The Loire Valley is a fabulous place. Dozens of castles and palaces of the Middle Ages and Renaissance are located on its expanses. Once here, in a picturesque place among stone buildings, blooming gardens and vineyards, you seem to be transported several centuries into the past.
There are a lot of castles, and they are quite far from each other. Therefore, if you don’t have much time left, you should pay attention to the most famous, for example, Chenonceau, Blois, Chambord, Amboise, Chaumont‑sur‑Loire, Saumur or Cheverny. All of them are open to the public.
Part of the vast Loire Valley from Sully‑sur‑Loire to Chalons, representing the most significant cultural value, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How to get. It takes about 3 hours by car from Paris to the valley. You can also get there by train from Austerlitz Station. You need to get off at Blois station, and from there you can take a circular bus to several castles.
But it is still more convenient to travel by a rented car: you choose which places you want to visit. An equally successful solution is just to take a guided tour.
When to arrive. You can admire the castles of the Loire at any time of the year.