The Loire Valley: The Best Trip from Paris
Is there a better day trip than a valley full of castles just a few hours outside of Paris, France?
A historic valley of hundreds of castles dotted along the Loire River lies just two hours outside of Paris. The three most visited castles are Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, and Royal Château d’Amboise. Give yourself around 2 hours to see each castle and wear comfortable shoes.
Day Trip Itinerary
- Château de Chambord
- Château de Chenonceau
- Royal Château d’Amboise
- Explore the medieval town of Amboise
Getting There
You can take a car, train, or tour from Paris. Many day tours are available on Viator and Trip Advisor. If you take a tour, they usually include wine tasting after visiting Royal Château d’Amboise before departing the valley. A tour will be the easiest and fastest way to get around.
The distance from Paris to Château de Chambord is 100 miles (160 km). The drive from Paris to Château de Chambord takes around 2 hours. There is a direct train route to Chambord. Get off at the Blois-Chambord stop. The train schedule can be found here.
Château de Chambord
The largest Renaissance castle of the Loire Valley, Château de Chambord, was built between 1519 to 1547. Surrounded by a forest, it was originally built by King Francis 1 as a hunting lodge as he only spent 72 days at the castle. The land around the castle is equal to the size of the city of Paris with all 5,440 hectares enclosed by fences. Chambord boasts 440 rooms, 12 staircases, and 335 fireplaces spread over 200,000 sq ft (15, 850 sq meters). Leonardo Da Vinci designed the double helix staircase containing two spiral staircases that intertwined allowing visitors who are ascending and descending at the same time to not see one another. This staircase is Chambord’s most notable feature as well as the overall architecture considered to be one of the finest from the French Renaissance.
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily. Open every day of the year except for January 1st, November 27th, and December 25th.
Admission price: 16 €
Parking: Available for 5 € for an entire day
Know before you go: Want to stay on the castle grounds? The castle has a hotel offering private safaris of the wildlife that roam the grounds, hot air balloon rides, visits to wineries, and an upscale restaurant. More information can be found here.
Château de Chenonceau
“The Ladies Château” was designed and passed down in ownership by women only from the 12th and 13th centuries. Originally a medieval château, it was rebuilt between 1513 to 1517 to its present-day form with only the dungeon remaining from its original structure. Chenonceau is the most visited castle in the Loire Valley and the second most visited in France after the Palace of Versailles. Its idyllic location on the Cher River, formal gardens, art gallery, unique history, and medieval dungeon truly set this castle apart from the rest.
Getting to Chenonceau from Chambord: The fastest way is by car which takes around 55 minutes. A bus or train will take over 3 hours, so consider taking a taxi if you do not have a car.
Hours: Hours change per month. Hours range from 9:00-7:30. Open every day of the year. Seasonal hours can be found here.
Admission price: 15,50 € with free parking
Know before you go: An eatery and wine tasting is offered from mid-March to mid-November. There are also picnic areas beside the moat by the entrance to the castle.
Amboise
The town of Amboise is a charming medieval town that deserves a visit in itself. It is most well-known for Leonardo Da Vinci as this was the place where he spent his last three years till his death in 1519. Leonardo Da Vinci’s house, Château du Clos Lucé, is located just steps away from the towering Château d’ Amboise in the town’s center. Amboise is also home to a third castle, Château Gaillard, inspired by Italian architecture dating back to the Renaissance period. Don’t forget to taste local wines produced in the Loire Valley at one of the wineries.
Royal Château d’Amboise
The Royal Château d’ Amboise was originally built in the 11th century. Its strategic location overlooking the junction of the Loire and Amasse rivers perched high in elevation provided a natural lookout and defense. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle was reconstructed in both Gothic and early Renaissance architecture to serve as a royal residence. The castle was later abandoned for 100 years and part of it was demolished during the French Revolution. Inside the castle, there is a chapel that stands as Da Vinci’s final resting place. Highlights include the royal apartments, formal gardens, and the spectacular views of the Loire River and Amboise.
Travel time from Chenonceau: A short 16-minute drive. There is a bus available that operates twice a day. Bus information can be found here.
Hours: Summer hours are 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. daily. Hours vary depending on the season. Seasonal hours can be found here.
Admission price: 15,50 €, free parking
Know before you go: In July and August, there is a cafe that is open every day for salads, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks. A self-service machine offering drinks and biscuits is available for the rest of the year.