Top 10 most beautiful Loire castles in France
The holidays are coming up and you want to stay in a campsite, a hotel, a holiday village or a rental property located in the Loire castles region? Then this article is for you! We are going to introduce you to the ten most beautiful castles in this famous valley that follows the course of the Loire, the largest wild river in Europe.
10) Château de Langeais
Located in the department of Indre-et-Loire, between Tours and Saumur, the castle of Langeais has had an eventful history. Of the first castle, built from the 10th century, only the remains of the keep remain. The medieval fortress was razed to the ground to make way for a 15th century renaissance castle, built a few dozen metres away, transforming the castle courtyard into a magnificent French garden. The castle's fame comes from the fact that it hosted the wedding between the King of France Charles VIII and the Duchess Anne of Brittany on 6 December 1491, thus marking the attachment of the Duchy of Brittany to the Kingdom of France.
9) Castle of Sully-sur-Loire
In ninth place is the castle of Sully-sur-Loire, in the department of Loiret. It is the easternmost castle in what Unesco considers and has classified as the Loire Valley. Surrounded by a moat, the castle has two parts. The medieval-looking keep and the small castle, which dates from the renaissance. Between these two parts, there is a magnificent French garden.
8) Saumur Castle
The castle of Saumur is located in the south-east of Maine-et-Loire, about 50 km from Angers, which is the western limit of the Loire Valley. Built on a promontory, it overlooks the Loire and the town of Saumur, which is known worldwide for its national riding school: the Cadre Noir de Saumur. The castle was for a long time the property of the Anjou family, whose most famous member, the good King René, gave the castle of Saumur the nickname "Château d'Amour"...
7) Valençay Castle
The castle of Valençay is located in the department of Indre, about forty kilometres from Châteauroux. Built in the 10th century, the castle has been renovated and extended several times. It was the most famous occupant of the place, Talleyrand, minister of the emperor Napoleon I, who transformed the castle to give it its current appearance. During your visit to the castle, you will notice the corner tower, which is one of the most beautiful round towers in France! The gardens of the castle are also remarkable, and you will be able to walk in the park of which the surface is about forty hectares.
6) Cheverny Castle
The Château de Cheverny is located in the Loir-et-Cher department, a quarter of an hour drive from Blois. It has a rich collection of art objects and tapestries that attract several thousand visitors each year. Don't miss a visit to the French gardens and the park of more than 100 hectares, where many hunting hunts are still organised today.
5) Azay-le-Rideau Castle
The castle of Azay-le-Rideau comes in fifth place. Located in the department of Indre-et-Loire, twenty-five kilometres from Tours, it is a magnificent castle set in the middle of a pond that serves as a moat. L-shaped, the castle of Azay-le-Rideau has round towers at each of its corners, which give it an unusual charm. The castle also has a formal garden and a park of several hectares that are open to visitors.
4) Amboise Castle
At the foot of the podium is the Château d'Amboise, in the Indre-et-Loire. Located on a hill, it dominates the Loire Valley and the surrounding town. The panorama from the garden that borders the castle is exceptional. You can visit the many rooms of the castle, which was for a long time one of the residences of the Kings of France. The council chamber is certainly one of the most beautiful in the fortress. It has a vaulted roof which is worth a visit. Also worth noting is the façade of the dwelling, which is the first Italian-inspired façade in the Loire Valley! It was, in a way, the precursor of a long series...
3) Château de Blois
On the top step of the podium is the Château de Blois, located in the Loir-et-Cher department. It was for a long time the favourite residence of the Kings of France, which logically explains the beauty of the place. The castle dates back to the Middle Ages and has been extended several times, so there are different types of architecture: Gothic, Renaissance and Classical. Don't forget, when visiting this castle, to admire the monumental staircase leading to the inner courtyard, which alone is worth a visit!
2) Chenonceau Castle
In second place we find the castle of Chenonceau, built on a bridge over the Cher. The castle of Chenonceau is today the most visited historical monument in France. People come to admire its typical Renaissance architecture (the current castle was built in the 15th century) but also its superb French gardens, which bear the names of the two most famous occupants of this place, Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis.
1) Chambord Castle
Last but not least, the Chateau de Chambord comes in first place, which for Vacances Vues du Blog is the most beautiful of the Loire castles! Located in the Loir-et-Cher region of France, Chambord is one of the largest castles in France. It has no less than 440 rooms! Built on the orders of King François I, the great apostle of the Renaissance, from 1519 onwards, the work was not completed until 1556. It should be noted that the castle's forest estate is the largest enclosed park in Europe, with the surrounding wall being 32 kilometres long in total.