{"id":4828,"date":"2020-06-17T14:59:35","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T20:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/?p=4828"},"modified":"2025-05-28T14:47:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T20:47:18","slug":"travel-guide-to-the-loire-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/travel-guide-to-the-loire-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring the Chateaux of the Loire Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4828\" class=\"elementor elementor-4828\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7aaad99 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7aaad99\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-af14f41\" data-id=\"af14f41\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a7c916 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a7c916\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>FRANCE<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d45966f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d45966f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d915017 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d915017\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gorgeous scenery, amazing food and stunning chateaux make it one of my favorite places<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f34c161 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f34c161\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4d696e\" data-id=\"e4d696e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f393f3 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f393f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Why <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">only see Paris on a trip to France, when you can do as French royalty did\u2014leave the city for the refined pleasures of the many &#8220;Chateau de Loire&#8221; in the nearby Loire Valley.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With over 100 chateaux to explore, it is a treasure of renaissance architecture.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And it is easily reachable from Paris, so it\u2019s an ideal way to experience the French countryside for a few days, and a beautiful region for a longer trip.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of the more than 300 chateaux remaining, about 100 of them are open to the public. So which to prioritize?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-59c4d5a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59c4d5a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d628ce9\" data-id=\"d628ce9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccfc853 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ccfc853\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Which Loire Valley Chateaux to Visit (Five I recommend)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c2f59f elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"4c2f59f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-crown\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M528 448H112c-8.8 0-16 7.2-16 16v32c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16h416c8.8 0 16-7.2 16-16v-32c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16zm64-320c-26.5 0-48 21.5-48 48 0 7.1 1.6 13.7 4.4 19.8L476 239.2c-15.4 9.2-35.3 4-44.2-11.6L350.3 85C361 76.2 368 63 368 48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48c0 15 7 28.2 17.7 37l-81.5 142.6c-8.9 15.6-28.9 20.8-44.2 11.6l-72.3-43.4c2.7-6 4.4-12.7 4.4-19.8 0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48S0 149.5 0 176s21.5 48 48 48c2.6 0 5.2-.4 7.7-.8L128 416h384l72.3-192.8c2.5.4 5.1.8 7.7.8 26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48s-21.5-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ch\u00e2teau de Cheverny - Gorgeous furnishings &amp; lots to do. (Main photo, above)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-crown\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M528 448H112c-8.8 0-16 7.2-16 16v32c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16h416c8.8 0 16-7.2 16-16v-32c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16zm64-320c-26.5 0-48 21.5-48 48 0 7.1 1.6 13.7 4.4 19.8L476 239.2c-15.4 9.2-35.3 4-44.2-11.6L350.3 85C361 76.2 368 63 368 48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48c0 15 7 28.2 17.7 37l-81.5 142.6c-8.9 15.6-28.9 20.8-44.2 11.6l-72.3-43.4c2.7-6 4.4-12.7 4.4-19.8 0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48S0 149.5 0 176s21.5 48 48 48c2.6 0 5.2-.4 7.7-.8L128 416h384l72.3-192.8c2.5.4 5.1.8 7.7.8 26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48s-21.5-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ch\u00e2teau de Chambord - Imposing with stunning architecture)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-crown\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M528 448H112c-8.8 0-16 7.2-16 16v32c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16h416c8.8 0 16-7.2 16-16v-32c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16zm64-320c-26.5 0-48 21.5-48 48 0 7.1 1.6 13.7 4.4 19.8L476 239.2c-15.4 9.2-35.3 4-44.2-11.6L350.3 85C361 76.2 368 63 368 48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48c0 15 7 28.2 17.7 37l-81.5 142.6c-8.9 15.6-28.9 20.8-44.2 11.6l-72.3-43.4c2.7-6 4.4-12.7 4.4-19.8 0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48S0 149.5 0 176s21.5 48 48 48c2.6 0 5.2-.4 7.7-.8L128 416h384l72.3-192.8c2.5.4 5.1.8 7.7.8 26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48s-21.5-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ch\u00e2teau Royal de Blois - Unique setting in the charming city of Blois<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-crown\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M528 448H112c-8.8 0-16 7.2-16 16v32c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16h416c8.8 0 16-7.2 16-16v-32c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16zm64-320c-26.5 0-48 21.5-48 48 0 7.1 1.6 13.7 4.4 19.8L476 