Plan a trip taking in the Christmas châteaux in the Loire Valley around Orléans that have special Christmas openings and events. They are located to the south west of Orléans, with a couple further away.

I have listed them geographically down the Loire Valley from Orléans, starting with Meung-sur-Loire. The last two châteaux listed here are a little out of the way.  

Château de Meung sur Loire

The small medieval town of Meung-sur-Loire itself is well worth a visit. Combine it with the Christmas château and it makes a great short break. This year over 20 of the rooms are themed specially for Christmas. Lucie Lux, a very special character, takes you on a new 20-minute adventure with le Krizo theatre group, daily at 2.15, 3, 3.45 and 4.30. You can draw or write on the walls of one room;  Santa is waiting to greet you (up to Dec 23), meet Walter the magical speaking robot and let off steam on the bouncy castle.

Château de Meung sur Loire
16 Place du Martroi
45130 Meung-sur-Loire
Tel: +33 (0)2 38 44 36 47
Website
Open: Nov 29-30, Dec 13-14, 20-23, 26-30. 2-6pm
Admission: Adult €12,50, reduced price €11, child 4-15 years €9, under 4 years and over 80 years free.

Chambord Château

Chambord is one of the great châteaux of the Loire Valley. And it is huge with over 400 rooms…and 282 fireplaces. At Christmas it pulls out all the stops (though it doesn’t light all the fires). Decorations are inspired by fairy tales, particularly Hans Christian Andersen commemorating the 150^th anniversary of his death. There’s a brand new grand magic show by Gaël the magician, a festive Christmas village near the château, as well as activities every weekend in December from traditional games to Renaissance dances. Don’t miss the chocolate painting. This is one of the Christmas châteaux in the Loire Valley around Orleans that you should see.

The château and gardens are decorated with Christmas trees, beautifully illuminated. If you can, get a look at the chateau from the canal side to see the yews lit up.

Chambord Château
Chambord
41250 Loir-et-Cher
Tel: +33 (0)2 54 50 40 00
Website
Open: Dec 21 to Jan 4: 9am-6pm
Check the website as the château will be closed on certain Mondays.
Admission: Adult €19.50; reduced price €16.50.

Château de Blois

Blois has one of the best son et lumière shows in France during the summer; at Christmas the mood changes. In 2025, from 28 November, stars will appear as if by magic.
In the paved courtyard of the château, a moon and stars shine on each façade; in the gardens, Under the Cloud offers more coloured lights.

Inside, garlands of lights magically bring the chapel back to life. Finally the highlight of the show: two huge stars, 5 metres high, shine in the immense Salle des États Généraux, illuminating its vaulted blue-midnight ceiling. And there are candlelit concerts, poetic performances and more.

Château de Blois
6 place du Château
Blois
41000 Loire-et-Cher
Tel: +33 (0)2 54 90 33 33
Website
Open: Nov 28-Dec 19: 10am-5pm (closes at 6 p.m. on Fri, Sat, and Sun.
Dec 20-Jan 3, 2026: 10am-7pm (closes at 5pm on Dec 24 & 31)
Closed Dec 25 and Jan 1, 2026
Admission: Adult €14.50; reduced rate €11; child 6-17 years €7.50; under 6 free.

Château de Cheverny

With lavish furniture and décor, Cheverny is a delight, particularly when it’s sumptuously decorated with Christmas decorations. This year the theme is Christmas treats with giant sweets.
Dec 7: Santa Claus arrives…but how remains to be seen. There’s the giving of gifts then a chance for photographs with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their elves. Warm up with mulled wine and the famous Cheverny homemade hot chocolate.

Château de Cheverny
Avenue du Château
Cheverny
41700 Loire-et-Cher
Tel: +33 (0)2 54 79 96 29
Website
Special Christmas Events: Nov 29, 2025 to Jan 18, 2026
Open daily: Oct 1-Dec 31: 10am-5.30pm
Admission: Adult €15; reduced rate €11; under 7 years old free.

Domaine of Chaumont-sur-Loire

The gracious château looking down onto the Loire River is mainly known for its annual garden festival (a bit like Chelsea Flower Show but it lasts much longer). Visit in winter and discover how the family prepared for Christmas Eve in the late 19^th century. Marie-Charlotte-Constance Say, heir to the Say sugar refineries, was the last private owner of the château from 1875 to 1938 and she spent money lavishly. From the stables to the chateau’s rooms, decorations transform the castle, particularly in the salon with its decorated Christmas trees. The feast is being prepared in the kitchens.
Take a guided tour to get a glimpse of some of the smaller, different rooms from the servants’ quarters to the children’s bedroom.  

Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire
Chaumont-sur-Loire
41150 Loire-et-Cher
Tel: +33 (0)2 54 20 99 22
Website
Open: Nov 29-Jan 11, 2026. Daily except Dec 25 and Jan 1: 10am-5.30pm
Admission: Winter Low Season Adult: €16; reduced rate €9; 6 to 11 years old €4.

Château de la Ferté Saint Aubin

Privately owned and lived in continuously for over 350 years, the Château de la Ferté Saint Aubin goes all elvie at Christmas. The first elf, Barnabé, will introduce you to the adventure of exploring the castle. The stables are full of miniature animals; a musician elf practices in Santa’s private apartments; there’s a toy attic, a DIY workshop and kitchens where the gourmet elf will offer you his famous honey madeleines and a hot chocolate. And you end by meeting Santa.

