Which Châteaux of the Loire Valley Should You Visit?

While living in Orleans, France for six weeks, we got to visit many of the châteaux of the Loire Valley. From Da Vinci staircases and medieval towers to digital art galleries and dungeons guarded by dragons, we fully experienced the fairytale side of France!

Some châteaux we visited by train and for others, we set out on a Loire Valley road trip in our rental car. Some we visited in half a day and others took us all day to explore. And for some, we even brought our dog along!

There are over 300 castles (aka châteaux) in the Loire Valley with about 100 of those being open to the public. Of course, we didn’t see all 100 but below are the seven châteaux of the Loire Valley I recommend you add to your France bucket list!

For each chateau, I’ll explain how to get there, how much it costs to visit and who the castle is best for. Depending on your interests, you’ll be able to narrow down your chateau short list with my reviews.

I’ll also let you know where to stay in the Loire Valley and the best way to get around to see as many castles as possible.

Ready? Let’s go chateau-hopping in France’s Valley of the Kings!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

My top 3 châteaux of the Loire Valley

My top three favourite chateaux that we visited, and that I highly recommend, are:

• Chateau de Chenonceau: Best overall interiors and exteriors with cool out-buildings to explore, a bridge over the river and exquisite floral arrangements.
• Chateau de Meung-sur-Loire: A surprisingly impressive castle given how small the town around it is and a must-visit for dragon lovers.
• Chateau de Cheverny: A manageable sized chateau with well decorated interiors and a pack of dogs you can meet!

Map of Loire Valley chateaux

Prices below are current as of February 2026.

For dog-lovers: Chateau de Cheverny

• Standard ticket price: €15.50 ($18 USD)
• Best way to get there: Drive (2.5 hrs from Paris, 70 mins from Orleans, 45 mins from Amboise) or join a day tour. You can also take a train to Blois-Chambord station and then a 35 minute bus to the castle.
• Dog-friendly? No (because the estate has its own dogs)
• More info: Read my full guide to Chateau de Cheverny here

The first Loire Valley chateau we visited was Chateau de Cheverny and we were off to a great start. I’d actually recommend Cheverny Castle be one of the first castles you visit, as it’s more of a stately home than a fairytale palace.

That’s not to say Cheverny isn’t worth seeing! If anything, the slightly less grand exterior made the ornate interior that much more impressive. The castle was a really manageable size and I loved seeing all of the grandiose furniture, decor and paintings.

But the main highlight of a visit to Chateau de Cheverny is the dogs! The castle is home to 120 tricolour anglo-french hounds and you’ll see statues, paintings and even LEGO models of the dogs throughout the grounds.

The best part is you can meet the dogs in their kennels, which was our first stop. We enjoyed poking our faces in to see the dogs, many of whom were just lounging in the sun.

We also really loved the food at Cheverny Castle. We ate in their beautiful cafe and found our lunch to be affordable and very tasty (sadly not the case at every castle).

We also got ice cream for dessert that was, dare I say, the best ice cream I’ve had in France!

Chateau de Cheverny also has extensive gardens and grounds. You can take an electric car and boat ride tour to explore them all.

And there’s a Tintin exhibit, The Secrets of Marlinspike Hall, that you can pay extra to go through. Marlinspike Hall from the Tintin comics was inspired by Cheverny Castle, hence why there’s a Tintin exhibit on the grounds.

Should you visit? If you’re a dog lover, care more about what’s inside a castle than outside, and want to extend your visit by touring lush grounds and Tintin exhibits with delicious ice cream in hand, Chateau de Cheverny is for you!

For that classic fairytale look: Chateau de Chambord

• Standard ticket price: €21 ($25 USD) for European Economic Area nationals/residents and €31 ($37 USD) for non-nationals/residents
• Best way to get there: Drive (2.5 hrs from Paris, 55 mins from Orleans or 55 mins from Amboise) or join a day tour. You can also take the train to Blois-Chambord station and then a taxi or shuttle bus to the castle.
• Dog-friendly? Leashed dogs are allowed in the park area of the chateau. But dogs are not allowed in the castle enclosure, French gardens or stables.
• More info: Find out what you can expect at Chateau de Chambord here.