239.2c-15.4 9.2-35.3 4-44.2-11.6L350.3 85C361 76.2 368 63 368 48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48c0 15 7 28.2 17.7 37l-81.5 142.6c-8.9 15.6-28.9 20.8-44.2 11.6l-72.3-43.4c2.7-6 4.4-12.7 4.4-19.8 0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48S0 149.5 0 176s21.5 48 48 48c2.6 0 5.2-.4 7.7-.8L128 416h384l72.3-192.8c2.5.4 5.1.8 7.7.8 26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48s-21.5-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ch\u00e2teau de Chenonceau - The elegant \"chateau of the ladies\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-crown\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M528 448H112c-8.8 0-16 7.2-16 16v32c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16h416c8.8 0 16-7.2 16-16v-32c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16zm64-320c-26.5 0-48 21.5-48 48 0 7.1 1.6 13.7 4.4 19.8L476 239.2c-15.4 9.2-35.3 4-44.2-11.6L350.3 85C361 76.2 368 63 368 48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48c0 15 7 28.2 17.7 37l-81.5 142.6c-8.9 15.6-28.9 20.8-44.2 11.6l-72.3-43.4c2.7-6 4.4-12.7 4.4-19.8 0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48S0 149.5 0 176s21.5 48 48 48c2.6 0 5.2-.4 7.7-.8L128 416h384l72.3-192.8c2.5.4 5.1.8 7.7.8 26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48s-21.5-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ch\u00e2teau Villandry - Spectacular gardens<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49dba34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"49dba34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/forest-in-loire-valley.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4721\" alt=\"A path through the forest in Loire Valley France\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/forest-in-loire-valley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/forest-in-loire-valley-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/forest-in-loire-valley-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Forests of the Loire Valley, once the hunting grounds of French royalty<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c67610 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2c67610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Garden of France<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b17452b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b17452b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Known as the Garden of France, the Val de Loire is a true pastoral paradise. Agriculture has always been significant in the region thanks to its lush, fertile land, forests and rivers.\u00a0 The produce is unbelievable; I\u2019ve had some of the most memorable meals of my life here. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also known for excellent wine, not a surprise; it&#8217;s France. The Sancerre is delicious and if you like sparkling, try the Saumur Mousseux, fermented in the limestone caves of the region&#8217;s wine capital, Saumur.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f8c3583 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f8c3583\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a199196\" data-id=\"a199196\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e451e65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e451e65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/train-station-sustainable-travel-europe.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-23270\" alt=\"A striking train station in Europe\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/train-station-sustainable-travel-europe.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/train-station-sustainable-travel-europe-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/train-station-sustainable-travel-europe-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/train-station-sustainable-travel-europe-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5313de5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5313de5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Paris to Loire Valley by Train<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01c7211 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"01c7211\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>France has an excellent train system, with many high-speed routes. You can travel from Paris to Tours, for example, in an hour on the TGV. Explore train options on France&#8217;s national train website, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sncf-connect.com\/en-en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">SNCF<\/span><\/a>. Or I find the OMIO app fantastic for searching for and booking train travel in France.\u00a0<\/p><p>I&#8217;ve also rented a car in France, on my recent trip to Burgundy, and found navigation and driving quite straightforward.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7bfc6e7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7bfc6e7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-aceb820\" data-id=\"aceb820\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e75859 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8e75859\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Travel Guide to the Loire Valley<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddd3c29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ddd3c29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After two visits, I\u2019ve seen the highlights of the Loire, and so enjoyed it, I am planning a return visit.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a collection of some of the chateaux I loved, towns we explored, and possibly my favorite hotel in the world\u2014hopefully ideas to help you plan your own dream trip to the Loire Valley.