One of our favorite châteaus to visit - Château d'Amboise is a royal castle in the Loire Valley in…read moreAmboise, France. Built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Loire River, it transitioned from a medieval fortress into a Renaissance palace and was a favored royal residence in the 15th and 16th centuries. The château is known for its Gothic and early Renaissance architecture and its association with notable historical figures. The history is incredible, and worth a tour with a tour guide or the self guided audio guide. One of the nicest surprises of the château, it's the Final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci: Da Vinci is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert, located on the château grounds. I have visited three times and never get tired of seeing it!

A beautiful chateau atop the hill overlooking the Loire river and city of Amboise. Loved learning…read morethe history and getting to visit Da Vinci's final resting place.

The Château de Chenonceau is a historic French castle known as the "Château of the Ladies" due to…read moreits influential female owners throughout its years. Located in the Loire Valley, it is famous for its elegant architecture, which includes a gallery built over the River Cher. The château features rich Renaissance furniture, tapestries, and master paintings. This Château also paved a pivotal roll during g WWII as its walls helped move Jews out of occupied France to free France during the war. It also has a unique connection to the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, Italy. You'll have to visit to find out more. Additionally, the château's iconic gallery was built across the River Cher as an add on to the existing Château. Its interiors are richly decorated with works by artists such as Tintoretto, Rubens, and Van Dyck. Notable rooms include the bedchambers of Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de' Medici, and Louise de Lorraine. The gardens are exquisitely decorated and it's worth spending some time in them. You will need to book your tickets in advance as this Château is one of the most visited and they need it to control the flow of visitors. Be aware it also takes some time to travel, and once parked, to get to the Château (about a 20 minute walk). Enjoy this visit. I have seen it three or four times and always enjoy it!

This French castle spanning the River Cher is an opulent chateau in the Loire Valley of France…read more Built in 1513 to 1517 by Thomas Bohier for his wife Catherine Biconnet. This stunning Renaissance and Gothic architecture is the style of the women who owned and shaped it. The formal gardens are exquisite. The powerful ladies of the Chateau also included Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. The present day owners are the Menier family, famous for their chocolate. In 1539, King Francis the 1st acquired the estate. Later, King Henry the 2nd decided to offer it to the Queen. Our tour started with a wine tasting of three different wines actually grown on the estate. The fairytale like castle and the story of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty may have been the inspiration. The rooms and the kitchen in the basement are well preserved. It was a lovely experience.

We visited Caves Duhard between Chateau Chenonceau and Cateau Chambord and it was a great…read moreexperience. Very interesting tour and wine tasting. We purchased a case of great 2015 Bourgueil, 2016 Vouvray and a fantastic 1989 Vouvray. They delived it to New Jersey in two weeks, every bottle in perfect condition. Great place, great wine, great experience! We will be ordering more wine soon! Nous avons visité les Caves Duhard entre Château Chenonceau et Château Chambord et ce fut une expérience formidable. Visite très intéressante et dégustation de vin. Nous avons acheté une caisse de grand Bourgueil 2015, Vouvray 2016 et un fantastique Vouvray 1989. Ils l'ont livré au New Jersey en deux semaines, chaque bouteille en parfait état. Super endroit, bon vin, super expérience! Nous commanderons plus de vin bientôt!

Fantastic place. Locally sourced eggs and meat. Delicious galletes and rillon (roasted pork belly,…read morea local specialty) served in a salad. Local microbrews as well. Beats the food of the row of eateries next to the Chateau d'Amboise. Great fast service too.

I was not expecting good food in a tourist attraction but we were hungry and didnt want to go out…read moresearching for something. We ordered galettes (buckwheat crepes) at around 4pm and they happily made it for us even though it was between meal times. I got the salmon one, which was the most expensive option, yet it was still under 15 EUR. The food was delicious and the service was great. I highly recommend it.

It became chateau at mid 14th century when King Louis XI decided to build it. This chateau is name…read moreafter Captain-Governor of Langeais. This chateau also located at the town of Langeais at Loire Valley. 1491, the chateau host an wedding of Charles VIII with Anne of Brittany. This wedding incorporated the duchy of Brittany to France. The chateau has 16 rooms to visit. It includes Banquet Hall, Antechamber, wedding hall, The Luini Room. The wedding hall is where Anne of Brittany got wed. They run the history show of the wedding. The visit also includes the walk at castle surrounding wall. The garden is big at the back of castle. The sacred art room contains Saint Agnes paintings. To visit the castle take 1.5 hours. Parking is in the town and is free. Easy access to the castle.

We spent pretty much an entire day in this place, surprisingly. The history was very interesting. I…read morereally enjoyed the tour. Definitely a must-see if you are in the area.

This is one of the most visited château in the Loire Valley and one of the largest! Château de…read moreChambord is a famous French Renaissance castle, ordered by King François I in 1519, known for its distinctive architecture and the spectacular, interlocked double-helix staircase, which may have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. It was built as a hunting lodge as many of the châteaus were in the valley rather than a permanent residence. The château is immense, containing 400 rooms. The most notable - historic double helix staircase, and the incredible 13,000-acre estate, which is the largest enclosed forest in Europe. They have improved the infrastructure around the château within the past 10 years which have many places to park for busses and cars. Allow yourself time to park and walk to the château as it can take a bit of time. Depending on how much you want to see, give yourself ample time to explore as there is much to see: art jewelry, furniture, etc. Additionally, this is one of the most visited châteaus in the valley.

This historic French Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley of France is an astounding sight. Built…read moreunder King Francis the 1st as a grand hunting lodge and a symbol of royal power incorporates medieval and classical styles. This chateau inspired the castle in Beauty and the Beast. It is massive with over 440 rooms. It housed the most iconic art from the Louvre from 1939-1945 including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. A truly mesmerizing experience.