Château de la Ferté Saint Aubin
2-4 rue Général Leclerc
La Ferté-Saint-Aubin
45240 Loiret
Tel: +33 (0)2 38 76 52 72
Website
Open: Dec 6-7, 13-14, 20-23 & 26-30 2pm-6pm
Admission: Adult €16; reduced rate (12-20 years old); €14 Child (4-11 years old) €1; under 3 years free

Château de la Bussière

Christmas fairy tales transform every room with decorations on the theme of the best stories of our childhood. Walk through enchanted villages, forests made out of paper and rooms fit for a princess. Taking place from Dec 6, 2025 to Jan 3, 2026, there are special days with interactive events called Spectacle de magie de Noël (Dec 6, 7, 13, 14, 23, 26 & 30), and from Dec 27 to 29, actors take over as they bring to life the story of Cosette (episode 4) in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.

Château de la Bussière
35 Rue du Château
La Bussière
45230 Loiret
Tel +33 (0)9 50 55 63 68
Website
Open: Dec 6-7, 13-14, 20-23 & 26-30, Jan 2-3, 2026: 2pm-6pm
Admission: Adult €10, reduced rate €7.50, 4-15 years €5
Château and spectacle: Adult €13, reduced rate €10.50, 4-15 years €9

Discover the Château de la Bussière on the drive down the Loire Valley between Nevers and Orleans.

Château de Maintenon

The château de Maintenon was the glorious home of Madame de Maintenon, the secret wife of France’s Sun King, Louis XIV. For Christmas the château takes you back to the past, but a past rather more recent…the 19^th century. The year is 1843 and the glorious celebration is…A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Expect Victorian decorations, songs, a workshop and a lot more.
Their programme takes in talks about the story, carols, a workshop making Christmas crowns, Christmas cards and more. It starts with Father Christmas himself on December 7, with horse and carriage rides, a walk with singers and fireworks.

Château de Maintenon
2 Place Aristide Briand
Maintenon
28130 Eure-et-Loir
Tel: +33 (0)2 37 23 00 09
Website:
Open: Dec 6-Jan 4, 2026 : Tues-Fri 2-6.30pm; Sat-Sun 10.30am-6.30pm
Admission: Adult €8.50; reduced rate €4.50, 7 to 18 years €4.

More about Christmas in France

Christmas in Touraine in the Loire Valley Chateaux

Christmas in France

December Events in France
Best Christmas Markets in France
Best Christmas Markets in North France (plus where to stay in each town)
How the French celebrate Christmas
Festive Christmas Food in France

More about the Loire Valley

Drive the whole way along the Loire Valley from Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne to St. Nazaire where the mighty river empties into the sea
The Great Rivers of France

Geography of France

Departments of France
Regions of France

The post Christmas Châteaux in the Loire Valley around Orléans appeared first on Mary Anne's France.

Visit a Christmas château in Touraine in France this year and what might you see? A magnificent stately palace lit up; trees decorated inside and out; costumed creatures taking you on a historic journey – let the imagination take over!

I become a child again at Christmas, believing everything I am told (well for a little while), hoping everything will be wonderful. It doesn’t last the January chill but hey ho, I enjoy it while I can.

So Christmas at the château. Which château? Seven have dusted themselves down, brought out the decorations and occasionally gone right over the top. The châteaux taking part are Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Langeais, Loches and Villandry. It’s called Noël au Pays des Châteaux (Christmas in the land of castles).

Their Christmas special displays and events run from Saturday 29 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.

See below for details on special deals, prices etc. for the Touraine châteaux.

Christmas Châteaux in Touraine in the Loire Valley

No surprises that the Christmas extravaganzas take place in the Loire Valley and particularly in Touraine. This lovely stretch of river is the place where the Kings and Queens of France and their illustrious courtiers, mistresses and favourites, built their grand castles, strung along the river like a necklace of pearls.

You might wonder what a Renaissance Christmas was like for children. You’ll discover that here in the Loire Valley.

Amboise Château

In 2025 the forest comes into the castle. Glorious trees decked with fantastical decorations fill the rooms. Even the names conjure up fairy tales: The Tree of Dreams and Fantasies, the Tree of the Fearless Knight, the Forest Prince of the Dark Night, the Tree that Wanted to be King and more.

Events are planned, such as on Dec 26 and 29, a special walk through the castle, entirely illuminated by thousands of candles. Magic!

Azay-le-Rideau Château

Gourmandises au royaume des contes (Delicacies in the fairy tale kingdom) celebrates just that – food and fairy tales. Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and more are dreamt up in glorious exhibits that fill the tables in the rooms of entrancing Azay-le-Rideau.

Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau sits astride the river; its long gallery windows reflected in the waters below. It was a recreation by Catherine de’ Medici of her beloved Florence where the Ponte Vecchio connected the Medici galleries with the Palazzo Vecchio and never fails to charm.
She let her famous beloved birds from her aviary fly free inside the long gallery with its black-and-white-draughtboard floor. was where she let her birds from her aviary fly free.
Christmas sees the château transformed with festive art. Check the website for special events.

Chinon Château. La Fortresse Royale

Treasures of Christmas takes you back to childhood and the toys, games and pastimes you enjoyed. Once you’re past the guardian dragon, find the treasures, all surrounded by golden light. La Tour de l’Horloge has a photographic exhibition, Gold in your hands, illustrating the Touraine artisans who work at gilding and use gold leaf. On Dec 28, discover the Chinon at night.

Château de Langeais

The medieval Château de Langeais was lit by candlelight and lanterns. A light display features candles and lanterns as well as fairy lights, creating spectacular lighting effects. The rooms are specially lit, showing up the superb furniture, tapestries and more and illustrating the time when only the rich could afford to light their castles; the poor lived in semi darkness.