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-438dca9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"438dca9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Loire Valley &amp; Chateau de Loire Map<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2e0bcd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b2e0bcd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1KM8ZwuOz6qm_WESQY6M3hFAmMIyJfjU&#038;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a7e6f9c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a7e6f9c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f5533ac\" data-id=\"f5533ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-553423a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"553423a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Loire Valley Chateaux <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b5cfd5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7b5cfd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-france.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4842\" alt=\"chambord-castle-france\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-france.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-france-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-france-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ch\u00e2teau de Chambord: a gorgeous  example of French Renaissance architecture<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46f0f7a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"46f0f7a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With its pastoral beauty and forests ideal for hunting, the Loire Valley was considered an idyllic region by France\u2019s royalty and nobility.\u00a0 They came in the 15th and 16th centuries with the country\u2019s best architects and landscape designers to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">construct magnificent manor homes and palaces known collectively as chateaux. (In French cities these grand houses are known as palais.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond their beauty, the chateaux have historical significance. They represent the renaissance, when France emerged from the dark ages and made strides to unite its cities and regions. And there was a new priority and appreciation for beauty: the utilitarian gardens of the middle ages were abandoned in favor of ornamental gardens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50a3cc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"50a3cc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-cheverny.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6411\" alt=\"chateau de cheverny in Loire Valley France\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-cheverny.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-cheverny-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-cheverny-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Chateau de Cheverny has something for everyone<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cb316a elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-2074 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5cb316a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-globe-africa\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 8C111.03 8 0 119.03 0 256s111.03 248 248 248 248-111.03 248-248S384.97 8 248 8zm160 215.5v6.93c0 5.87-3.32 11.24-8.57 13.86l-15.39 7.7a15.485 15.485 0 0 1-15.53-.97l-18.21-12.14a15.52 15.52 0 0 0-13.5-1.81l-2.65.88c-9.7 3.23-13.66 14.79-7.99 23.3l13.24 19.86c2.87 4.31 7.71 6.9 12.89 6.9h8.21c8.56 0 15.5 6.94 15.5 15.5v11.34c0 3.35-1.09 6.62-3.1 9.3l-18.74 24.98c-1.42 1.9-2.39 4.1-2.83 6.43l-4.3 22.83c-.62 3.29-2.29 6.29-4.76 8.56a159.608 159.608 0 0 0-25 29.16l-13.03 19.55a27.756 27.756 0 0 1-23.09 12.36c-10.51 0-20.12-5.94-24.82-15.34a78.902 78.902 0 0 1-8.33-35.29V367.5c0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-25.88c-14.49 0-28.38-5.76-38.63-16a54.659 54.659 0 0 1-16-38.63v-14.06c0-17.19 8.1-33.38 21.85-43.7l27.58-20.69a54.663 54.663 0 0 1 32.78-10.93h.89c8.48 0 16.85 1.97 24.43 5.77l14.72 7.36c3.68 1.84 7.93 2.14 11.83.84l47.31-15.77c6.33-2.11 10.6-8.03 10.6-14.7 0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-10.09c-4.11 0-8.05-1.63-10.96-4.54l-6.92-6.92a15.493 15.493 0 0 0-10.96-4.54H199.5c-8.56 0-15.5-6.94-15.5-15.5v-4.4c0-7.11 4.84-13.31 11.74-15.04l14.45-3.61c3.74-.94 7-3.23 9.14-6.44l8.08-12.11c2.87-4.31 7.71-6.9 12.89-6.9h24.21c8.56 0 15.5-6.94 15.5-15.5v-21.7C359.23 71.63 422.86 131.02 441.93 208H423.5c-8.56 0-15.5 6.94-15.5 15.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-720a577 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"720a577\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CHATEAU de CHEVERNY<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9ef3ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e9ef3ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Chateau de Cheverny<\/span> was one of the first chateau to open to the public, in 1922, and has been in the same family for six generations.\u00a0 I mention it first because I think it has something of interest for everyone, yet the size is not overwhelming, so it&#8217;s a nice place to start,\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>If it looks familiar, it may be because Belgian illustrator, Herg\u00e9, used the building as inspiration for Marlinspike Hall, the manor home of Captain Haddock in the\u00a0<i>Adventures of Tintin<\/i>\u00a0books.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da164a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"da164a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/sitting-room-cheverny.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4865\" alt=\"ladies sitting room at chateau cheverny\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/sitting-room-cheverny.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/sitting-room-cheverny-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/sitting-room-cheverny-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ladies sitting room at the Chateau de Cheverny<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19a4f95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19a4f95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chateau has been restored and decorated to represent the grand life once lived by French nobility.