| The Loire Valley is a truly spectacular destination for | | | | antique vehicles and a wicker carriage. The castle |
| a family vacation. There are many historical chateaux | | | | interior is filled with 18th century antiques. Finally you |
| to visit, so many that it can be difficult to decide on | | | | can climb the round tower to see wax figures |
| which ones to visit before it becomes too much for | | | | depicting characters in Sleeping Beauty. If you are |
| the children to bare. Each of the Loire Valley | | | | travelling with young children they will probably love |
| chateaux listed below have their own special | | | | the fairy tale scenes in the round tower depicted by |
| attraction. | | | | wax models. |
| We would highly recommend Chateau Close Luc and | | | | Chateau Cheverny (minimum visit 1.5 hours) |
| its beautiful park and working models of over forty | | | | Hours- 9:15-6:45 Cost- $6.00, includes English pamphlet. |
| of Leonardo Da Vinci's amazing creations. Chateau | | | | This chateau was built in 1634 and has been owned |
| Chaumont is worth a visit in the high season for the | | | | and occupied by the same family ever since. Today |
| garden festival alone. Many of the gardens are | | | | family members occupy the 3rd floor. This castle has |
| incredibly interactive and highly sensory designed to | | | | the best furniture of the Loire Valley Chateaux open |
| capture the imaginations of children and adults. | | | | to the public because the family that owned |
| Chateau Chenonceau is architecturally breathtaking | | | | Cheverny was very popular with the local villagers |
| and a must see. There is a maize for children to get | | | | and as a result the castle was not stripped of it's |
| lost in for a little while. Chateau Cheverney has | | | | treasures during the French Revolution. |
| spectacular furniture and a working pack of hounds. | | | | The current interior is the most complete and lavish |
| Chateau Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley | | | | in the Loire Valley. This castle was built as a hunting |
| castles and you can hire bicycles or pedal boats to | | | | palace and today hunts still take place on the |
| make it more child appealing. | | | | grounds. You can visit the 70 hounds in their kennel, |
| Chateau Blois is interesting architecturally because it is | | | | or watch the daily feed at 5:00 PM. The trophy room |
| like four chateaux rolled into one. It has the added | | | | proudly displays the antlers from more than two |
| benefit of being located opposite the Maison de la | | | | thousand animals. |
| Magie which is a magic museum in honour of Robert | | | | Chateau Amboise (minimum visit 1.5 hours) |
| Houdin who was Houdini's inspiration. Children delight | | | | Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $7.00 includes an English |
| at the exhibits and simulations and the magic show is | | | | pamphlet. The chateau towers over the town and |
| very impressive. | | | | offers a mix of architectural styles including 17th |
| Chateau Chaumont (minimum visit 1 hour and another | | | | century classical and 16th century gothic. Six Kings of |
| 2 hours for the garden festival) | | | | France lived here including Francois the 1st, who had |
| Hours- 9:30-5:30, plan on 1 hour for your visit Cost- | | | | an underground tunnel built to the home of Leonardo |
| $6.00 includes an English pamphlet | | | | da Vinci, located nearby. Using this passage they |
| Located between Amboise and Blois, this chateau is | | | | could visit each other without mingling with the locals. |
| set high above the Loire River and commands lovely | | | | In the 15th century this castle was four times its |
| views. Its placement was for strategic reasons, since | | | | current size, but it has been reduced by war and |
| it was built as a fortress stronghold in 1465. | | | | neglect. |
| Later it became a home for royalty and then the | | | | It is worth combining a trip to Chateau Amboise with |
| merely rich. The most famous resident was Diane de | | | | a visit to Chateau Clos Luce as they are nearby. |
| Poitiers, the former mistress of King Henri II who | | | | Chateau Chenonceau (minimum visit 2.5 hours) |
| lived in exile here, after Catherine de Medici | | | | Hours- 9:00-7:00 Cost- $8.00 includes an English |
| demanded Chateau Chenonceau when King Henri II | | | | pamphlet. This castle is one of the most striking of |
| died. | | | | the Loire Valley chateaux. It was built for Diane de |
| Today the interiors represent the lavishness of the | | | | Poitiers, the mistress of King Henri II. In 1559 when |
