Loire Valley Castles: Guided Visits and Sightseeing Tours

If there is one visit not to be missed during a visit to Paris, it is the Loire Valley castles. Only a few hours away from the French capital are these prestigious buildings of the French Renaissance, vestiges of an era when aristocrats showed off their wealth and a desire for architectural innovation of the Kings of France. Paris City Vision offers you passes and tickets for numerous guided tours and sightseeing tours of these Loire castles, to be done in one day from the city of Paris or in the form of tours lasting several days in the Loire Valley to admire the most beautiful historical buildings and discover with your family the magnificent landscape of an area listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Dive into the heart of a royal era, and make your stay an unforgettable moment of discovery of each castle and each fortress which draw the landscape of the Loire Valley.

Discover the most beautiful castles in France

Paris City Vision tours allow you, from your hotel or place of residence in Paris, to leave by bus with a guide interpreter to discover the most beautiful castles. Children and adults will be seduced among other treasures by the famous castles of Amboise, Chenonceau and Chambord or the castle of Tour, Cheverny, the gardens of Villandry, the Clos Lucé, the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, the estate of Chaumont, a jewel of the Renaissance, or that of Fougères-sur-Bièvre.

Monuments with unique architecture

The castles of the Loire Valley each have their own history and are distinguished above all by the uniqueness of their architecture. Chambord Castle, fashioned according to the wishes of Francis I between the 16th and 17th centuries, has an admirable geometric architecture mixing French and Italian influences. Francis I did not have the opportunity to enjoy the completed Chambord Castle, as its construction was not completed until several years after the date of his death. But his involvement made him the emblematic figure of the castle, in which we find many tributes to the king. However, the latter will see the castle of Azay-le-Rideau built under his reign, a true masterpiece of 16th century architecture. As for the Chaumont-sur-Loire castle, it received the first prize in the lighting competition awarded by the SERCE for the specificities of its architectural lighting. Its lighting allows for a precise vision of its details seen up close, while a more powerful cold light highlights the building and makes it easy to discern in the distance.

The Gardens at the Châteaux of the Loire Valley

A French Renaissance château simply cannot be imagined without gardens. Such botanical works of art make up almost all the extensions made on royal buildings. Not only does one enjoy them while outside (imagine the King taking a tour with guests) but one also can admire them from the château windows. Both aesthetic and technical, French-style gardens are a decorative element that can’t be overlooked and that also demonstrate the power and wealth of the château owners.

French-style Gardens

The concept of a French-style garden well precedes that of the immense grounds one finds at Versailles. Although the latter has without a doubt one of the most internationally famous gardens, the codified tradition of geometric gardens laid out in flowerbeds, or parterres, was already in vogue at the beginning of the Renaissance. They’re also known as classical gardens, or normal gardens.

French-style gardens are characterized by geometrical layouts, fountains, and an orangery. Any work carried out on such gardens demands enormous precision, a fact that makes these achievements veritable technical feats.

The Remarkable Garden Title

“Remarkable Garden” is a title that was created in 2004 by the Ministry of Culture and Communication. Its main objective is to promote and to reward public botanical gardens that also represent historical interest.

Château Villandry is another château that can claim the title “Remarkable Garden.” Its garden has four terraced plots that date from the 14th century. At Château Cheverny, there’s a 100 hectare park (247 acres) that surrounds the château, a French-style garden and an orangery from the 18th century. Château de Chenonceau is one step above the others with two remarkable gardens -- the Diane de Poitiers Garden and the Catherine de Medici Garden -- that embody French landscape art. That said, Château de Chambord is without a doubt the château that has the most impressive grounds: a marvelous French-style garden and a forested park with a total of 5,440 hectares (13 440 acres), home to a significant population of fauna.

However, don’t hesitate to take your time while visiting their gardens where you’ll be able to admire the work of the gardeners who succeeded in drawing up amazing plans for the château owners. You’ll most certainly learn a thing or two about botany while you’re at it!

A family visit to the Loire castles

These extraordinary buildings lend themselves perfectly to family tourism: children and adults alike appreciate the beauty and enchantment of the places, but also the secrets they hold and the history they tell. Everyone takes as much pleasure in admiring the different exterior facades as in discovering the different details inside each room. Summer, spring, autumn or winter, each period has its advantages: the forests of Sologne or Loir-et-Cher are for example magnificent in autumn and highlight the parks and residences. The tours we offer are also an opportunity to get a breath of fresh air, each park offering a real green setting.