\u00a0 The rooms on the tour include a nursery, music room, study and formal dining room, among others.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The four gardens are beautiful and each represents a different theme. Cheverny is\u00a0 especially known for its tulip garden, best seen in April. We visited in June and I was very impressed by the kitchen garden. If you are with children, there is a maze to explore as well.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85430bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"85430bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hunting-dogs-cheverny.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5710\" alt=\"hunting dogs cheverny loire valley\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hunting-dogs-cheverny.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hunting-dogs-cheverny-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hunting-dogs-cheverny-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6e0f42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d6e0f42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">HUNTING DOGS of CHEVERNY<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19e75b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19e75b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These were once the hunting grounds of French royals and nobles and Cheverny embraces this tradition.\u00a0 A kennel of 100 tricolor hounds, France&#8217;s traditional hunting dog, are kept at Cheverny and still used on hunts today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can learn more about the dogs and hunting tradition at the &#8220;feeding of the hounds&#8221;, which takes place at 11:30 daily (April through September and four days a week the rest of the year).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listening to 100 hungry hounds yelp for their lunch is something you won\u2019t forget and the show is interesting, even if you don\u2019t speak French. If you miss the show, you can still visit the dogs at the kennel, next to the kitchen garden.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbfe261 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cbfe261\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-chateau.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4856\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-chateau.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-chateau-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chambord-chateau-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba209be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ba209be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch\u00e2teau de Chambord<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d1ab8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4d1ab8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chambord is the largest of all the Loire Chateau, the best known and a gorgeous example of the architecture of the Loire Valley.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 60 of its rooms are open to the public as well as various exhibitions. Guided tours are cancelled as of June 2020, due to coronavirus, but there are various resources you can access as you tour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chambord also has remarkable outdoor environments including extensive formal gardens and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the largest enclosed forest park in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Europe; a 32 km wall extends around its perimeter, making it around the same size as Paris! Visitors can see stags, wild boar and deer. And <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you love birds, as I do,there are 150 species found here.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdbef4e elementor-blockquote--skin-boxed elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"fdbef4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tCan you imagine, dear Paul, that ever since I saw Chambord, I have been asking anyone and everyone: Have you seen Chambord?\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">Victor Hugo<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d27ddba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d27ddba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Chambord would appeal to almost everyone, but I think it is a great choice if you are traveling with children or teens: there is an elaborate show held daily in summer, where French chevalier (knights) joust on horseback. Birds of prey are also showcased at the performance. Find current information about showtimes here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chambord.org\/en\/discovering\/for-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Chambord for Children.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/p><p>With all that said, and apologies to Victor Hugo, I was supposed to visit Chambord on my recent France visit, but had to skip it because of a change in schedule. My husband Sean had a chance to tour it and was nice enough to take the photos. He promises me it is absolutely worth the hype\u2014 a must-see among the Loire chateaux.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-984bde9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"984bde9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-blois-france.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4854\" alt=\"Architecture of the Chateau du Blois in Loire Valley, France\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-blois-france.