de Sainte Marie, a young woman who, after many years spent in Latin America, has taken over the family jewel. With unfailing dynamism and accompanied by all her cats and dogs, she welcomed us in a short skirt and leather boots! Everything about her breathes taste, originality, and eclecticism. Period furniture sits alongside sculptures made from recycled objects while a boutique of vintage furniture and objects with sweet Mexican hints invites you to have some small indulgences… You can spend the night on site. The place offers a gîte and guest rooms. A real favorite!
Château de Troussay
41700 Cheverny
Visits: inquire before going
Suites: from €180 to €200 for 2 people
Gîtes, weekend package (from Friday evening to Sunday evening): €480 for 4-5 peopleDecreasing rates for stays longer than three days
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Château de Beauregard
This vast château, more intimately linked to History, served as a hunting lodge for Francis I, and its gallery of 26 meters long, with its 327 portraits and ceilings painted with lapis lazuli, is simply stunning. Started in the 17th century and built up over three generations, it sweeps through national and international political history over three centuries.
Since 1926, the site has been in the hands of the Du Pavillon family. And, as we don’t do things quite like everyone else here, a second gallery of portraits of a completely different kind has emerged, right next to the gallery of the Illustrious… These are very chic dogs belonging to famous personalities and immortalized by the photographer Antoine Schneck. Amidst the dark wooden period furniture, these pooches make the best impression. Including the intruder -a cat- who snuck in among them… You can complete the visit with that of the immense 40-hectare park to encounter trees that are over two hundred years old, the Portrait Garden imagined by Gilles Clément, or simply to enjoy the colors of autumn…
Château and Park of Beauregard
41120 Cellettes
Open until November 5, from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm on weekdays / from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm on weekends
Rates for park and château (guided tour included): adults, €12.50 / 14-25 years: €10 / 5-13 years: €5 / €28 or €32 (for 4 or 5)
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Thanks to the Centre-Val de Loire Tourism Board for this welcome.
I hope that with all this, I will have made you want to discover or rediscover the Loire Valley and its châteaux, and if you also have your recommendations and good addresses for this destination, do not hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find all my articles on the Loire Valley in the Centre-Val de Loire region below:
⇒ All my articles on the Loire Valley
⇒ All my articles on the Centre-Val de Loire
MY ARTICLES ON THE LOIRE VALLEY
⇒ The Châteaux of the Loire
⇒ Visiting Orléans
⇒ Visiting Blois
⇒ Visiting Tours
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization mandatory before any use
