Loire Valley Chateaux from Paris: The castles of the Loire Valley are the finest examples of France’s Renaissance architecture
Discover outstanding cultural landscapes of great beauty, containing historical towns and villages, architectural monuments, chateaux and fine wines. Around 2 hours away from Paris start your visit in the Loire Valley, known as the Garden of France and noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage in the historic towns. One of the most visited is the impressive castle of Chambord, the largest one of the Valley. Between medieval and renaissance architectural forms, the castle was built to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francois 1er. It became ever since, a retreat for French kings, especially Louis XIV. It was under his auspices that French dramatist, Molière, produced for the first time “Le bourgeois Gentilhomme”. Chambord is not the only great experience in the Loire Valley, we also recommend to visit the castle of Blois, with its charming village and a real example of French architecture between the Middle Age and the 17th century. You can also stop by the castle of Amboise and admire the best panoramas of the Valley. Do not miss the castle of Chenonceau if you wish to disco- ver a unique conception of architecture and décor. Many other castles can be discovered in the region, ask our experts to set a day-tour itinerary