Last Updated: 8/9/20 | August 9th, 2020
Did you really click on that clickbaity title? Kom igen! I guess these cheesy headlines do work! maybe I ought to title all my messages like Buzzfeed?
Nej, jag skämtar bara. Jag skulle aldrig göra det. Det är hemskt. I just wanted to see what would happen this one time.
But, seriously, let’s talk châteaux (large country houses or castles in France, plural of château). I went to France for my birthday with the goal to finally get our of Paris and explore the famed Loire Valley, with its rolling hills, exquisite wineries, broad rivers, and grandiose castles.
This region of fertile land was the seat of royal power during early French history. Kings, queens, and other royalty built grand palaces here as they cemented their guideline of this important trade region. But, by the middle of the 16th century, the power of the state shifted to Paris as kings spent less time wandering the kingdom and much more time there.
However, loving the region, French royalty still expended considerable money building stunning châteaux. The Loire Valley has over eighty and it would take a lot much more of my limited time to see them all.
But I did manage to check out a bunch (and find out ways to do so on a budget)! here are the highlights:
Chambord
This castle is one of the most popular in the region, thanks to its grandeur, comprehensive façade, elaborate decorations, and large gardens. It was originally built by Francis I in 1519 as a hunting retreat. However, he died in 1547, and the castle remained half built. It fell into disrepair for nearly 80 years until Louis XIV went to in 1639. He purchased it finished based on the original plans. (Note: This is a running theme for a lot of châteaux in the region.)
Entering the castle grounds and seeing this enormous ornate structure elicited an audible “wow” from my mouth. I marveled at the building’s elaborate masonry and spires. The interior’s enormous double-helix staircase inspired by Leonardo da Vinci creates a focal point that draws your attention as you relocation through the house. I loved the symmetry of the large halls and old paintings of royalty.
This place was enormous and took hours to see. There are amazing views from the roof, but my favorite moments were mostly in the gardens, just staring at every inch of this palace.
Tip: I highly recommend the audio tour. It’s given on an iPad that allows you to zoom in on paintings and artifacts, offers an overlay of what the room would have looked in the 17th and 18th centuries (even including images of what it looked like being built), and gives tons of comprehensive information. worth every euro!
How to get there – You can take a 25 minute shuttle or taxi from the nearby city of Bloise.
Villandry
Built into the side of a hill, this château was originally a keep (fortified tower) constructed in the 14th century for King Philip Augustus. When the place was acquired by a local nobleman in the early 16th century, the original keep was preserved, the rest of the structure was razed, and a fortress was erected (with a amazing moat!).
During the French Revolution, the home was confiscated by the state, and in the early 19th century, Emperor Napoleon gave it to his brother, Jérôme Bonaparte. In 1906, the Carvallo family (the current owners) purchased the home and poured an huge amount of time and money into it to make it what it is today.
However, despite the grand exterior of the castle, I found the interior lacking, and I moved through it pretty quickly. other than the ornately decorated first rooms, the interior is very bland (and kind of worth skipping all together).
The main draw of this château is its well-known Renaissance gardens, which include a water garden, ornamental flower gardens, and vegetable gardens, altogether including over 60,000 vegetables and 45,000 bedding plants! These are laid out in formal, geometric patterns separated with low box hedges. It’s a peaceful place to wander and relax, with a stream running through it and numerous spots to sit and contemplate. There’s also an adjacent woods with a few trails that not numerous people wander around, so you have them all to yourself. Overall, the gardens and woods are the best part of this castle, and that’s where your time ought to be spent.
How to get there – There’s a bus from trips on Wednesday and Saturday. If you go any other day of the week, you’ll need a car.
Blois
Since you have to stop in Blois to see Chambord, the town castle makes an easy addition. originally a medieval fortress built in the 9th century, it was taken over by Louis XII in 1498 and transformed into a palace in the Gothic style that was a center of power for centuries. (Fun fact: In 1429, Joan of Arc was blessed here before going to fight the British in Orléans.)