The Château of Loches: Royal City of Loches

The Château of Loches (known as the Royal City of Loches) is a huge defensive building on a rocky spur overlooking the Indre river. At one end stands a mighty keep, at the other, the château which this Christmas reinvents myths and legends. Like all the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, it mixes magic and fear, though it’s probably the parents who will feel the fear as you walk through the treasures.

Villandry Château

Villandry’s theme fits perfectly: At Christmas, nature comes into the château. Villandry is known for its gardens, so their Christmas show brings all the glories of nature inside. Walk past crackling fires, Christmas trees are bedecked with all kinds of baubles; reindeer, fawns, owls, squirrels and foxes fill the main rooms; there are plant decoration and an enchanted forest.
Special papier mâché works, inspired by the gardens and created by artist Véronique Chauvet will fill the dining room and library.
Look out of the windows onto the winter gardens with mosaics of ornamental cabbages and leeks, box tree lacework, yew tree topiary, and long avenues of sleepy lime trees.

The Touraine Tourist Offices have special rates to visit the thre chateaux of Azay le Rideau, Chinon and Villandry
3-château pass: Adult from €33
The pass also gives you discounts at shops, and tour companies.

You can buy the pass at the Touraine tourist offices or on line here.

Information on France

Departments of France
Regions of France

Christmas in France

December Events in France
Best Christmas Markets in France
Best Christmas Markets in North France (plus where to stay in each town)
How the French celebrate Christmas
Festive Christmas Food in France

More about the Loire Valley

Drive the whole way along the Loire Valley from Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne to St. Nazaire where the mighty river empties into the sea
The Great Rivers of France

The post Christmas Châteaux in Touraine in the Loire Valley appeared first on Mary Anne's France.

Loire Valley towns and cities offer so much. You’ll discover stately cathedrals and churches, unusual attractions, good hotels and accommodation of all kinds. The Loire Valley is known as the ‘Garden of France’ so you know there’ll be plenty of great restaurants and bistros, not to mention the Loire Valley wines.

Updated June 16, 2026

And of course, in the UNESCO World Heritage section of the Loire Valley, the glorious châteaux for which the Loire Valley is famous are all worth a visit.

When you hear about the Loire River, you think of the Loire Valley in central France. But the river stretches so much further than this short but fabulous section.

I have taken a few liberties here and have called the whole Loire river the Loire Valley because I wanted to include the first major town the river goes through which is very close to my house in the Auvergne. I love discovering different river sources. Last year I went to the source of the Allier and the Loire. This year if it’s possible, I plan to visit the source of the Dordogne, the Tarn and the Lot. Visiting the source of a river adds to its fascination. You’ve seen where it is born born and for me it makes me determined to follow it to its final destination into the ocean. So please bear with my slight deception here.

This article takes in nine towns on the course of the Loire river from east to west. You’ll be familiar with some of the towns, but I hope others will inspire you to visit.

The main Loire Valley towns start with Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne where the river is modest. Then it goes through Nevers, Orléans, Blois, Tours, Saumur, Angers, Nantes and St-Nazaire where the Loire finishes its journey to the sea.

Le-Puy-en-Velay

Le Puy-en-Velay, the first of the Loire Valley towns and cities, is very near my house in France so I am particularly fond of this strange place. You can’t miss its main features as you approach. The religious statues and buildings sit on volcanic pinnacles that rise up from the streets and give the town a theatricality out of all proportion to its fame.

Three Landmarks

Climb 134 steps up a steep pedestrianized hill past lace shops, small restaurants and cafés to reach the Cathédral Notre-Dame. Just be thankful we’ve moved on from the Middle Ages when pilgrims went up the slope on their knees.

Just next to it the Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe stands on an impossibly sharp pinnacle. It’s a much stepper climb up 268 steps. But it’s worth it for the fabulous view over the town and the surrounding hills.

The red terracotta statue of Notre-Dame de France is something different. It was built in 1860 from 213 canons seized from the Russians by the French at the siege of Sebastapol in 1855 during the Crimean War.

Don’t miss Le Puy’s magical illuminations in the summer and at Christmas. And if you’re here in the third week in September, you’ll catch the great Renaissance festival, the Fête du Roi de l’Oiseau.

Le Puy is the start of one of the most popular, and best organized pilgrim routes to St James of Compostela in Spain.

Le Puy-en-Velay is the capital of the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne, a superb dramatic region of France and it’s very little known. Well worth a visit!

Where to Stay in Le Puy

In Le Puy
Le Bristol is a delightful, old-fashioned hotel in the centre of town with a good restaurant.

Outside Le Puy

For the best value, simple décor, superb views and a meal fit for a king (or a hungry pilgrim), book at La Grangette. This bed and breakfast just beyond St Pryvat d’Allier is a delight and if you’re walking and without transport, the welcoming owners will pick you up in the evening and drop you off the next day at a nearby village.
I have to confess: the owners are friends of mine. But it’s not just me who recommends La Grangette; many of the guests return again and again.

Le Puy-en-Velay Tourist Office

How to get to Le Puy-en-Velay from Paris

By train: There are several routes by train from Paris to Le-Puy-en-Velay. All of them involve changes.

Via Lyon: TGV trains leave from Gare de Lyon taking 1 hr 57mins to Lyon Part Dieu. The connecting train from Lyon to Le-Puy-en-Velay takes around 2 hrs. Total journey time around 4 hrs 30 mins.

