Chenonceau Castle Guide

Also known as the "Château des Dames" (Ladies' Castle), the Chenonceau castle is one of the most prestigious castles in the Loire Valley. Located in Touraine in the department of Indre-et-Loire, this architectural jewel is the most visited castle in France after Versailles’. To make sure you don't miss anything of this historical site, you should read this Chenonceau Castle guide. You will get all the practical information you need about this Renaissance monument: opening hours, address, prices...

Plan your visit

In order to save time and not stand in line, Paris City Vision suggests that you book your Chenonceau Castle tickets online. Check out the opening hours before your visit. Once there, you will be able to discover the history of the Chenonceau Castle, also known as the Ladies' castle.

How to get to the Chenonceau Castle?

You can get to the Chenonceau Castle by train or by car. Located in Touraine, in the Cher region, it is 215 kilometres away from Paris and only 35 kilometres away from Tours.

Opening hours

Chenonceau Castle is open to visitors every day from 9:30AM to 6:00PM.

Rates

You can buy Chenonceau Castle tickets from €12 to €19 full price.

The essentials

If you visit the castle, don't miss the Chenonceau gardens.

• Vegetable maze
• Catherine de Medici’s garden
• Diane de Poitiers’ garden

History and culture

This Loire Valley’s jewel of architecture was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet and is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its two-story gallery overlooking the Cher River and its magnificent gardens. In fact many women have been involved in the development of this domain, in terms of decoration, furniture and architecture, giving the castle its feminine side. After Katherine Briçonnet, it was Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medicis and Madame Dupin who preserved the charms of this place through the ages. Chenonceau's collections revolve around paintings by great artists such as Murillo, Rubens, Van Loo... A very rare selection of 16th century tapestries from Flanders can also be admired in the castle.