The castles of the Loire Valley in France represent a unique focus of the country's historical and cultural monuments. Once the valley was the capital of the country, therefore on its territory the residences of the nobility, large public and political figures were actively built. Most of the buildings were built in the Renaissance by the best Italian and French masters who represented this trend in architecture.
Where are the castles of the Loire?
Geographically, the Loire Valley is located near the river of the same name on the territory of four departments: Indre and Loire, Loir and Cher, Loiret and Men and Loire. Because of the large "density" of historical monuments, the region is listed as a UNESCO heritage and is a special pride of local residents.
How to look at the castles of the Loire in France?
Of course, the best option for visiting attractions is a group tour. This is a relatively economical option, but it has a number of drawbacks. Being limited to a clear guide program, you can not give enough time to inspect the objects you are interested in without risking falling behind the group. In addition, as a rule, the traditionally best castles of the Loire are included in the list of visits according to the managers of travel agencies. Therefore, if you have a different opinion or already had the opportunity to travel on the proposed routes, it makes sense to try to book an individual tour or make a trip around the Loire's chateaux on your own.
We reach the chateaux of the Loire from Paris
If you are planning a vacation in France, then, of course, it is best to start with a visit to the capital. Couples of days will never suffice to see at least a small part of the sights, Montmartre , Champs Elysees , etc., but since most often there is no alternative, it is better to mobilize and make an optimal route in advance, using tourist maps and guidebooks.
And already from Paris you can move further - to the chateaux of the Loire. Start better with the city of Blois, where there are several particularly interesting. You can get to the city by train from the Austerlitz train station, buying tickets at the ticket office and in a special machine located nearby. On the spot for faster and more comfortable transportation is better to rent a car.
By the way, most experienced tourists recommend visiting the castles of the Loire in winter. Due to the peculiarities of the geographical situation, it is quite warm and green here at this time of the year, and most importantly, there are no huge crowds of tourists who can negate all attempts to get aesthetic pleasure from architectural monuments.
Traveling around the chateaux of the Loire - where to start?
We bring to your attention a brief overview of the most, in our opinion, interesting and noteworthy castles of the valley.
Castles of the Loire: Chenonceau
At the sight of this grand structure on the water is breathtaking. This is the second most visited tourist destination in the country after Versailles and certainly the most "main" castle of the Loire, in the history of which the famous women - Catherine Bricone, Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, Louise Dupin, took part. Inside the castle are stunning interiors and a unique collection of paintings, will not leave anyone indifferent and the adjacent garden area.
Castles of the Loire: Amboise
It was built by Charles VII in 1492 and was a place where history was literally created: it was here that the verdict was made, which granted Huguenots certain religious freedoms. During the revolution, the castle was badly damaged and was only partially restored.
Castles of the Loire: Chaumont
The castle was first built in the 10th century, but after that it was repeatedly dismantled and rebuilt due to political debates. Only in 1510 he acquired a face that is as close to modern as possible, combining the medieval rigor and lightness and elegance of the Renaissance.
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