The incomparable charm of the Loire Valley UNESCO World Heritage
From our cottage, you have easy access to the famous Châteaux of the Loire, Chaumont sur Loire and its Garden Festival (18 min. by car), Amboise (the castle, the Leonardo da Vinci museum and the magnificent Sunday market - 20 min. by car), Chenonceau and the Ladies' Castle (20 min. by car), the town of Blois (the Museum of Magic, the Doute Fondation, and the castle - 20 min. by car), the Château de Cheverny and the Tintin exhibition (30 min. by car), the Château de Chambord (50 min. by car).
Domaine de Chaumont sur Loire and its gardens
Jewel of the Loire castles
The first room of the museum retraces 1000 years of the history of a château that has welcomed Marie de Médicis, Nostradamus, Henri II, Diane de Poitiers, Madame de Staël, Cosimo Ruggieri and many others...
If the Chaumont-sur-Loire estate had a soul, it would be that of an artist. Do you like unusual encounters? Let yourself be surprised by the installations by around twenty contemporary artists that adorn the outside of the castle, followed by the incomparable International Garden Festival. Then visit the prestigious stables, long considered the most luxurious in Europe
Before leaving Chaumont sur Loire, stop off on the banks of the Loire for a drink in one of the guinguettes or climb aboard one of the boats run by the Millière Raboton association. The guided tour by the men of the Loire is a timeless experience (booking required).
French history has remembered it as the Ladies' Castle, because it owes them everything. In 1513, Katherine Briçonnet supervised the building work based on the plans of a Venetian palace
It was then successively embellished by Diane de Poitiers, the initiator of the bridge, and Catherine de Médicis, who, inspired by her native Ponte Vecchio, imagined the two galleries that form an architecture unique in the world, before being saved from the Revolution by Louise Dupin. This brilliant woman of the Enlightenment received Voltaire, Fontenelle, Marivaux, Montesquieu, Buffon and Rousseau, who served as her secretary.
The most remarkably furnished of all the châteaux of the Loire
You may never have visited it, but you've already seen it. In the Tintin books, Hergé drew inspiration from the Cheverny castle for the design of the Moulinsart castle.
Among the greatest castle in the Loire Valley, the Cheverny castle, often cited as the best furnished, has been inhabited for 6 centuries by the same family, determined to perpetuate the charm of the place.
In 1922, fearing that they would have to give it up, the family opened the doors of their house to visitors for the first time. Since then, it has become a true family vocation, although the real stars of the place are not the squires, but rather Tintin and his fellow adventurers. A permanent exhibition is dedicated to them.
Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Amboise castle can be visited by following a number of different routes, each of which will enable you to appreciate this landmark of French history.
The castle, which became part of the French crown in 1431, witnessed some of the most important events in French history (royal baptisms and marriages, the accidental death of Charles VIII in 1498, the funeral of Leonardo da Vinci in 1519, the execution of the Amboise conspirators in 1560, the Edict of Toleration of 1463, etc).
Built by Charles VIII's and his wife Anne de Bretagne between 1492 and 1497, it was the residence of the young François d'Angoulême, future King François the firts, who ordered the royal dwelling to be raised.
On the square, take a break at Maison Bigot, which serves wonderful hot chocolates in winter (in front of the fireplace) and fabulous ice creams on the terrace in summer.
1 castle, 4 eras and an intriguing dive into the secrets of the King's court...
The castle overlooks the Loire valley and can be visited, discovered and brought to life, day and night, in playful mode for the youngest, connected for the geeks, with events and exhibitions for history buffs and sound and light shows for all ...
Since the construction of the first fortress in the 9th century, the masters of the royal castle of Blois have constantly modified the building, always according to the codes of their time. Four wings in four different architectural styles coexist to form a castle that speaks louder than a history book, which has seen 7 kings and 10 queens of France live within its walls and the Duke of Guise die.
Whatever your desires, you'll find your ideal visit within these royal walls as well as in the gardens and park of the estate...
Grandiose and brilliant! These are undoubtedly the 2 words that best define this impressive building, a simple hunting lodge dreamed up by François 1st, over which the shadow of Leonardo da Vinci hangs...
Buy your tickets at our tourist offices or online at www.sudvaldeloire.fr and enjoy discounts on your visits. You’ll also find the events calendar there.
