Loire Valley
The Loire Valley, often referred to as the “Garden of France”, is home to some of the most stunning châteaux in Europe. These Renaissance and medieval castles—such as Château de Chambord, Chenonceau, and Amboise—are set against a backdrop of forests, rivers, and landscaped gardens. Many of them offer guided tours, exhibitions and open-air events throughout the year, allowing visitors to explore the lives of kings, queens and artists who shaped France’s cultural legacy. The region’s architectural richness is equally visible in its abbeys, cathedrals, and timber-framed towns like Chinon and Loches.
The Loire Valley also has strong cultural associations with French literature, art and science. Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years at Clos Lucé in Amboise, where you can see models of his inventions and sketches in situ. The area’s towns often hold festivals and open-air concerts in the summer, celebrating everything from classical music and jazz to folk traditions. Tours and Orléans host vibrant events in their historic centres, bringing a contemporary energy to places that also honour their medieval roots.
Food and wine are central to life in the Loire. The region is known for its wide range of wines—crisp Sancerre, sparkling Vouvray, light reds from Chinon—all of which pair beautifully with the local cuisine. Expect dishes featuring river fish like pike and perch, goat’s cheese from Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, and produce drawn from the fertile valley itself. Many châteaux and independent estates offer wine tastings and cellar tours, while weekly markets in towns like Saumur or Blois give a real flavour of everyday life in this part of France.
Highlights of The Loire Valley
Our Favourite Hotels in The Loire Valley
Chateau d’Artigny
This is the former home of François Coty, the famous perfumer and is a grand, Belle Époque mansion which stands in a beautiful estate above the Indre Valley, a short drive south of Tours.
The grand interiors are inspired by the château at Versailles with ornate plaster and woodwork and some magnificent trompe-l’oeil including a stunning domed music room. The 65 bedrooms are elegantly decorated in period style with rich fabrics and plenty of antiques. They are located either in the château itself or in the adjoining Pavillon d’Ariane and Cité des Parfums. There is a large heated outdoor swimming pool, tennis, an impressive new spa in the vaulted cellars and an opulent, wood-panelled bar and restaurant, overlooking the valley.
Chateau de Noirieux
Situated half an hour’s drive to the north of Angers in a pretty countryside location, the Château de Noirieux is a lovingly restored castle and manor house dating back to the 15th century where guests receive a warm welcome.
The 19 elegant and individually furnished bedrooms are located in the castle itself and in the manor house located within the beautifully manicured 19 acres of grounds on the banks of the Loire. A delicious breakfast laden with homemade preserves and breads is served in the glass covered veranda or on the terrace and fine French cuisine is offered in the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant. A heated outdoor swimming pool is available from mid-May to mid-September and other leisure facilities include a tennis court, a maze, walking and biking in the hotel’s grounds.
Relais Chambord
Built by King Francis I in the 16th century, the Château de Chambord is one of the most impressive in the Loire, and this unique property is the only hotel on its private 5,440-hectare estate.
A former stable building, it was carefully converted in 2018 and now offers 54 beautifully-designed rooms, some with spectacular views of the Château next door. There is a bar, a brasserie with views of the Chateau, and a restaurant where Chef Rita Silva prepares exquisite local cuisine with the best Loire ingredients, many from the estate. The NuxeSpa offers a tranquil space with two treatment rooms, steam room, sauna and an outdoor jacuzzi with views of the Château.
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