Via St Etienne: Trains leave Gare de Lyon taking from 2hrs 54 mins to get to St Etienne Chateaucreux. The connecting train from St Etienne to Le-Puy-en-Velay takes around 1 hr 30 mins. Total journey time around 5hrs 50 mins.

Via Clermont-Ferrand: Intercity trains leave from Paris Bercy Station taking from 3 hours 28 mins. At Clermont Ferrand you have to change onto a TER express train to St Georges D’Aurac, taking around 1 hr 15 mins.
At St Georges d’Aurac you have to change again onto a local train taking around 50 minutes to Le Puy-en-Velay. Total journey time 5 hr 54 mins. This is the most scenic route but you need time and patience.

By car: Le Puy-en-Velay is 543 kilometers (338 miles) from Paris and takes around 5 hrs 30 mins.

Nevers in Burgundy

Nevers is a strange mix of a city located where the Loire and the Nièvre rivers meet in Burgundy. Since the 17^th century it’s been famous for its faïence but it’s also a city tied to Bernadette of Lourdes, the saint born in 1844. There’s a concrete modern church dedicated to her, but of greater interest is the Espace Bernadette. Located in the convent of St-Gildard where the saint died, it tells the story of her life. Nevers isn’t one of the Great Sacred Sites of France but pilgrims come to see her small, embalmed body in its glass-fronted shrine.

Nevers is part of a collection of Villes Sanctuaires, or Sanctuary Towns. It’s also the capital of the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

Start with the glorious Cathedral of St-Cyr. Built from the 12^th to 16^th centuries with Romanesque and Gothic features, it’s also known for its amazing gargoyles.  

The Musée de la Faïence et des Beaux Arts in the restored Abbaye de Notre Dame shows world-famous pieces from the 16^th to the 20^th centuries. Excellent multimedia presentations take you further into the art.

The hugely enjoyable Loire à Vélo route starts just west of Nevers.

Where to Stay in Nevers

The Hôtel de Clèves is a good comfortable choice in the centre of town. It has smart, simple rooms, a friendly welcome and good value prices.

If you fancy a more luxurious bed and breakfast, try the pretty Chateau de Prye. The 18^th-century building is set in the countryside east of Nevers in a fabulous park.

Nevers Tourist Website is run by Burgundy Tourism.

How to get to Nevers from Paris

By train: Intercite trains from Paris Bercy direct to Nevers take 1 hr 56 mins.
TER trains take from 2hs 32 mins.

By car: Nevers is 242 kms (150miles) from Paris and takes around 2 hrs 45 mins.

Orléans

Orléans is one of the major Loire valley towns and cities. It’s a popular starting point for trips around the Loire Valley but it’s a delightful city in its own right and worth a stay. Gracious 18^th– and 19^th-century streets are lined with neo-classical buildings and galleried arcades. It’s a green town with plenty of gardens and the Parc Floral de la Source du Loiret just outside the centre is well worth a visit, particularly in the heat of the summer.  

Think of Orléans and you think of Joan of Arc. During the Hundred Years War (1339-1453) she led the French troops who forced the English to abandon their Siege of Orléans on May 8, 1429. References to the liberation of the city by Joan are seen all over the town, in her statue and in the stained glass windows in the cathedral.

Don’t miss: The Cathedral Sainte-Croix, the Musée des Beaux Arts with its excellent art collection including beautiful 18^th-century pastels, and 20^th-century masters like Picasso, Gauguin and the sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska who was born just outside the city.
The excellent son et lumière nightly show takes place from May to September.

Here’s a detailed Guide to Orléans including places to stay.

How to get to Orléans from Paris

By train: Intercity trains from Gare d’Austerlitz to Orléans take from 1hr 12 mins.

By car: Orléans is 132 kms (82 miles) from Paris and takes around 1 hr 40 mins.

Drive the Loire Valley between Orléans and Blois

If you are driving around the Loire Valley take the Orléans to Blois route which has some glorious châteaux to visit. You may know Chambord but have you visited Beauregard? The Jardins de Roqeuelin are not to be missed and there’s a great Sunday market in the charming riverside town of Meung-sur-Loire.

Blois

The huge Château de Blois dominates this bustling Loire Valley town. It’s right in the centre, surrounded by winding streets that are lined with old houses, cafés, shops and restaurants. Built over four centuries, the château is an extraordinary mix of styles.

It was the grand home of seven kings and ten queens, place of royal intrigue, the scene of the death of the infamous Duc de Guise…You’ll discover more on a trip through the château which was built as an urban palace.

Do book for the summer evening son et lumière (sound and light show). As the sun sets and the shadows gather, the story of the château comes alive. Scenes flicker around the walls, music, the sound of carriages and horses, speeches and more echo in the enclosed courtyard. It’s really ripping good yarn stuff!

There’s also the strange but fascinating House of Magic (Maison de la Magie), full of odd automata and clocks. You can’t miss it. Opposite the château a show takes place on the outside of the house every half hour in summer.

The old town is lovely to wander through. Pick up any of the four maps from the tourist office for walks taking you on trails over the river, to sections of Renaissance town houses, old streets around the château and the churches and abbeys of Blois.

Where to Stay in Blois

The Hôtel Anne de Bretagne is in the centre of town in a leafy square. Simple but pretty, light-filled rooms and a good breakfast in the garden in summer make this a favorite.

If you’re after a chic bed and breakfast, try La Maison de Thomas. It’s in a pedestrianized street and has just 5 rooms. The décor is stylish; the welcome friendly. There’s a good breakfast served in a pretty room and they are well geared up for cyclists.

