The Chateau of Chinon has, arguably, the longest history of any Loire Valley castle. Located at the top of a strategic headland, its existence dates back to the 5th century. It was owned successively by the Counts of Tours and Blois, then by the Count of Anjou, and then it fell into the hands of Plantagenêt (English) who reinforced its defences considerably. In 1204, after a victorious century, Philippe Auguste...

The Chateau d’Ussé was built during the 15th century. It had many owners, one of which was Charles Perrault (who is said to have been inspired by the Chateau when he wrote he famously authored “Sleeping Beauty”). Other famous writers Voltaire and Chateaubriand have also lived there. It was probably Antoine de Bueil who decided to re-build the castle in 1460. The castle has been owned since...

Chateau de Villandry is best known for its superb formal gardens which are tended by eight full time gardeners who care for its five hectares or so. The gardens are considered the most extensive of the Loire Valley. These elegant gardens boast the worlds largest ornamental kitchen garden, where flowers and vegetables are grown in strictly geometric patterns. The highlight of the gardens is the beautiful Garden...

For more than six centuries, the Chateau de Cheverny has belonged to the same family; the Hurault family. It was an ancestor of the current owners, the chancellor to King Henri III and IV, who constructed it. It is one of the purest expressions of French classical architecture. It is undoubtedly what inspired Hergé when drawing the castle of Moulinsart - the castle of Captain Haddock in the popular Tintin comic...

Chateau de Chenonceau is known as the women’s castle. It was a woman after all, Catherine Bohier, wife of the Receiver General of Finances who directed the construction during the absence of her husband (who had gone to war). It was completed in 1522 but in 1526 was seized by King François I. His successor, Henri II, then offered it to his mistress Diane de Poitiers who settled there before they officially...

Perched on top of a hill, Chateaudun looks like it was drawn by children. It was built for height so that the occupants could overlook the entire Loire Valley. But also, perhaps, because the initiator of its construction, Jean of Dunois (the companion of Joan of Arc who died in 1468), a natural child of Louis of Orleans, wanted to sit by this aspect its legitimacy. Today the castle offers a view of about thirty...

Chateau de Chambord is the most known castle and perhaps the most impressive of the Chateaux (castles) of the Loire Valley. From a distance it looks like a medieval fortress, but the refinement of its frontages, the subtlety of its detailing make of it one of the most beautiful expressions of the Renaissance architecture in France. It was François I who ordered its construction in 1519 but its immense dimensions...

This enormous castle is one of the most impressive in the Loire Valley. It was built over a period of four centuries and is a fascinating mixture of the architecture of those periods. Owing to these unusual origins, the Chateau de Blois is not one but four castles of completely different styles joined together to create an impressive inner courtyard. The oldest part, the room of the States, is designed in the...

Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau is a small castle whose charm lured no less than three reigning French monarchs to take up residence there: François I, Henri III and Louis XIII. And they all fell in love with the beautiful stone construction. The castle owes its construction to Gilles Berthelot who was the Mayor of Tour and Treasurer of Royal Finances to François I. He was authorised to restore the Azay fortifications...

Chateau d’Angers is by itself worth a pilgrimage to the remarkable Loire Valley France. The Chateau is probably the best preserved military fortress in the Loire valley with its 17 imposing towers made out of dark stone. The interior of Chateau d’Angers features many beautiful and historic artworks, the highlight of which is without doubt the Apocalypse Tapestry which is 100 metres long and depicts...