Perhaps the most famous Loire Valley chateau is Chateau de Chambord. It’s also one of the largest castles complexes with over 400 rooms and 13,500 acres of park and forest.

If you’re looking for epic exteriors, Chambord Castle is going to deliver. We caught sight of the castle through our car windows when we were still a few minutes away and couldn’t believe how huge and grand it looked!

My favourite part of Chambord was taking in the beautiful facade and exterior architecture. I loved wandering the inner courtyard and walking along the rooftop. All of the balconies and outdoor staircases were also spectacular.

Inside the castle, I was a little let down. While there are lots of rooms and multiple floors to visit, they’re sparsely decorated, so there’s not that much to see. A few wings have also been converted into modern art galleries.

Though Da Vinci’s famous double helix staircase does lie at the centre of Chambord Castle, and you don’t want to miss that!

This is one of the châteaux of the Loire Valley where you could spend an entire day. Not only is the castle itself huge, but there are also gardens, a canal, forest paths, restaurants, shops, an equestrian show, and even 4×4 buggies and bikes you can rent!

Keep in mind that this is a very well-known castle and a stop on many big bus tours. So expect crowds! If you want off the beaten path, Chambord isn’t it.

Should you visit? If you’re looking to tick an iconic chateau off your Loire Valley bucket list, have lots of time to explore, want to be blown away as soon as you arrive, and value architecture over interior decor, Chateau de Chambord is for you!

For bridges and flowers: Chateau de Chenonceau

• Standard ticket price: €19 ($23 USD)
• Best way to get there: Train (the castle is only a two minute walk from the Chenonceaux train station), drive (3 hrs from Paris, 2 hrs from Orleans, 35 mins from Tours or 15 mins from Amboise) or join a day tour.
• Dog-friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs are allowed in the gardens and grounds, and small dogs can be held or carried in a bag through the castle.
• More info: Check out my full guide to Chateau de Chenonceau

If you only have time to visit one castle in France, make it Chateau de Chenonceau. In my opinion, this is the best chateau in the Loire Valley. It helps that it was lived in mostly by women, who all left their own touch on the architecture and design.

Chateau de Chenonceau delivers on all fronts. The exteriors are stunning with classic fairytale architecture and a bridge extending over the river – something you don’t see at many castles!

Inside, it gets even better. Each room in Chenonceau Castle is beautifully decorated. From bedrooms and studies to the extensive kitchens, you’ll notice lots of beautiful fireplaces, furniture and paintings, as well as colourful walls and ceilings.

The huge, bright flower arrangements in every room were some of my favourite touches. I love that they were created with flowers from Chateau de Chenonceau’s own gardens.

Speaking of gardens, there’s lots more to discover outside of the main castle structure. Chenonceau has a number of gardens you can walk through, plus a farm, a hospital, a maze and an apothecary to tour.

We loved that there was so much to see besides the castle. Best of all, most of these other areas were completely uncrowded. As Chenonceau is a pretty popular chateau, this is a nice bonus.

The only downside to Chateau de Chenonceau was the food. We had a bad experience at the on-site restaurant, waiting too long in line for poor quality food.

Should you visit? If you’re looking for unique architecture, beautiful interiors and lots of interesting spaces to discover, but are happy to eat lunch elsewhere, then definitely add Chateau de Chenonceau to your Loire Valley itinerary.

