Places to Visit in Loire Valley

Chambord is one of the most notable chateaux in Europe and the world, because of its very exclusive French Renaissance which blends traditional French mediaeval forms with classical Renaissance structures. The Castle was built by Francis I. The Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley and is one of the best places to visit in the Loire valley. The Chambord holds a beautiful château, farms, a village, and a wooded area. The national domain of Chambord is spread across 5,440 hectares within an enclosed wall.

Chenonceau is situated on the right bank of the Cher River in west-central France. Chenonceau bridges the river Cher, which makes it one of the must visit places to Visit in Loire Valley. The architecture of the castle showcases the adaptation between the Renaissance styles and late Gothic. This beautiful property was founded by Thomas Bohier, finance minister of Normandy in 1513/1515 on the pilings of a mill. The Chenonceau was restored in the 19th century and today it serves as a museum and a property which is privately owned by the Menier family.

The chateau du clos lucé is one of the large castles situated in the centre of Amboise in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The Chateau was built in the year 1471 by Hugues d’Amboise and was later owned by some French kings like Charles VIII and Leonardo da Vinci. When Leonardo da Vinci was invited by Francis I in the year 1516, he devoted his last three years of life to perfecting his inventions. The Castle is the home of great knowledge acquired by the Italian Maestro and today ranks as a well-known museum about Leonardo da Vinci's life and a historical monument.

The Castle was built to keep a check over the border between the counties of Blois and Anjou in the year 1000. The Château de Chaumont was owned by the Amboise family for around 500 years. The ornamental castle acquired the Renaissance style, with sculpted decoration becoming the major feature of its outer façades by II d’Amboise. Today the château is one of the best places to visit in Loire Valley which boasts the finest collection of France's famous sculptor's "one-off" medallions.

This mediaeval fortress is also out of the best places to Visit in Loire Valley. The castle served as a royal residence during the reigns of the Kings of France Charles VIII and François I. Sovereigns have invited the court, along with a good number of men and 7 women of letters and artists from Europe to stay at this mighty palace. Leonardo da Vinci is one such example, who today peacefully lies in the Château’s Chapel. The Château d'Amboise showcases the prodigious Gothic collection and the furniture which illustrates the rebirth of the artistic finery of the first French Renaissance.

The shale and limestone Chateau d’Angers was built by young king Louis IX in the 13th century on the edge of his kingdom which is also known as the château of the Dukes of Anjou. The fortress is located in the Maine et Loire department of France. The castle holds tranquil grounds, the residence of the Dukes of Anjou, and the buildings constructed during the Gothic era. It is one of the large castles built between the 13th and 16th centuries. This magnificent fortress overlooks the Maine River.

Château de Blois is a must visit castle lies in the city centre of Blois, Loir-et-Cher, in the Loire Valley, and showcases the real aspect of the art and history of the Loire castles. This architectural rich chateau was the residence of the Counts of Blois along with some other French Kings like Joan of Arc. The apartments, furnished and adorned with magnificent polychrome decorations in the fortress express the power and daily life of the court in the Renaissance.

The majestic Château de Cheverny is one of the considerable places to visit in Loire Valley. The castle is famous for its lavish furnished interior and fittings that have been in the same family for more than six centuries. The first-floor apartments showcase the traditional French way of life with its birth chamber, red boudoir, nursery, wedding suite, private dining area, and cosy little living area. A magnificent bed canopy covered in Persian needlework that Henry IV slept under while staying at the ancient château is one of the must-see attractions.

The Château de Villandry is home to France’s finest six glorious, landscaped gardens which hold more than 6 hectares of kitchen gardens, ornamental vines, cascading flowers, manicured lime trees, razor-sharp box hedges, and tinkling fountains. When Le Breton was serving his ambassadorial role, he came in love with the art of Italian Renaissance gardening and created his majestic garden at the newly constructed Villandry. Jean Le Breton, who served François I as finance minister and ambassador to Italy, had built the castle and original gardens.