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-blois-france-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-blois-france-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The stunning exterior of the Chateau du Blois<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b275ab3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b275ab3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch\u00e2teau Royal de Blois<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-122b2de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"122b2de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span>Ch\u00e2teau Royal de Blois <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was home to seven French kings and ten French queens. I loved its stunning exterior and the interior has been carefully restored and furnished, with its apartments providing a look at the daily life of French royalty.\u00a0 There is also a notable art collection that reflects its history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>One of the unique things about this ch\u00e2teau is its setting, in the center of the city of Blois. (Most ch\u00e2teau are set in the country or in towns on considerable properties.) Although it doesn\u2019t have the gardens of other chateau, you can admire its interesting exterior as you walk through the quaint city. In summer (April to September), the castle has an evening sound and light show which tells the history at the castle.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-080ac58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"080ac58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-saumur.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4910\" alt=\"Chateau de Saumur on the Loire River, Loire Valley, France\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-saumur.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-saumur-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-saumur-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-587ab2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"587ab2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CHATEAU de SAUMUR<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03d6916 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"03d6916\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are staying at one of my favorite hotels, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/fr\/le-moulin-bregeon.html?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Le Moulin Bregeon<\/a> <\/span>(more below), and are arriving by train from Paris, you will likely arrive in the town of Saumur.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chateau de Saumur is one of the older chateau and has an interesting history.\u00a0 It was constructed in the 10th century as a stronghold against Norman attacks and so is fortified with a wall, something you don&#8217;t see in the typical chateau. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the 14th century, Duke Louis I of Anjou, the brother of King Charles V, transformed it into a palace and the building it resembles today.\u00a0 It was also a state prison under Napoleon Bonaparte.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>There is less to see on the inside than many of the other chateau &#8211; two museums are dedicated to tapestries and equestrian pursuits.\u00a0 So, I would not make a special trip here, but if you are in Saumur, a walk up to this chateau will give you wonderful views out over the city and the Loire River, and a chance to admire its beautiful exterior.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63b261c elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-2074 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"63b261c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-globe-africa\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 8C111.03 8 0 119.03 0 256s111.03 248 248 248 248-111.03 248-248S384.97 8 248 8zm160 215.5v6.93c0 5.87-3.32 11.24-8.57 13.86l-15.39 7.7a15.485 15.485 0 0 1-15.53-.97l-18.21-12.14a15.52 15.52 0 0 0-13.5-1.81l-2.65.88c-9.7 3.23-13.66 14.79-7.99 23.3l13.24 19.86c2.87 4.31 7.71 6.9 12.89 6.9h8.21c8.56 0 15.5 6.94 15.5 15.5v11.34c0 3.35-1.09 6.62-3.1 9.3l-18.74 24.98c-1.42 1.9-2.39 4.1-2.83 6.43l-4.3 22.83c-.62 3.29-2.29 6.29-4.76 8.56a159.608 159.608 0 0 0-25 29.16l-13.03 19.55a27.756 27.756 0 0 1-23.09 12.36c-10.51 0-20.12-5.94-24.82-15.34a78.902 78.902 0 0 1-8.33-35.29V367.5c0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-25.88c-14.49 0-28.38-5.76-38.63-16a54.659 54.659 0 0 1-16-38.63v-14.06c0-17.19 8.1-33.38 21.85-43.7l27.58-20.69a54.663 54.663 0 0 1 32.78-10.93h.89c8.48 0 16.85 1.97 24.43 5.77l14.72 7.36c3.68 1.84 7.93 2.14 11.83.84l47.31-15.77c6.33-2.11 10.6-8.03 10.6-14.7 0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-10.09c-4.11 0-8.05-1.63-10.96-4.54l-6.92-6.92a15.493 15.493 0 0 0-10.96-4.54H199.5c-8.56 0-15.5-6.94-15.5-15.5v-4.4c0-7.11 4.84-13.31 11.74-15.04l14.45-3.61c3.74-.94 7-3.23 9.14-6.44l8.08-12.11c2.87-4.31 7.71-6.9 12.89-6.9h24.21c8.56 0 15.5-6.94 15.5-15.5v-21.7C359.23 71.63 422.86 131.02 441.93 208H423.5c-8.56 0-15.5 6.94-15.5 15.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fe9fda elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0fe9fda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chateaux I 'll Visit Next time <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd6eb75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fd6eb75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch\u00e2teau Villandry<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-131dbcb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"131dbcb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chateauvillandry.fr\/\">Chateau Villandry<\/a> is known for its beautiful architecture but even more so its spectacular gardens. Apparently even its vegetable garden is breathtaking. The architect, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jean Le Breton, acquired his expertise on multiple projects, including the Chateau of Chambord. And he had an immense passion for garden design.