| rich people living here until the 1930's when the stock | | | | the King died his wife, Catherine de Medici, forced |
| market crash caused the last owner to sell the | | | | Diane into exile (to the smaller chateau of Chaumont). |
| property to the government. Of particular interest | | | | After Catherine moved in she had the beautiful |
| are the elaborate horse stables. | | | | gallery added, which is 180 feet long, 18 feet wide, |
| Chateau Blois (minimum visit 2-3 hours) | | | | with 18 windows and set on arches over the Cher |
| Hours- 9:00-6:00 Cost- $6.00 includes an English | | | | River. It was originally used as a ballroom, and in |
| pamphlet. You can book a free guided tour even | | | | WWI it became a hospital and the wounded soldiers |
| available in English. This castle dominates the town of | | | | used to fish out the windows. During world war II it |
| Blois and was the home of royalty for over 400 | | | | was a means of escape as the castle sat in occupied |
| years, including Charles the VIII and Francois I. Parts | | | | territory but the door at the end of the gallery |
| of the building, composed of four wings each of a | | | | opened to the Free Zone. |
| different architectural style joined by a large central | | | | The kitchen is very popular with children. Today the |
| courtyard, date back to the 10th century. | | | | gallery holds art exhibits. Also worth a note are the |
| Interiors include luxurious period design and floors | | | | Marques Tower, the two formal gardens (each |
| stamped with fleur-de-lis motifs. One of the highlights | | | | named for the two ladies who ruled the house), the |
| is a Renaissance exterior spiral staircase designed by | | | | 16th century working farm and the flower shop. |
| Leonardo da Vinci. In summer they have a sound and | | | | Chateau Chambord (minimum visit 2.5 hours) |
| light show at night and on Wednesdays it is in English. | | | | Hours- 9:00-5:45 Cost- $7.00 for entrance and $4.00 |
| Chateau Azay-le-Rideau (minimum visit 1.5 hours) | | | | for an audio guide |
| Hours- 9:30-6:00 Cost- $6.00 for entrance and $4.00 | | | | Chambord was commissioned by the young (then 25) |
| for an audio guide | | | | King Francois in 1519 to help feed his power and |
| This chateau is less grand in size than many of the | | | | establish his power. The building we see today was |
| others listed here, but is all the more beautiful for it. | | | | not completed until 1685, and by far it is the largest |
| Built in 1515, this is a fine example of early | | | | chateau in the Loire. The style is a combination of |
| Renaissance. In summer there are often evening son | | | | traditional French and Renaissance Italian with a |
| et lumiere spectacles at the castle. It is best to visit | | | | variety of towers and turrets. |
| this chateau late in the afternoon in summer so you | | | | The facade alone is 470 feet wide and over 168 feet |
| can enjoy the sound and light show in the evening. | | | | high (18 stories), with 365 chimneys and 440 rooms. |
| Chateau Usse (minimum 1.5 hours) | | | | The highlight inside the chateau is the double helix |
| Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $8.00 includes English pamphlet. | | | | staircase which serves as the axis for the entire |
| This fairytale chateau with lots of turrets was the | | | | building, and is thought to have been designed by |
| inspiration for the chateau in Sleeping Beauty. | | | | Leonardo da Vinci. |
| Construction began in 1455 on the foundation of an | | | | Originally built as a meeting place for hunting and later |
| 11th century chateau, and subsequent remodels took | | | | used for royal celebrations, today it is surrounded by |
| place in the 16th and 17th centuries. | | | | a nineteen mile wall that encloses the largest forest |
| The chateau has been owned by the Blacas family | | | | park in Europe. During its 500 year history, it was |
| since the 18th century and the family still occupies | | | | only used as a residence for 20 of those years. |
| one of the wings. The grounds include several | | | | If you have time to spare, you can rent boats or |
| centuries old trees and a cedar that was given to the | | | | bikes to explore the park. There is a 2 hour evening |
| family in 1808. | | | | light and sound show at dusk on weekends from |
| There is a chapel from 1528 with a white sparkling | | | | mid-April to June and September, and nightly in July |
| interior made from local stones, and a garage with | | | | and August. |