5 majestic Loire Valley châteaux to visit by road

The Loire Valley is just a two-hour drive from Paris and is one of France’s most popular tourist destinations. A big lure for visitors is the area’s spectacular selection of châteaux, from striking castles to strongholds with magnificent gardens. On a short break with a car, you can complement visits to these châteaux with trips to historic towns and villages nearby. Here are five of the most memorable stately buildings to explore.

Château de Chambord

Two hours south of Paris and around 50 minutes from the historic town of Orléans, both via the A10, is the imposing Château de Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire Valley. Commissioned by King Francis I to symbolise his power and allegedly designed in part by Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance masterpiece is impressively grand – the colossal building has 426 rooms, 83 staircases and 282 fireplaces.

Consider booking a tour to see the Château’s highlights – which include a double-helix staircase and expansive countryside views from its terraces. Save some time to explore its French gardens and park, which is as big as inner Paris, where you can spot deer, ramble on forest trails and take a boat ride down the castle’s canal. After a busy day, stay at Relais de Chambord less than a five-minute walk away.

Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

A 40-minute drive from Château de Chambord, the attractive white, turreted Château de Chaumont looks out over the Loire Valley. En route, make time for a stop in the city of Blois to wander around its old town and to discover the history of its own royal château, where seven French kings and 10 queens lived.

There’s plenty to discover in Château de Chaumont itself but the big draw for many visitors is its International Garden Festival, which takes part in its grounds annually between late April and early November. As part of this, expect to see up to 30 imaginative gardens by artists, designers and landscape architects based on a set theme. The château, stables and grounds are also home to a number of striking modern art installations. Return to Le Bourg Neuf in the evening.

Château du Clos Luce

Around 25 minutes further down the D751 is Château du Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. Here, discover more about the artist in his bedroom and living workshops, then stroll around the castle’s Leonardo da Vinci Park and Leonardo’s Garden to gain further insight into how nature inspired da Vinci’s work. You’ll see some of his inventions while outside as well as a selection of canvases hanging from trees.

Clos Luce is just 400 metres from the Royal Château of Amboise and the town of Amboise itself, which is a great place to stay mid-road trip thanks to its high-quality dining options and luxurious hotels. Treat yourself to a night at Le Manoir Saint Thomas and take a relaxing dip in its outdoor swimming pool.

Château de Villandry

On your way from Amboise to Château de Villandry, plan a stop in medieval city of Tours, which is roughly halfway between the two. In Tours, admire handsome half-timbered houses in Place Plumereau, marvel at the grand gothic Saint-Gatien Cathedral and buy some picnic items from the Les Halles food market before heading to one of Tours’ many green spaces. Wander back to the compact Hotel Ronsard afterwards.

Villandry, around a 25-minute drive further, was the last château to be built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley and its star attraction is its gardens. Head straight to the ornamental Kitchen Garden, which is an impressive geometric display of nine vegetable patches arranged in different colours and patterns. Stroll past the colourful displays on offer, try to master the garden’s maze and amble through the fragrant herb garden.

Château d’Ussé

Less than half an hour’s drive away on the D7 or D16 is the magical Château d’Ussé, the place that inspired author Charles Perrault to write Sleeping Beauty. It’s a grand white building with elegant towers and turrets, pretty formal gardens and spiral staircases. Visit the unusual octagonal-shaped dungeon to see waxworks bring the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty to life, gaze up at the ornate trompe l’œil ceiling in the guard room and admire its collection of 16th and 17th-century tapestries. The castle’s perfectly manicured gardens with decorative water features and citrus trees are equally impressive and were designed by Le Notre, who also created the gardens at the Palace of Versailles.

From Chateau d’Ussé, it’s less than a three-and-a-half-hour drive back to Paris but consider breaking the journey up with a stay in Orléans. Here, you can find out more about the Maid of Orléans, Joan of Arc, and see the stunning Cathédrale Ste-Croix. Stay at the Hôtel d’Orléans in the town’s historic centre.