France's Loire Valley

A week long visit to the Loire Valley of France - an itinerary including visiting 12 of the best Chateaux: Angers, Chateau de Brissac, Chateau Breze, Chateau D'Usse, Chateau de Chinon, Chateau de Villandry, Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau de Chambord, Chateau de Cheverny, Chaumont-Sur-Loire, Chateau Royal d'Amboise and Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau.

The Loire River, the lifeblood of the Loire Valley, stands as a testament to nature's grandeur. Winding its way for over 1,000 kilometers, this river graces more than a fifth of France's total land area with its majestic presence, earning its distinction as the longest river in the country. Along the banks of the Loire River, you'll find lush vineyards and charming towns, creating a visual feast for travelers and wine enthusiasts alike.

Step into a living tapestry of history within the Loire Valley, where tales of Viking invasions from centuries past add layers of intrigue. The intrepid Viking Chief Hastein, navigating his longboats up the Loire River, left an indelible mark on historic cities such as Tours, Angers, and Nantes. The echoes of these remarkable adventures still reverberate within the valley's quaint streets and stately fortresses.

During our visit, we had the privilege of exploring twelve magnificent châteaux that grace this region. From the grandeur of Chateau Chambord to the elegance of Chateau Chenonceau, each chateau possesses its own unique charm and history. Our journey took us through the opulent interiors, meticulously maintained gardens, and rich cultural tapestry of these architectural treasures.

Before we proceed, let me give you two startling facts about French Chateaux; There are over 40,000 castles and fortresses in France dating from between the 9th and 21st centuries. And there are some 300 castles and fortresses in the 175-mile stretch of the river known as the Loire Valley. Gives you an idea of the amazing amount of history available to visit in France!

In this video, we'll share insights into the geography of the Loire Valley, the best ways to get there, and top tips for navigating this stunning region including how to pick where to stay and the rules of the road; a detailed review of road signs, toll booth navigation, and parking information. Get ready to plan your dream trip!

Join us on a journey through the heart of France as we explore twelve of the most magnificent castles in the historic Loire Valley. Our video provides an in-depth look at each castle and offers logistical information, including an itinerary with logical base camps for exploring the region to help make your own trip a success.

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Click the map image to view a larger Google Map

Our Loire Valley Route Flow Map (above image) highlights our journey from Angers to Chinon and then to Amboise, with each castle pinpointed. Follow our Loire Valley Itinerary to create your unforgettable Loire Valley adventure.

Click any link below to go directly to that page;

 1 - Nantes Atlantique Airport France

 2 - Base Camp 1: Angers, France

 3 - Chateau de Angers

 4 - Chateau de Brissac

 5 - Base Camp 2: Chinon, France

 6 - Château de Brézé

 7 - Fortress Royal de Chinon

 8 - Château d’Usse

 9 - Chateau de Villandry

 10 - Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

 11 - Base Camp 3: Amboise, France

 12 - Château de Chenonceau

 13 - Château de Chambord

 14 - Château de Cheverny

 15 - Chaumont-sur-Loire

 16 - Chateau Royal d’Amboise

Angers was our stop # 1 on our Loire Valley adventure, primarily because it was to be our first "Base Camp", and secondly because our hotel was only a few blocks from Château d'Angers, which allowed us to park the car and hike over to the fortress. The less than perfect issue that arose, was that it was Sunday when we visited the fortress, which meant that a lot of stores & restaurants were not open. It was probably to our advantage that we hiked from our hotel to the fortress, as parking was very limited and there were no empty spaces.

From Angers, our plans were to visit Château de Brissac, Château de Brézé and Chateau D’Angers.

We had selected the village of Chinon as our second "base camp" for exploring various nearby chateaux, our concept was that we could easily drive to any location within a 100 kilometer perimeter around Chinon, which gave us a number of places we wanted to explore. The drive from Angers to Chinon was not quite 100 kilometers (via the A-85). Chinon is on the south side of the Loire River, so we exited the A-85 onto the D-749.

From our Chinon base-camp, our plans were to visit Château de Chinon, Château d'Ussé, Château de Villandry and Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.

Amboise is adjacent to the widest stretch of the Loire River and it was a pleasant place to visit with a nice old town directly below the hilltop chateau. To add even more interest, Leonardo da Vinci retired and owned a home here (Château du Clos Lucé).

From our Amboise basecamp, our plans were to visit Château de Chenonceau, Château de Chambord, Chateau de Cheverny, Chaumont-Sur-Loire and Chateau Royal d'Amboise.

• 15 Best Things to Do in Centre-Val de Loire on 'The Crazy Tourist' Site
• Google Maps Search Results list for "accommodations in the Loire Valley"
• Loire Valley Day Trip from Paris from the "Get Your Guide" site
• Loire Valley Wineries on a Google Maps page
• Just Traveling Thru European Travel Tips
• Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
• All of our Loire Valley Images
• Visit our Youtube Channel
• Wikipedia Article about the Loire Valley
• Google Images set for the Loire Valley

The following list contains links to all of our other French Destinations, click any blue colored link to go to that page.