Blois Tourist Office

How to get to Blois from Paris

By train: Intercity trains from Paris Gare d’Austerlitz to Gare de Blois Chambord take from 1 hr 26 mins.

By car: Blois is around 185km (115 miles) from Paris and the journey takes from 2hrs 10 mins.

Drive the Loire Valley between Blois and Tours

The Loire Valley drive from Blois to Tours takes in more treasures. Two glorious châteaux used as pawns in a power game between a Queen and a Mistress; Leonardo da Vinci’s last home and some wonderful gardens are in store.

Tours

Tours is a big city, located where the Loire and Cher rivers meet in the Val-de-Loire department. Less well known to visitors than other Loire Valley towns and cities, it makes a good base for visiting the châteaux and attractions of the western Loire. 

In the Middle Ages, Tours was an important centre for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It was a starting point for French pilgrims and for others coming from Boulogne, Tournai and the Low Countries who met up here to begin the long walk.

The lovely old town clusters around two different quarters. Around place Plumereau – a lively meeting place full of cafés and bars, the winding streets are lined with old houses, many of them half-timbered. There’s also a Romanesque basilica and cloisters to visit.

The cathedral quarter makes up the second historic area. The Cathédrale St-Gatien is a flamboyant Gothic building dating from the 12^th century. Inside highlights include the 16^th-century tomb of Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne’s two infant children and some stunning stained glass.

There’s a market here every day except on Mondays. Check out the annual markets which include the Foire de Tours (first weekend in May usually but in 2021 Jul 2-11), the Garlic and Basil Fair (July), a huge flea market (first Sunday of September) and a Christmas market (three weeks before Christmas).

Where to Stay in Tours

In Tours: The 2-star Hotel du Manoir is an old-fashioned, comfortable hotel between the cathedral and train station. The 19^th-century townhouse has 20 individually decorated rooms and offers an excellent breakfast in the vaulted cellar.

Outside Tours: You’re in the Loire valley so why not go posh? The Château de Beauvois fits the bill perfectly. In Luynes, just 15kms/9.3 miles from Tours, it’s a peaceful, grand place. It is pricey but worth it if you want to splash out.

Tours Tourist Office

How to get to Tours from Paris

By train: TGV trains from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Tours take from 1 hr 20 mins.

By car: Tours is around 238km (148 miles) from Paris and the journey takes from 2hrs 35 mins.

Saumur

Saumur lies between Chinon and Angers. This Loire Valley town is famous above all for two things: its excellent sparkling wine (you can visit many of the producers), and its military associations.

The Armoured Corps Academy and the French Cavalry Academy are housed in 18^th-century buildings around a dusty square. Once the extensive parade ground, now it’s a car park. The Musée des Blindés is a must for military fans with over 200 armored vehicles from the German Panther to the U.S. M3 Lee Grant. For an expert view on this, check out Mech Traveller’s review.

Horse lovers should visit the National Riding School (Le Cadre Noir) just outside the center where you can see riders training horses for those complicated dressage moves.

The Château de Saumur stands above the town, catching the sun with its fairytale white towers, delicate stone tracery and mullion windows. Built in the second half of the 14^th century by Louis I it was depicted in Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, the 15th-century illuminated manuscript. It houses a museum showing decorative and fine arts from ceramics to those tapestries for which France was so famous.

Saumur Tourist Office

Where to Stay in Saumur

The 18^th-century Château de Beaulieu is just near the banks of the Loire. Built in the 18th century, this grand bed and breakfast has just five bedrooms going from grand to cosy. With a lovely garden and outdoor pool, it’s just 2 kms from the center of town.

Le Londres is a good value and centrally located hotel with an individual approach to its fun decor. Views of the château and a good breakfast make up a very good package.

How to get to Saumur from Paris

By train: TGV trains leave from Paris Montparnasse to Angers St Laud where you have to change onto a TER tain to Saumur. It takes from 2 hrs 44 mins.

By car: Saumur is 321 kms/199 miles from Paris taking from 3hrs 5 mins.

Angers

The capital of the ancient county of Anjou is a wonderful find. Better known to the French than to foreign visitors, Angers has a château and an extraordinary tapestry. And Angers does have a history with England through marriages and wars.  Fifteen Plantagenet monarchs from Anjou ruled England between 1154 and 1485.

The formidable château, more a defensive fortress, was started in 1231. Today it’s relatively intact along its 1-kilometre long wall with its 17 round towers.

But it’s the Tapestry housed inside that will conjure up the horrors of the end of the world. The Apocalypse Tapestry is 100 metres (326 ft) long. The gallery is dimly lit, protecting the fragile dyes of the extraordinary work of art, woven in Paris between 1373 and 1382 for Louis I of Anjou. It displays, in grotesque and often horrifying detail, the last chapter of the New Testament of St. John about the Apocalypse.

Angers Tourist Office

More about the glorious history of tapestries in France from Bayeux (strictly not a tapestry) to today.

Where to Stay in Angers

In Angers: The Hôtel du Mail is a former 17^th-century convent has gone a long way since its spiritual beginnings. A startling red hallway with a winding staircase, bold colour schemes in a classical setting and a delightful leafy courtyard.

Outside Angers: Château de Noirieux in Briollay, Maine-et-Loire is set in 22 acres of lush parkland, just a 30 minute (18km) drive from central Angers. Stay in the beautiful 17th-century château with views over the Loir Valley and rooms decorated with style. Or try the elegant Manor. L’Atillio Briollay Restaurant offers a bistro and a gastronomy menu. There’s a pool, jacuzzi and acres of peace.