For dragons and farm animals: Chateau de Meung-sur-Loire

• Standard ticket price: €13 ($15 USD)
• Best way to get there: Train (the castle is only a 10 minute walk from Meung-sur-Loire train station) or drive (2 hrs from Paris, 30 mins from Orleans or 1 hr from Amboise)
• Dog-friendly? Yes, but must be kept in a carrier/basket at all times.
• More info: Discover why you should visit Chateau de Meung-sur-Loire

Meung-sur-Loire Castle completely surprised me. We decided to visit on a whim because Meung-sur-Loire is an easy day trip from Orleans but it ended up being one of my favourite castles in the Loire Valley.

The exterior of Chateau de Meung sur Loire isn’t as grand as some of the other castles on this list, but is interesting as it’s made up of different architectural styles. But it’s inside where the castle gets interesting.

You’ll get to tour the standard rooms you see in most castles – dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, etc. But unique to MSL, you also get to go up into the attic and down into the basement. Look out for a dragon in the dungeons!

Throughout the castle, all of the rooms are well decorated and there are a few audio-visual presentations that share the history of the castle. While these presentations are a bit technologically old-school, I found them very engaging.

The hallways can get a little cramped and you’re not able to enter every room (some you just view from the doorway), but there was still lots to see.

We visited this castle in the Loire Valley with Baby C and I would definitely say this castle is great for families and kids. There’s a mini farm, huge trampoline/ropes course, trail of animatronic dragons, plus kids’ activities throughout the castle.

The grounds of Chateau de Meung-sur-Loire were my favourite part of our visit. Besides the kids areas, there’s an adjoining church you can visit, a rose garden and beautiful trails. I spent a lot of time walking these trails while Baby C slept in her stroller.

But it was the trail of animatronic dragons that really stole the show. I was so impressed by the level of detail on these dragons and how they were each inspired by different mythological tales from around the world.

Both my mom and Baby C were born in the year of the dragon, so they loved this part!

Being a lesser-known castle, Meung-sur-Loire doesn’t get as crowded as some of the big castles and the entry cost is cheaper.

However, it does have more limited opening hours. We visited on a Sunday in October which was the only day they were open that week and there was no food available as their cafe was closed.

Should you visit? If you’re looking for an off the beaten path castle that has interesting interiors, cute animals, kids areas and a big focus on dragons, definitely head to Chateau de Meung-sur-Loire.

For architecture and art: Chateau Royal de Blois

• Standard ticket price: €16 ($19 USD)
• Best way to get there: Train (it’s a 10 minute walk to the castle from Blois-Chambord station) or drive (2 hrs from Paris, 1 hr from Orleans or 30 mins from Amboise)
• Dog-friendly? No, dogs are not allowed.
• More info: Read my full guide to Chateau Royal de Blois

Chateau Royal de Blois is unique amongst Loire Valley castles for a few reasons: it’s made up of four distinct architectural styles, it was home to a king of France (hence why it’s called “Royal”), and it’s one of the most convenient chateaux to visit by train.

The exterior of the castle is very interesting. It’s cool to see the vastly different facades from different eras right next to each other and to learn about the history of their creation.

Inside, I liked that this castle had a little bit of everything. There was a museum of ancient castle structures, wings of staged bedrooms and studies, and an entire art gallery.

Personally, I would’ve liked to see more staged rooms with more details and decor, and less art. I prefer when the castles transport me back in time and it feels like I’ve stepped into a fairytale, rather than a museum.

Unlike many of the other chateaux we visited, Blois Castle does not have huge grounds or gardens. There’s only one small garden, but it’s worth a walk through as it’s quite peaceful and offers a nice view over the city.

Chateau Royal de Blois is in the middle of the city of Blois and an easy walk from the Blois-Chambord train station, so is very accessible. There’s also a lot of other things to do in Blois, so you could make a full day of your chateau visit.

Should you visit? If you’re looking for a chateau that gives you a little taste of everything, has a royal history, is easily accessible by train and you don’t mind missing out on grounds and gardens, then Chateau Royal de Blois is a perfect fit.