Your tickets will allow you to access the different sites freely and to visit the castles with priority access, without having to face the inevitable queues of these tourist sites which welcome more than five million visitors each year.

Discover our multi-day tour offerings

Multi-day tours will allow you to visit a wider variety of sites south of Paris and appreciate the specificities of each castle, both architecturally and in terms of context: hunting park, landscaped gardens, banks of the Cher River... A Loire Valley sightseeing tour is also the ideal way to optimize your travels, while ensuring a restful night in a comfortable 3-star hotel. This type of tour is especially recommended if you are traveling with your children. To taste all the aspects of the region, why not take advantage of your visit to do a Loire wine tasting? Play the card of originality! You can even book your tickets at the best rate on the dates of your choice, for small groups or privatize the tour combining the wine discovery and the guided tours of the castles of Chenonceau and Chambord.

Find all our excursions from Paris

Finally, if the length of your stay allows it, don't hesitate to check out the Paris City Vision offers to take a 2, 3 or 4-day tour from Paris, and go on a discovery of both the most beautiful Loire Castles, but also of Normandy, the cities of Rouen, Saint Malo and Honfleur, the D-Day landing beaches and the Mont-Saint-Michel, another curiosity accessible in a short time from Paris, famous for its green coast and its abbey. Book your dates now and get the best price for your ticket!

Sightseeing tour in the Loire: visiting the must-see

Find a list of some of the most beautiful castles in the Loire Valley and enjoy an exceptional stay that promises a real trip back in time to the era of the French royal court. We particularly recommend the following visits:

• Chambord Castle
• Cheverny Castle
• Chenonceau Castle
• Castle of Villandry
• Clos Lucé
• Amboise Castle

It’s more than understandable that during your visit to a royal château you’ll dream of a feast worthy of a King. The selection of restaurants below is adapted to a variety of needs and desires. You’ll find several recommendations for eating good food prepared quickly as well as gastronomic and simple, pleasant restaurants where you can share travel stories while enjoying a delicious meal. During your Loire Valley Castles guided tour, you will taste the local gastronomy.

Ideas For Your Stay at the Loire Valley

If you don’t feel like having a sit-down meal and want to grab a quick lunch before visiting a château, the Maison des Paiges bakery in Chenonceau proposes an interesting lunch menu. It’s also worth a visit for their famous bread.

If the royal ambiance is getting a bit too heavy and you’ve spent the entire morning walking around the sprawling gardens of a château, a great place to relax in a laid back environment is Hell’s Kitchen. This restaurant located in Blois proposes a New York-style cuisine that’ll fill you up and give you that needed momentum to finish off your day.

Having a Good Time with Friends

Imagine this scenario: you’ve just finished visiting Château Blois and you’re famished. All you can think about is enjoying a hearty meal with family or friends. But where should you go? A popular restaurant in the city of Blois, L’Assiette au Boeuf, serves high-quality meat.

Those who appreciate regional cuisine will fall head over heels for the Grand Chancelier restaurant, not far from Château de Cheverny, where quality ingredients and rapid service guarantee you get your money’s worth.

Exceptional Restaurants for a Royal Meal

Don’t hesitate to reserve a table at the Orangerie, a gastronomic restaurant at the Château de Chenonceau. This is one of many restaurants that is recommended when traveling through the Loire Valley region. If you happen to have a table on the restaurant veranda, you’ll be able to enjoy lovely views of the château gardens.

Heading to Chambord? The Maison d’à Côté in Montivault is an essential stop on your trip. Popular for its contemporary cuisine, guests appreciate the chef’s unforgettable meals. If the quality is as excellent as it’s said to be, go for the Carte Blanche menu!

There are places to eat and eat well throughout the Loire. Whether it be a sandwich on the go or a gastronomic restaurant, you’ll find something to satisfy your appetite. Try asking the locals for recommendations, check out a cafeteria or even a museum restaurant -- who knows, you could be pleasantly surprised!

We could help you to find a place to sleep, with several guesthouses near Loire Valley Castles.