De mooiste kastelen van de Loire in Frankrijk

Most Beautiful Castles of the Loire Region. These are fantastic for the whole family. The Loire region is the mecca of chateaus. Between Sully-sur-Loire and Nantes alone there is a concentration of no fewer than nineteen inspiring castles. The average tourist combs the castles in the French Loire in two days. Would you rather spend a day hopping around the castles? Visit ’the Big Five’ of France in one go. These top castles even make the Meilandjes fall off their chairs…

Chateau Chambord

This is the largest Renaissance style castle in the Loire region. This giant of the Loire was built according to a design by Domenico da Cortona. And guess what? The stairs may have been a design by da Vinci! This spiral staircase to the roof has 274 steps and is one of the spectacles of Chateau Chambord.

Chateau Charmbord is what you call a majestic castle with 440 different decorated rooms. The castle gardens are also princess-worthy. Practical information: entrance fees 13 euros per person, children/young people up to 18 years free. The castle is 40 minutes by car from Amboise.

Chateau Chambord by Miwok

Chateau Chenonceau

Chateau Chenonceau is beau… although the correct term is of course belle. This 16th century castle literally runs straight across the river Cher and seems to have walked straight out of a painting. Walk (in 1 to 2 hours) with an audio tour through various rooms.

Don’t forget the special gardens: the vistas and views are beautiful. Make like famous visitors Charles IX, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau. Drink tea in the accompanying orangery and dream away at the beautiful view. More about this beauty?

Chenonceau Castle

Chateau de Chaumont

Chaumont Castle is located between Blois and Amboise in Chaumont sur Loire and has what you call the X factor. The name Chaumont comes from ‘Chauve mont’ or bare hill. This beautiful Renaissance castle overlooks the Loire and is above all known for its eccentric nineteenth century castle gardens.

Chateau de Villandry

There are many spectacular castle gardens in the Loire, but according to experts, this one takes the cake. The Villandry gardens have received numerous awards precisely because of their design and use of space . The castle contains many 17th century Spanish works of art and extravagant rooms. The ‘Oriental room’ is one you would want to take home with you.

Chateau Villandry

Cool castle garden

The symmetrically designed gardens are also worth eating. Seen from above, the gardens undoubtedly resemble a Persian carpet… except you can’t fly them. Hop like a frolicking goat from the steps along the water, herb gardens and flower beds and hide in the maze.

To complete the fairy tale. Bring your picnic basket, sit down at the picnic tables and have another great day in the Loire region.
Practical: this castle is 9 km from Tours. Open all year round. Entrance fees: 11.00 euros for gardens and castle, or 6.00 euros for just the gardens. Children free admission.

Chateau de Saumur

Chateau de Saumur

According to the Telegraph, Saumur Castle is ‘King of the castles in the Loire’. This castle has once been a fortress, cavalry and even a prison. The castle now houses two museums: the Museum of Decorative Art and the Horse Museum. Chateau de Saumur was once the showpiece of France precisely because of its horse trading and riding school . Practical: entrance tickets: 7 euros pp, 5 euros for children, family tickets: 20 euros for 4 people.

Tip: castle and wine route

From Saumur, take a drive past castles and vineyards. The route Amboise and Clos Lucé, Chambord, Chenonceau and Blois, Bourré (just past Chenonceau) is just like the route des vin: a beautiful ride past wineries and castles. A spectacular way to get a bird’s eye view of both?

Hop into a hot air balloon and float above the farmlands of Touraine, Blois, Chenonceau and Amboise. A balloon tour costs approximately 150 euros per person. You can book in Amboise via ‘Touraine Montgolfiene’. On holiday to the Loire region? I have already put together a complete Loire travel guide for you.

Chateau de Saumur by Coucouoeuf

Wine in the Loire?

Castles and vineyards leave you wanting more, and especially different types of wine. Wine writer and drinky connoisseur Jody from OnueelLekker knows exactly which wine to let swim in your glass in the Loire. http://onwoonlekker.com/zeven-wijntips-voor-de-loire/