There’s not much left of the medieval fortress. The main part of the castle was built in 1515 by François I in Renaissance style and includes a well-known buttressed circular staircase leading to the private sleeping rooms and ballrooms.
While this castle is small and the exterior less ornate than others in the region, I found the interior to be second to none, with intricately restored rooms, comprehensive information plaques, and spectacular period furniture. Outside, you get sweeping views of the town and river. It was a really beautiful castle.
How to get there – From Paris, you can take a two-hour train. From Tours, it’s about 45 minutes.
Amboise
This was my overall favorite castle. It may not be as ornate or large as the others, but it’s the total package: a fairy-tale-like structure with spectacular interiors, manicured gardens, and spectacular views of the Loire River. Confiscated by the monarchy in the 15th century, it became a favored royal residence and was extensively rebuilt by King Charles VIII (who died here in 1498 after hitting his head on a door (seriously). It was built into a luxurious Renaissance palace by his successors but eventually fell into decline in the second half of the 16th century. It was greatly damaged in the French revolution before being renovated in the 19th century.
That is what I really loved about the palace: the mix of architectural styles. You had the Gothic portion with its vaulted roofs, the Renaissance sleeping chambers and exteriors, and the grandly developed rooms from the 19th century. You can see the mark of history throughout the palace. I also loved the large, winding carriage ramp that descended from the castle into the town and the terraced gardens filled with oak trees. There’s also the church that contains the remains of Leonardo da Vinci! Really, this place is top-notch!
How to get there – You can take a thirty minute train ride from Tours. The castle is a 10 minute walk from the station.
Clos Luce
Built by Hugues d’Amboise in the middle of the 15th century, this château was acquired in 1490 by Charles VIII. There aren’t numerous rooms to explore, but they do keep that Renaissance charm. What makes it well-known was that Leonardo da Vinci lived here from 1516 to 1519. Today, the castle is a testament to him, with marvelously restored rooms and a basement filled with replicas of his well-known inventions.
Additionally, be sure to go outside and look up, as the exterior has tons of Italian influences. The grounds are spectacular and include a restaurant, mill, and several ponds. The comprehensive gardens, complete with geese, streams, and numerous walking trails and places to escape and reflect, were an outstanding addition, and it’s easy to think of Leonardo walking around, searching for inspiration.
How to get there – You can take a thirty minute train ride from Tours. The castle is a 30 minute walk from the station.
Azay le Rideau
Originally built in the 12th century, the castle was burned to the ground in 1418 by Charles VII. It remained in ruins until 1518 when it was rebuilt by a local noble. However, the French king Francis I confiscated the unfinished château in 1535 and gave it to one of his knights as a reward for his service, who then left it half built. The castle’s condition deteriorated through the centuries until, in the 1820s, the new owner undertook comprehensive alteration work to make it the charm it is today.
A lot of the place was (still) under construction when I was there, so not all the rooms were open. The interior was easy and well explained by signs but lacked any ornate furniture, paintings, or fixtures. This place had my favorite exterior, though. I loved the square configuration, with its turrets overlooking the garden; the fact that it’s built on a pond; and the long cobblestone driveway leading in from town. It’s easy to think of royalty trotting down in their carriages to the wrought-iron gates on their way to attend a ball.
How to get there – You can take a thirty minute train ride from Tours. The castle is a 20-minute walk from the station.
Chenonceau
Chenonceau is one of the best-known châteaux in the Loire Valley. It was built in 1514 on the foundations of an old mill. In 1535, it was seized by King Francis I for unpaid debts. then in 1547, Henry II gave it as a gift to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers (now one of the most well-known women in French history). Diane oversaw the planting of comprehensive flower and vegetable gardens. In fact, the gardens are still laid out in her original design.
After Henry died, his widow Catherine de’ Medici (also one of the most well-known women in French history) forced Diane out of the castle and made Chenonceau her residence. (Fun fact: In 1560, the first-ever fireworks display seen in France took place here.) In 1577, she extended the grand gallery across the entire river, making the château what it is today. After she died, the castle bounced around various royalty and their mistresses, was fortunately spared destruction in the Revolution, and then was renovated and sold a bunch mycket fler gånger innan det blev statlig egendom.