For modern digital art: Chateau de Beaugency

• Standard ticket price: €14.50 ($17 USD)
• Best way to get there: Train (the castle is a 10 minute walk from Beaugency station) or drive (2 hrs from Paris, 1 hr from Amboise or 40 mins from Orleans)
• Dog-friendly? Leased dogs are allowed in the courtyard but not inside the castle.
• More info: Find out if Beaugency is worth visiting here

Chateau de Beaugency is different than any other castle we visited in the Loire Valley. Here you won’t find any staged bedrooms or medieval kitchens. Every room in this castle has been transformed into a digital art exhibition.

I’m talking strobe lights, projections, mirrors, giant balls and boxes, a floor that lights up when you walk on it, and even a ball pit you can play in!

Most of the art is interactive and each room holds something new to discover. It’s pretty cool to turn the corner and have no idea what display is waiting for you. And even cooler that it’s all set on the backdrop of a medieval castle!

In addition to all of the rooms inside the castle, there’s also art out in the small garden and lights displayed on the outside of the castle. Though the grounds and garden are quite small, so there’s not too much to explore outside of the castle walls.

Beaugency Castle is a hit with kids. All of the little ones around me loved running through the exhibits and actually being able to touch the art. There are also little games that kids can play throughout the castle (though I think they’re all in French).

The castle is an easy walk from the train station and located in a very cute town. There’s not a ton to do besides touring the castle, but it’s definitely worth strolling around the charming streets of Beaugency and seeing some of the historical buildings.

Being a smaller castle in a small town, Chateau de Beaugency has very limited opening days and hours. It’s closed for most of the winter/early spring and other times only open on the weekends.

But also being smaller and less popular, it’s rarely crowded!

Should you visit? If you love contemporary digital art, want a break from the usual castles you’ll see in the Loire Valley, or want to impress your kids with the coolest indoor playground, book your tickets for Chateau de Beaugency.

For epic gardens: Chateau de Villandry

• Standard ticket price: €14 ($17 USD)
• Best way to get there: Drive (3 hrs from Paris, 2 hrs from Orleans, 45 mins from Amboise or 25 mins from Tours). You can also take a train to Tours or Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station and then a 20 minute taxi to Villandry.
• Dog-friendly? Yes, leashed dogs are allowed in the garden and small dogs in bags/baskets are allowed in the castle.
• More info: Find out if Chateau de Villandry is worth visiting here

We visited Chateau de Villandry on our way from Orleans to Normandy and I’d say it was definitely worth the stop. If you love gardens, you’re definitely going to want to add Villandry Castle to your Loire Valley itinerary.

The castle itself is designed in a simple French Renaissance style, as opposed to the more ornate Italian Renaissance style you see at nearby castles. To me, this meant the interiors of Villandry were a little underwhelming (though still pretty!).

I found the rooms to be sparsely decorated and some were more modern, so not as interesting to tour. You were able to walk right up to the furniture though (most of it wasn’t roped off) and there was an interesting painting gallery, so I was never bored.

But the real highlight of Chateau de Villandry is the stunning Renaissance garden. You can get a great view of the gardens from the castle keep, as Renaissance gardens are meant to be viewed from above.

There are over seven hectares of gardens, most beautifully landscaped with impressive designs. You’ll find bright flowers, curved greenery, colourful vegetables and even a forest, pond, maze and playground!

The gardens and grounds are obviously the best part of Chateau de Villandry. You can actually buy a ticket for the gardens only, which I’d recommend as the interior of the castle was a bit lacklustre.

We also had lunch at the on-site restaurant and found it to be quite tasty. They even serve ice cream using ingredients from the chateau gardens!

Should you visit? If you love gardens and would rather explore the grounds of a castle than the rooms inside, then Chateau de Villandry is definitely for you!

Where to stay in the Loire Valley

You can choose to stay in a small town or one of the bigger cities of the Loire Valley. If you want to get around by train or bus tour, you’ll want to stay in a bigger/more popular city, like Amboise or Tours.