How to get to Angers from Paris

By train: TGV trains from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Angers Saint-Laud take from 1 hr 28 mins.

By car: Tours is around 294km (183 miles) from Paris and the journey takes from 3 hrs 03 mins.

Nantes

When you get to Nantes, you can feel the ocean. The city might be on the Loire but it’s an estuary city, living between land and sea, pulling you towards the west coast and the Atlantic. And it celebrates the estuary each year with its summer-long Voyage à Nantes, a trail of public art works that twists its way from Nantes out towards the sea.

It’s also a fabulous and gracious city which has reinvented itself over the last 15 years or so.

Nantes was once the capital of an independent Brittany. It owed its later 18^th-century fame and fortune to the Atlantic trade to America, exporting Africans into slavery from here. There’s a very moving Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in an underground passage near the river.

There’s plenty to see in Nantes, starting with the Château des Ducs. Built in the 15^th century it started its life as a great palace then became a prison. Bluebird was incarcerated here then publicly executed in 1440. I’ll leave the other intriguing prisoners for you to discover on your visit.

Most famously, it’s home to Les Machines de L’Ȋle, an innovative, extraordinary company that makes huge machines in the shapes of carousels, elephants. Most recently they have built the Dragon of Calais.

There are lovely old parts, well worth wandering through before sitting in a pavement café watching the world go by. The former industrial part has been mightily spruced up, and don’t miss a trip along the estuary itself.

Where to Stay in Nantes

The 4-star La Pérouse Hotel is chic and contemporary. Light and airy with pastel shades and a very good use of pale woods on the floors and walls, its 1930s furniture fits right into the 46 good sized bedrooms, bar and breakfast room.

L’Hôtel opposite the château is another hotel that has gone for the contemporary look and does it very well. Its 31 rooms are decent sized (try to book one with a great view); there’s a good breakfast, a small outside area and a warm welcome.

Nantes Tourist Office

How to get to Nantes from Paris

By train: TGV trains from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Nantes take from 2 hrs 55 mins and you have to change at the Gare de Nantes onto a regular train to Haluchère-Batignolles station, Nantes.

By car: Nantes is around 385km (240miles) and the journey takes from 3hrs 30 mins.

Saint-Nazaire – The Last of the Loire Valley Towns

Saint-Nazaire is an industrial city with one of the biggest shipyards in the world. The Chantiers de l’Atlantique has built superliners from SS Normandie to RMS Queen Mary 2 and MS Symphony of the Seas, the largest passenger cruise ship in the world. Try to visit it; the sheer scale of what they do is pretty impressive.

Most of the attractions in Saint-Nazaire are industrial such as the Wind Turbine Museum, the submarine Espadon, and Airbus.

Saint-Nazaire is in the Loire-Atlantique department of Brittany.

Saint-Nazaire Tourist Office

Where to Stay in Saint-Nazaire

The top luxury hotels in Saint-Nazaire are away from the industrial centre at La Baule-Escoublac. Try the Hôtel Le Castel Marie-Louise, a Barrières group and Relais & Châteaux Hotel with a Michelin star restaurant and all the luxury a 5-star hotel offers.

If you’re on a more modest budget and want to stay near the sea and visit Saint-Nazaire for the day, try Le Manoir des Quatre Saisons at La Turballe on the sea. It’s a 26 kms/ miles, 26 minute drive into Saint-Nazaire.

How to get to Saint-Nazaire from Paris

By train: TGV trains from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Saint-Nazaire take from 2 hrs 52 mins.

By car: Nantes is around 438 kms (272 miles) from Paris and the journey takes from 4hrs 21 mins.

More Information

Loire Valley Drive in Sections

From Le Puy-en-Velay to Nevers
From Nevers to Orléans
From Orléans to Blois
From Blois to Tours
From Tours to Saumur
From Saumur to Saint Nazaire and the Atlantic Ocean

French Atlantic Coast

Major Rivers of France

Loire à Velo Route – Where to stay, how to book and attractions to see on this great cycle route

Budget Hotel Chains give you some good options on cheap (and good) accommodation in all parts of France

Departments of France

New Regions of France

The post Loire Valley Towns and Cities appeared first on Mary Anne's France.

Orléans in the Loire Valley has always held a special place in my heart. As a 16-year old I did a school exchange with a family who lived in the centre. They were kindness itself. I went back very often, and I am still in touch with them.

I hope you will enjoy Orléans as much as I do.

Orléans is the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire region and the Loiret department.

It’s perfectly located where the mighty river Loire starts to turn southwest in its journey to the sea. An important city from Roman times on, Orléans in the Loire Valley was always a vital transport hub, the place where those who were travelling from the south, west and eat using the Loire as a highway, left the river and continued to Paris by coach.

It’s just 119 kms/74 miles from the capital. In the 18^th century, Orléans’ position in the Loire valley inevitably helped the city to becoming the leading port supplying Paris. Goods came up the river and were transported on north to satisfy the voracious city of Paris.

The medieval university was a centre of learning, attended by the likes of Erasmus, Rabelais and Calvin.

Where to Start

Walk through the Past

The old town beckons, an area bordering the river Loire where the pedestrianized streets are lined with stone and half-timbered Renaissance houses, reminders of the wealth of this town. In the main square, Place du Martroi, the bronze statue of Joan of Arc stands tall, very tall.

During the Hundred Years War (1339-1453) she led the French troops who forced the English to quit the Siege of Orléans on May 8, 1429. There are plenty of reminders of the Maid of Orléans.

If you’re here at the end of April, beginning of May, catch the Joan of Arc Festival where the whole city goes medieval mad, particularly on May 8^th, officially Joan of Arc Day.

