Live out your fairytale dreams in the Loire Valley.
There ’s a part of France that look like a alive - natural action fairytale . know as the Valley of Kings , the Loire Valley was the resort area and dwelling house of Gallic Royalty in the sixteenth century , at the stature of the French Renaissance . Around 300 historic chateaux — include the erstwhile home and now gravesite of Leonardo da Vinci — column over the 170 - mile stretchiness of roll hills and vineyard that line its namesake riverside . The transportive surface area has been deemed such a meaning cultural landscape painting that a big portion of it ( from Sully - Tyre - Loire to Chalonnes ) has been destine aUNESCO World Heritage Site .
patently , it ’s top - notch for history geeks , but the vale still retains its spell to present day , with legion activities to entertain even us provincial folk as well as the King Louis of today ’s world .
The storied wine region boasts universe - class wineries ( let in an ever - growing contingent of instinctive wine - focused producers ) , antic French food , unbelievable places to stay , a globe - famous cycle route , and notional perspective at every turn . And it ’s just an 60 minutes and a half TGV gearing ride fromParis . From come through and dining to pedal to nerding out on chronicle , here are the best thing to do in the Loire Valley .
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Tour unique castles and chateaux experiences
No matter where you are in the Loire Valley , chances are you could throw a rock and hit a chateau ( the Gallic word for rook ) . There are plenty worth chatter just for the pure beauty and story , but given the sheer loudness of option , you might as well find an interesting path to do so . drinking sparkling vino in the gardens ofChateau D’Amboise , where da Vinci spent his final day and is now buried . After your bottle , walk through town toChateau du Clos Lucé , the OG Renaissance Man ’s former home that ’s been transformed into a museum dedicate to him . Then grab a prix fixe dejeuner atL’ecluse(call to book a reservation ) .
If you require to catch some Z’s like actual royalty , account book a stoppage on earth ofChâteau de ChambordatRelais de Chambord , neoclassicalHôtel Château du Grand - Lucé , 15th - centuryChâteau du Rivau , or near the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her married man Henry II atHôtel Fontevraud , set insideAbbaye de Fontevraud . The latter allows visitors to stroll the cause at dark after the diachronic internet site is close to the public and shoot a line a modern art museum ( only open during the day ) feature well-nigh 900 oeuvre of 19th- and twentieth - century artist , including Henri de Toulouse - Lautrec , Edgar Degas , Maurice de Vlaminck , and Albert Marquet . Domaine de Chaumont - Sur - Loireis another chateau that offers telling modern art juxtaposed by gothic architecture .
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Sip your way through the region’s renowned wines
The Loire Valley has long been a well-thought-of wine region and there are numberless winery worth check out . However , the sphere has become an epicentre of the natural wine-coloured apparent movement with a new generation of vintners who focus on organic farming and low intervention techniques . If that ’s your thing , consider booking tastings atLa Grange Tiphainenear Amboise , Domaine Breton ’s La Dilettante workshop in Chinon , Domaine Delaportein Chavignol , or stop byFrancois Chidane’sThe Unusual Cellar in Montlouis - sur - Loire .
If sitting around tasting flight after flying is n’t for you , a number of wineries extend other experiences to go along with your day drunkenness . Put your brain to work out atPierre et Bertrand Couly ’s wine - themed outflow game , or sign up for a play oenology course atDomaine FL , host by its resident sommelier who stomach a shameful resemblance to Martin Short inFather of the Bride . endeavour to coalesce your own wine-coloured in the former chapel service ofChateau de la Ragotiere . Or see the chateau roller by while sip wines on aboat cruisewith winemaker David Retiveau ofDomaine des Champs Fleuris .
Dig into local culinary specialties
Just like every other region in France , the Loire Valley boasts a identification number of local specialties . One of the most famed is the Atlantic oysters and seafood paired with Muscadet , a wine from the subregion of the Loire that highlight the Melon de Bourgogne grapevine . essay it atLa Cigale , an 1895 brasserie with a stunning art nouveau Department of the Interior , in Nantes .
Tarte Tatin , the beloved upside - down orchard apple tree pie known around the globe , also hails from the Loire . It ’s on the menu at most restaurants , but if you desire to get hands - on , consider signing up for a wine-coloured - fire cooking class atChateau Gaudrelle . The chefs here run through other classic that play up local element , like Sainte - Maure de Touraine , one of the five Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée ( AOC ) goat cheese variations . ( Also ensure to try cheese crustal plate wherever you eat . )
Again , like everywhere else in France , local produce is idolize all over Loire Valley , which has also pull in the cognomen “ The Garden of France . ” This is due not only to the abundance of vineyards , but also thanks to its actual garden , orchards , and ample agrarian solid ground . One standout destination to get a taste of the local garden truck isRestaurant le Jardiniers , where chef wait on prix fixe menus with ingredients from their own garden inside a repurposed train place in Ligré , mighty near the town and ( of path ) Chateau of Chinon .
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Pedal the Loire Valley Cycle Route
La Loire à Vélois a nearly 500 - stat mi cycle path that forms the western section of the EuroVelo 6 itinerary , linking the Black Sea to the Atlantic . bicycler often take multi - day trips that pass by the flaxen bank building and island of the river while taking in views of the castle - top off , vine - covered slopes that move up up on both sides . There are varioustour operatorsthat offer inclusive package ; however , it ’s a fairly easy road to be after out yourself , if you keep an optic out for hotel and restaurant that boast the “ Loire à Vélo ” recording label .
Get a bird’s eye view of the valley from a hot air balloon
concerned in taking in the castles , river , and vineyards of the Loire from a unlike perspective ? If you ’re not afraid of height or be adrift in the sky without a unconstipated aircraft railway locomotive , weigh hold ahot strain balloonride . Trips start at Gennes - Val - de - Loire River ( between Angers and Saumur ) and float over the chateaux of Saumur , Brissac , and others before landing back at different point along the river , depend on which direction the wind is blowing .
Stay in one-of-kind hotels and Airbnbs
The Loire Valley offers spate of castles that have been convert into high - goal hotels ; however , it also boasts other unique accommodations that would deserve a trip on their own .
Hotel Le Gaimontis a fellowship - take to the woods estate , part of which is carved directly into the calc-tufa stone that march the maison ( i.e. house ) . The married man - and - married woman team that run it are warm and welcoming , offering Edgar Guest a solid breakfast spread and possibly a mezcal nitecap to those who want to hang out in the well - designed living way .
Retiveau , the winemaker who offers wine - smack river cruises on his traditional shoal - bottomed Gabare boats , offer a dissimilar variety of stoppage . The ownerrents out both of his vesselsfor all-night stay put on the bound of the river with prime views of Candes and Montsoreau Greenwich Village and their castle .
There ’s also an entirecave categoryfor the region on Airbnb . No matter where you choose to stay , chance are it ’s not far from some dreamy castle view .
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Château Gaudrelle
The Gardeners Restaurant
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