- Château de Chambord. Kicking off our list of Loire best castles is the largest and most visited—The Château de Chambord. ...
- Château de Blois. ...
- Château d’Ussé ...
- Château du Clos-Lucé ...
- Château de Villandry. ...
- Château Chenonceau. ...
- Château d’Azay-le-Rideau.
How many Chateauxs are in the Loire Valley?
(CNN) — Who doesn’t love a good castle? But you can have too much of a good thing ... With more than 3.3 million visitors per year, the group of 42 chateaux that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Loire Valley is one of the most popular tourist destinations in France outside Paris itself.
What are the best chateaux to see in the Loire Valley?
The best Loire Valley castles for a day trip from Paris are the Chateau de Blois and the Chateau de Chambord . They are both 2 hours southwest of Paris. If you’d like to experience several Loire Valley castles, don’t plan on seeing more than two in one day.
Why are there so many chateaux in the Loire Valley?
The Loire Valley is chateau central . The accident of geography, battles between armies and the patronage of royal families brought fantastic castles into the area of the Loire Valley. ...
What is the largest chateau in Loire Valley?
Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley; it was built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I, who maintained his royal residences at the Château de Blois and Amboise.
How many days do you need in Loire Valley?
Three days is the perfect amount of time for enjoying the Loire Valley and its châteaux! The starting point of your itinerary is the city of Amboise. Situated just 2hr 10min by car from Paris (226 km), you can easily travel here in a hire vehicle.
What is the Loire Valley best known for?
The Loire Valley wine region is one of the world’s most well-known areas of wine production and includes several French wine regions situated along the river, from the Muscadet region on the Atlantic coast to the regions of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north-central France.
What is the largest and most grand chateau in the Loire Valley?
Chateau De Chambord, Chambord , France
Despite not serving as one of the king’s official residences, this French Renaissance castle is the largest in the Loire Valley, with 440 rooms, 84 staircases, and 365 fireplaces. (But you’ll only get to tour about 60 of the rooms when you visit.)
How many castles are in Pays de la Loire?
15 Castles in Pays de la Loire: Map, Photos, + Reviews.
How many castles are in Centre-Val de Loire?
15 Castles in Centre-Val de Loire: Map, Photos, + Reviews.
Why are so many French chateau for sale?
It’s no secret that one of the reasons why there are so many ‘bargain’ châteaux are the exorbitant renovation costs and the relentless maintenance required . ... The upside is that, in some cases, French historical properties can benefit from grants for renovation work, depending on their status.
What is the main city in the Loire Valley?
Centre-Val de Loire is one of the 18 administrative regions of France. It straddles the middle Loire Valley in the interior of the country. The administrative capital is Orléans, but the largest city is Tours .
Why does France have so many châteaux?
There are many chateaus because any large noble estate would have one , and France has a lot of nobility and a lot of farmland. Then when the French Revolution came along, and France dissolved it’s nobility.
Can you stay at Chateau Chambord?
At the heart of the Domain the Chambord
Welcome to Relais de Chambord , the only hotel in the château’s enormous private 5,440-hectare estate.
What is the best chateau?
- Château de Chambord. ...
- Château de Chenonceau. ...
- Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire. ...
- Château de Cheverny. ...
- Château of Amboise. ...
- Château de Sully-sur-Loire. ...
- Château de Villandry. ...
- Château de Blois.