Go underground

For this you’ll need a guide (information and booking at the tourist office). Underneath the streets another Orléans exists. You climb down the steps into a subterranean world from a trapdoor in the Place du Martroi to the Porte Bannier. It’s a city gate built in the Middle Ages in the second wall that protected Orléans. You can also see it in the nearby car park, but it’s infinitely more romantic to walk the underground passage where you also see a 14^th century stone foot bridge and moat.

Must-See Attractions in Orléans

Cathédrale Sainte-Croix

It was here that Joan celebrated beating the English though this is a different cathedral from the one she would have entered in the 15^th century. In 1601 Henri IV celebrated the beginning of the cathedral building, which was completed in 1829. The Gothic façade is lovely. Inside 10 stained glass windows depict Joan of Arc. If you can make it, climb the 252 steps to the top of the cathedral for a panoramic view of the city (€7.50 with a tour of the Romanesque crypt of St Avit).  

A Renaissance Masterpiece

Hôtel Groslot

Jacques Groslot was an important figure; he was the bailiff of Orléans from 1521 to 1545. So he naturally needed a mansion to reflect his status. He succeeded; behind the red-brick façade, this is a magnificent dwelling.
Even the likes of Charles IX, Henry IV, Mary, Queen of Scots (wife of François II), and Catherine de’ Medici must have been impressed by the gilded, sumptuously furnished rooms with their gilded paneling, Aubusson tapestries, moulded ceilings and furniture covered with gold leather.  

Cultural highlights

Musée des Beaux-Arts

The Musée des Beaux-Arts has a superb collection of 18^th century art, including an important series of pastel portraits. There’s more in the form of Flemish and Italian 16^th and 17^th century masterpieces, 20^th century works by the likes of Picasso and Gauguin, and sculptures by Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891-1915) who was born near Orléans.

Hôtel Cabu

Hôtel Cabu is another Renaissance building that now houses a historic and archeological museum. It covers the story of Orléans, but the main exhibit is the Trésor de Neuvy-sur-Sullias. It’s an extraordinary collection of Celtic religious bronze animals and figures, buried in the second half of the third century AD.

Maison Jeanne d’Arc

The house where Joan of Arc stayed in May 1429 gives you a multi-media presentation of what living in the house would have been like in her day.

The Loire River banks

Part of the renovation of the city, this is now an attractive area, full of bars and restaurants. Walk down the Rue de Bourgogne, the Gallo-Roman high street to the river bank.

Where to Stay in Orléans

The 3-star Hôtel de l’Abeille is a popular choice. Traditional décor of luxurious wallpaper, chandeliers in good-sized rooms, plus good bathrooms. Add a terrace and central position just off the main shopping street to see why this a favorite with many.

The 4-star Empreinte Hotel in central Orléans is chic and fun. It stands on the banks of the river, so book a room with a view. There’s a spa, bar; they do brunch and take breakfast on the terrace.

There are plenty of budget accommodation chains in Orléans. Check them out here.

Where to Eat in Orléans

Most of the restaurants are in the Rue de Bourgogne, so wander down and take your pick. Here are some recommendations.

Chez Jules. This cosy restaurant concentrates on regional specialties that changes with the seasons. The place is family run, with brick interiors and intimate atmosphere.
136 Rue de Bourgogne, Tel: +33 (0)2 38 54 30 80 (no website)

Le Lift. Take the glass-fronted life to the top of the huge Pathé cinema beside the Loire for a thoroughly modern experience. Philippe Bardau serves up local and regional foods in a funky atmosphere.
5 Rue Poterne. Tel: +33 (0)2 38 53 63 48

Eugene is tucked away near Place du Martroi and is known to the locals for its excellent regional cooking. This pretty little place offers the likes of guinea fowl with spices and plenty of fish dishes. Chef Alain Gérard comes from Brittany and it shows.
24, Rue Sainte Anne. Tel: +33 (0) 2 38 53 82 64

How to get to Orléans

Paris to Orléans by Train

Direct Intercity trains run from Paris to Orléans, leaving from Gare d’Austerlitz, 55 quai d’Austerlitz, Paris 13. There are frequent trains taking from 1hr 10 mins.

Paris to Orléans by Car

If you’re coming from the UK, check out Getting to France from the UK by ferry.
Calais to Orléans is 416 kms/258 miles and takes around 4 hrs 10 mins, going through Paris.
If you’re coming from Paris it’s 133 km/82 miles to Orléans, and the journey takes around 1 hr 40 mins depending on your speed. There are tolls on the Autoroutes.

Orléans Tourist Office

Outside Central Orléans in the Loire Valley

The Parc Floral de la Source du Loiret

The Loiret river starts within this 30-hectare Parc Floral, surrounded by an iris, rose, rock, vegetable, dahlia garden and many more. It’s a delightful place for families, particularly in the summer with an animal park, butterfly house and childrens adventure playground.

Loire à Vélo

Orléans is at the heart of the Loire Valley Cycle Route. The famous Loire à Vélo cycle route is 900 kms/560miles long. It runs from Cuffy in the Cher along the Loire, through Orléans to the Atlantic coast just outside Nantes.

Orléans is perfectly placed for visits to the châteaux that run beside the river. Many of them can be reached by public transport. Check the routes and how to travel to them at the tourist office.

More about the Loire Valley

Loire Valley Towns and Cities

Loire Valley Drive from Nevers to Orléans

Loire Valley Drive from Orléans to Blois

Loire Valley Drive from Blois to Tours

The post Travel Guide to Orléans in the Loire Valley appeared first on Mary Anne's France.