När du går genom en skog som öppnas på två trädgårdar (fortfarande underhålls i sin gamla stil) ser du detta vackra, tunna slott som sträcker sig över en flod. Interiören är ganska liten (den är längre än den är bred), och medan rummen är väl bevarade är de vanligtvis mycket trångt eftersom de är så små. Trädgårdarna är fantastiska att se i Bloom, och det finns till och med en liten labyrint på marken (även om det är lätt att komma ut). (Ett annat roligt faktum: Detta slott delade Vichy och tyskstyrda Frankrike och användes vanligtvis för att smuggla judar i säkerhet.)
Hur man kommer dit – slottet är en 35 minuters tågresa från turer.
Tips för att gå till Châteaux
Så hur kan du kolla in alla dessa slott (och 70+ inte noteras här)? De är ganska enkla att kolla in-alla utom en handfull är tillgängliga med buss eller tåg, och de som inte är vanligtvis bara cirka 20-30 minuters cykeltur från närmaste stad. Men entréavgifter på 10-15 EUR per pop kan verkligen lägga till och göra slotthoppning till en riktigt un-budget-aktivitet. Det finns dock några sätt att spara pengar på slottets upplevelse:
Turismkontoret i resor säljer rabatterade biljetter, så det är bäst att köpa många av dina biljetter där. De är 1-2 eur av priset vid slottet.
De flesta av slottarna är nära tågstationer (det längsta jag gick var 20 minuter till Azay -slottet), så det finns inget behov av att ta en av de dyra resorna som vispar dig till ett gäng Châteaux på kort tid. Planera din utcheckning runt tåg och bussar.
För slott som inte är nära tågstationen kan du hyra cyklar nära turismkontoren. En cykel är cirka 15 euro för dagen.
Om du vill köra utforskas denna region bäst av bil så att du kan se allt. Biluthyrning kostar cirka 30-40 euro per dag.
De flesta av slottarna säljer mat som är för dyr, även enligt franska standarder. Men du kan ta med din egen mat och vatten, så ta en liten picknick att äta på marken och spara dig massor av pengar!
Min enda ånger är att jag inte hade mycket mer tid att se ännu mycket fler slott. Det kan vara galen att spendera 20-30 euro per dag bara på slott, men jag tyckte var och en underbar, majestätisk, unik och fylld med historia som gav mig en större förståelse för regionen. Även om du inte är så slotthungrig som jag, var noga med att kolla in några av dessa majestätiska platser. Till och med de populära är värda folkmassorna.
Du kan kolla in många på en dagsutflykt från Paris, men jag föreslår att jag strövar i regionen i minst några dagar, tar in slottet, dricker en obscen mängd rött vin på ett utomhuskafé och njuter av en del av historien, Charm och kultur som gör Frankrike till den speciella platsen.
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Boka din resa till Paris: logistiska förslag och tricks
Boka din flygning
Använd Skyscanner eller Momondo för att hitta en billig flygning. De är mina två favorit sökmotorer eftersom de söker och flygbolag runt om i världen så att du alltid vet att ingen sten lämnas omvänd. Börja med Skyscanner först men för att de har den mest betydande räckvidden!
Boka ditt boende
Du kan boka ditt vandrarhem med Hostelworld eftersom de har den viktigaste inventeringen och de bästa erbjudandena. Om du vill bo någon annanstans än ett vandrarhem, använd Booking.com eftersom de konsekvent returnerar de mest prisvärda priserna för pensionat och lågkostnadshotell.
Om du söker efter mycket fler platser att bo, här för mina favorit vandrarhem i Paris. Och om du undrar vilken del av staden jag ska bo i, här är min stadsdel i staden!
Här är en lista över mina favorit vandrarhem i Paris om du vill ha mycket fler alternativ än vad som noteras här!
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