While spring offers beautiful flowers and touring domains by bike, there’s a definite charm to visiting the chรขteaux of the Loire Valley in winter. Naturally, there are fewer people visiting at this time of year, and the chรขteaux look sublime covered in steel-colored frost or a thick layer of snow.
Every Holiday season in the Touraine Loire Valley is marked by Noel aux Pays de Chรขteaux. Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Langeais, Lochesโฆ The Loire’s most famous chรขteaux get in the Christmas spirit with lavish decoration and festive events. A great way to tour France’s most famous regal residences if you’re over for the Holidays.
Read on for some of our best Loire Valley chรขteaux to visit in winter. Photographed in deep snow, they will surely get you in the mood for your next trip!
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Our Favorite Loire Chรขteaux to Visit in Winter
Chรขteau d’Amboise
A historic monument since 1840, Chรขteau d’Amboise has been a favorite with French royals since its construction. And it has lost no favor with contemporary visitors either! Amboise is a fine example of the early French Renaissance style, largely thanks to King Charles VIII who introduced architectural elements that he discovered while traveling in Italy.
King Franรงois the First grew up here, and later on in life invited Leonardo da Vinci to be his painter/engineer in residence. Amboise became da Vinci’s final resting place and you can visit the artist’s tomb.
With its enormous terrace with panoramic views over the Loire river and surrounding valley, you can understand why French kings and queens were enchanted by Amboise.
Chรขteau d’Amboise and gardens
Montรฉe de l’Emir Abd el Kader, 37400 Amboise
www.chateau-amboise.com
Chรขteau de Chenonceau
With its arches cresting over the river Cher, Chenonceau is quite a sight to behold. Its unique architecture, site and style make it the most visited chรขteau in France, after Versailles.
The history of Chenonceau is particularly special in that it was developed in three different stages by three women who inhabited it over the years. Diane de Poitiers, mistress to Henry II; Henry’s wife/widow Catherine de’ Medici; and Catherine’s daughter-in-law, Louise de Lorraine.
The rivalry between Diane and Catherine is palpable throughout the domain, especially in the garden. Each woman has their own, sat on opposite sides of the chateau. The Diane de Poitiers Garden is a fine example of a floating parterre and beautiful symmetrical design. Visit the Loire Valley in winter and you’ll be treated to the chรขteau’s now-famous bouquets, dressed in their festive finest.
Chรขteau de Chenonceau
37150 Chenonceaux
www.chenonceau.com
Royal Fortress of Chinon
The Forteresse Royale de Chinon stands as an important part of French history. It was the favored residence of Henry II, who can be credited for the majority of the building we see today.
Chinon was also were religious missionary Joan of Arc came to meet Charles VII before the crucial siege of Orlรฉans. Two rooms are dedicated to Joan in the newly-renovated interior, with an exhibition of original artifacts from the 18th to 20th centuries.
Sat high on the banks of the Vienne river, Chinon is the epitome of a castle stronghold. Its gardens and rocky outcrops make for an intrepid winter walk.
Chรขteau de Chinon
37500 Chinon
www.forteressechinon.fr
Chรขteau de Chambord
With half a millennia of history between its walls, Chambord is an architectural feat and an important symbol of French power. Franรงois the First ordered its construction, but despite its impressive stature he never officially stayed here. Keeping the Chambord (with its adjoining forest) as his hunting lodge, he maintained Chรขteau de Blois and Amboise as his official royal residences. While the original design is linked to Italian architect Domenico da Cortona; elements, including the famous double helix staircase, were inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.
In 2017, the Prรฉsident himself approved a large-scale project to renovate the formal French gardens. The works, which took seven months to complete, now seamlessly tie the chรขteau’s faรงade with the forest beyond. The forest is a treat in itself. There are 13 500 acres of natural parkland filled with deer, wild boar, and various bird species, ready to be explored.
Chambord celebrated its 500th birthday in 2019. All the more reason to go visit the Loire Valley this winter!
Chรขteau de Chambord
Chรขteau, 41250 Chambord
www.chambord.org
Chaฬteau-de-Langeais
Fought over between Count of Anjou, Foulques Nerra, and the Count of Blois, Eudes I, Chaฬteau-de-Langeais spent a large part of its early life in war. It was kept within the House of Anjou for many years, up until the Hundred Years’ War, were armies took over the fortress.
Charles VII bought it in 1422, ordering that it be destroyed, except for the keep. Saved from ruin, is one of the oldest stone keeps still standing today. In 1465, King Louis XI spent two years renovating the Langeais structure, modernizing it. Although no longer a fortified castle, its large towers, drawbridge and parapet will check all the boxes for fans of the Middle Ages.
Inside, there is 15 rooms and an impressive 16th and 18th centuries tapestry collection to explore. An ideal French chรขteau to visit in wintertime.
Chaฬteau-de-Langeais
Place Pierre de Brosse, 37130 Langeais
www.chateau-de-langeais.com
Chรขteau d’Azay-le-Rideau
Commissioned by King Franรงois the First, Azay-le-Rideau was built on an island in the river Indre. This special position gives it a ‘water mirror’ effect, where the small but statuesque building is perfectly reflected in the glass-like river below.
Author Honorรฉ de Balzac described it as “a faceted diamond set in the Indre”. Its French Renaissance architecture, trimmed gardens and blend of French and Italian decor make it one of the jewels in the Loire’s crown.
The chรขteau was built in 1731 by nobleman Charles de Biencourt, a botany enthusiast who set about landscaping the parks into an English style garden. His son who inherited the castle continued to tend to the gardens by planting then-exotic trees like Sequoia, Cedar, American tulip, making Azay-le-Rideau a picturesque chรขteau to visit in winter and throughout the year, too.
Chรขteau d’Azay-le-Rideau
Rue de Pineau, 37190 Azay-le-Rideau
www.azay-le-rideau.fr
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Photos ยฉ Department of Touraine Loire