France celebrates the great Leonardo da Vinci and the French Renaissance throughout 2019 at the Viva Leonardo Festival. Leonardo died 500 years ago at the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise. In a fitting tribute, the glorious towns, châteaux, museums, abbeys and more along the Loire Valley show us how the French Renaissance was born. Viva Leonardo lasts for most of 2019. Here are some of the main events for Viva Leonardo.

The Loire Valley Châteaux

The châteaux of the French Renaissance sit like pearls in a necklace along the banks of the river Loire, the longest river that rises in France and empties into the sea on the French Atlantic coast. It was here in what is now the Central-Val de Loire region that artists, architects and gardeners arrived from Italy in the 16^th century. Their Italian ideas melded with French cultural sensibilities and the French Renaissance became a movement independent from Italy.

An Intellectual Renaissance

It was the Kings of France, particularly Charles VIII and Francis I who inspired the movement. Humanism took over. Jean Calvin, Erasmus, Guillaume Budé (who founded the Collège de France and the library at Fontainebleau which became the Bibliothèque Nationale) all worked at the University of Orleans.

Renaissance Architecture

The Renaissance style produced the châteaux of Chenonceau in 1514 and the Francis I wing of the Royal Château de Blois in 1515; Chambord in 1519, Azay-le-Rideau in 1518, and Valençay in 1520. Today a tour of the Loire Valley offers a glorious romp through this beautiful architecture.

The Arrival of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci arrived in the Loire Valley in 1516. Invited by King France I, he was 64 years old. The King gave him the Château de Cloux (which became the Château du Clos Lucé), near the King’s summer Château of Amboise plus a princely pension.

He arrived with some of his greatest art works: the Mona Lisa, Saint John the Baptist (which he finished in France), and The Virgin, Jesus and Saint Anne. Also in his massive luggage train were his notebooks and manuscripts…a lifetime of his observations.

A Hero’s Welcome

Both King Francis I and his mother Louise of Savoy greeted Leonardo with a suitably princely welcome. The King, whose admiration of Leonardo was such that he called him ‘my father’, conferred the official title of “First painter, engineer and architect of the King” on him.

Leonardo in France

In France Leonardo concentrated on scientific studies, his treatise on painting and the Visions of the End of the World series where he envisaged cosmic forces to be huge swirling cloud formations as the world of elements splits asunder. On a lighter note, he organised magnificent royal parties, complete with set designs, decorations, automatons and sound and light effects.

The Death of Leonardo da Vinci

He died on May 2, 1519, aged 67 and was buried in the collegiate church in the Château Royal d’Amboise. The church was destroyed in 1808 and his tomb transferred to the Chapel of Saint-Hubert in the Amboise Château.

What you must try to see…

…The Loire Valley Châteaux

The royal Château at Amboise, which became the official summer residence of the Kings and Queens of France in the 15^th and 16 centuries, stands looking majestically over the Loire. Leonardo da Vinci is buried here and there’s a special exhibition from 2 May to 2 September on the friendship between Francis I and Leonardo.

The Château du Clos Lucé is relatively modest, but well worth seeing. And don’t miss the gardens which are not only beautiful but are full of reproductions of some of his scientific inventions. The exhibition Leonardo da Vinci, his students, the Last Supper and Francis I runs from 6 June to 8 September.  It’s a good chance to see the restored tapestry of The Last Supper based on Leonardo’s mural, which normally hangs on the walls of the Vatican in Rome.

The vast Château de Chambord stands in what was one of France’s great hunting parks. It was, and still is, a masterpiece, designed to impress the royal and imperial visitors invited by Francis I.
From 26 May to 1 September Utopia at work explores the château’s architecture and Leonardo da Vinci’s involvement in the original plans. It also incorporates ideas by contemporary architects of what a modern-day Chambord might look like.

Dominating the delightful city of Blois, the Château de Blois is superb. Don’t miss the gardens and book a ticket for the stunning sound and light show. The Children of the Renaissance exhibition takes on the theme of childhood from the late 15^th to the early 17^th century. 18 May-1 September.

One of my favorite châteaux, Chaumont-sur-Loire is a must for garden fans for its summer and autumn long international garden show. Chaumont’s theme for 2019 is the bedroom of Queen Catherine de’ Medici. Look at everyday items the Queen would have used and marvel at the tapestries she went to sleep looking at.

One of my favorites, Azay le Rideau, definitely has fairy tale quality. Its stately white walls and towers are reflected in the still waters of the surrounding moat. The beautiful rooms inside are full of equally stately furniture, and some extraordinary moving models.

Events and Festivals

There is so much going on throughout 2019 that it’s best to check the official Viva Leonardo website. There are one-off concerts, changing exhibitions, street parties and of course the odd gastronomy event. Here are just a few of them.
On 2 May, Amboise commemorates the death of Leonardo da Vinci with a day of activities.
On 2 May there’s a day of discovering the perfumes and cosmetics of the Renaissance at Candes-Saint-Martin near Saumur.
On 11 May there’s a special organ recital in the Abbey of Beaugency. Cheverny celebrates the hat on 19 May.
From 28 June to 13 July, Chambord presents its annual Festival, celebrating Italy and Utopia. Plenty of Renaissance music to listen and dream to.

From 20 June to 23 July, the group Doulce Mémoire puts on performances mixing music, singing and dancing in magnificent Renaissance costumes at Amboise. If you miss this one, don’t worry. The group are performing all over the Loire Valley throughout the summer.

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