For the castles on my list above, Blois would be the most convenient base. You’d be central in the Loire Valley, with lots of castles available within a quick train ride or drive. Plus there’s Chateau Royal de Blois right in town!

Here are 3 highly rated Blois hotels:

• Maison Loire: Opt for this historic bed and breakfast if you’re looking for French charm and a unique stay. This would be my pick!
• Hotel Mercure Blois Centre: This well-known hotel brand offers clean, comfortable and modern rooms in a central location.
• Fleur de Loire: Treat yourself to a stay at this five star hotel with elegant rooms, luxurious amenities and dining on-site.

I also have to recommend basing in Orleans, since we lived there. It’s such a cute town and not a far drive or train ride to most of the castles!

Chateaux hotels in the Loire Valley

Another option is to actually stay in a chateaux hotel in the Loire Valley. Yes, you can live out your fairytale fantasies and actually sleep in a French castle!

Here are 3 top-rated chateau hotels:

• Château La Comtesse de Loire: The suites in this castle look so opulent! I’d love to enjoy the spa facilities after a day of chateau hopping.
• Hôtel du Château du Rivau: For a more authentic castle stay, check out Chateau du Rivau with its fairytale keep.
• Château de Perreux: Modern design meets historical architecture at Chateau de Perreux, and there’s a gorgeous outdoor pool!

Keep in mind that staying at a chateaux hotel will likely mean you’ll need to have your own car. Most will be more remote (hence the beautiful views and outdoor pools), so not as accessible by public transit.

How to get to the Loire Valley castles

You can get to the chateaux of the Loire Valley by car, by train or by day tour. However, not every castle will be accessible by train or day tour.

If you want to take the train, the easiest chateaux to get to from my list above are Chenonceau, Meung-sur-Loire, Beaugency and Blois. Château Royal d’Amboise and Château du Clos Lucé are also both within walking distance of the Amboise train station, but we didn’t make it to those two.

While some of the other castles on my list are technically accessible by public transit, they involve waiting for shuttle buses or taking taxis from the train station. The easiest way to see most other castles would be to drive.

We rented a car from our home base in Orleans to visit the castles of Cheverny, Chambord, Chenonceau and Villandry. Colin did all of the driving (while I kept Baby C settled in the back) and said it was very easy. There are toll roads or more winding routes through the small towns and lots of clear signage.

We rented our car through Discover Cars and I highly recommend them. We’ve used Discover Cars all over the world and always get the best rates.

Book your Loire Valley rental car here!

If you’re short on time and don’t want to drive or deal with train logistics, you can join a day tour. Most of the day tours leave from Paris, but there are also some that leave from Tours or Amboise.

Day tours will be more limited – they often only visit the most popular castles – but are a good hassle-free way to get a taste of the Loire Valley chateaux!

Loire Valley day tours from Paris

If you only have time for a day trip to the Loire Valley, I recommend taking a bus tour from Paris. Even though it’ll be a long journey to the castles and back, a day tour will be faster than taking the train and less hassle than renting a car.

Wrapping up: Is the Loire Valley worth visiting?

Absolutely! I’ve had the chateaux of the Loire Valley on my travel bucket list for a long time and they totally lived up to the hype. Each chateau felt so dreamy, like I was stepping into the pages of my favourite fairytale.

I’m so glad we had the opportunity to visit so many different castles while we were based in Orleans. Each one offered something unique, so it never felt like we were walking through the same rooms twice.

Whether you’re looking for a contemporary art gallery, faithfully reconstructed medieval kitchen, ornate ballroom or ropes course with animatronic dragons nearby, the castles of the Loire Valley will deliver whatever you’re after.

And it’s not just castles! This part of France is also home to charming small towns, Roman ruins, wineries, caves, art galleries and lots more to discover.

I hope you’re feeling inspired to plan your own Loire Valley trip. Check out my posts below to craft your perfect itinerary or comment below with any questions. And let me know which chateau is at the top of your must-see list!