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49937ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"49937ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch\u00e2teau de Chenonceau<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-406f310 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"406f310\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ch\u00e2teau Chenonceau is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">known as the \u201cWomen\u2019s Castle\u201d because a remarkable succession of women were its owners, proprietors and protectors from the 16th century to modern times. (Learn about its fascinating history here &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chenonceau.com\/en\/chateau\/the-history-of-the-chateau\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ch\u00e2teau Chenonceau<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.)<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is said to represent French elegance at its finest with gorgeously restored and furnished rooms, a beautiful display of tapestries, and an incredible art collection including works by Rubens and Van Dyck. I can\u2019t wait to see it.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1ab83e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e1ab83e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ch\u00e2teau d'Azay-le-Rideau<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e4e325 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e4e325\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Ch\u00e2teau d&#8217;Azay-le-Rideau is a smaller chateau with a picturesque lake setting.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f3386b0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f3386b0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0f5797d\" data-id=\"0f5797d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b03529 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7b03529\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Medici-Fountain.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-28544\" alt=\"The Medici Fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris France. Pictured at the end of the fountain is the sculpture Polyphemus Surprising Acis and Galatea, by Auguste Ottin. It was added to the fountain in 1866. Urns with flowers line both sides of the fountain and trees are reflected in the water below.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Medici-Fountain.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Medici-Fountain-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Medici-Fountain-768x640.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Medici-Fountain-150x125.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d8b7b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d8b7b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">DAY TRIPS FROM PARIS to the LOIRE VALLEY <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4348af elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b4348af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>This section contains affiliate links that could provide me with a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a reservation or purchase. More information at: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/privacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy &amp; Disclosure<\/a><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dce9e62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dce9e62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are organized day tours to the Loire Valley from Paris, which include visits to several popular chateaux. These are typically on a bus with a group, so check availability in 2020, due to coronavirus.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to do your own thing, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you can get to Tours or Orleans by TGV from Paris in just over an hour. Both of these cities place you near popular chateaux and trains run throughout the day in each direction.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can rent a car in Tours or Orleans. Do book ahead to expedite the process; I like <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europcar.com\/en-us?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EuropCar<\/a> <\/span>for France rentals, but Avis and Hertz also have locations here.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bd89e4f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bd89e4f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48b0a8a\" data-id=\"48b0a8a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b46cabb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b46cabb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-loire-river-france.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4872\" alt=\"The Loire River and town of Blois in Francee\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-loire-river-france.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-loire-river-france-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-loire-river-france-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Many of the region's beautiful towns and cities are next to the Loire River<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b00a39 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-2074 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7b00a39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-globe-africa\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 8C111.03 8 0 119.03 0 256s111.03 248 248 248 248-111.03 248-248S384.97 8 248 8zm160 215.5v6.93c0 5.87-3.32 11.24-8.57 13.86l-15.39 7.7a15.485 15.485 0 0 1-15.53-.97l-18.21-12.14a15.52 15.52 0 0 0-13.5-1.81l-2.65.88c-9.7 3.23-13.66 14.79-7.99 23.3l13.24 19.86c2.87 4.31 7.71 6.9 12.89 6.9h8.21c8.56 0 15.5 6.94 15.5 15.5v11.34c0 3.35-1.09 6.62-3.1 9.3l-18.74 24.98c-1.42 1.9-2.39 4.1-2.83 6.43l-4.3 22.83c-.62 3.29-2.29 6.29-4.76 8.56a159.608 159.608 0 0 0-25 29.16l-13.03 19.55a27.756 27.756 0 0 1-23.09 12.36c-10.51 0-20.12-5.94-24.82-15.34a78.902 78.902 0 0 1-8.33-35.29V367.5c0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-25.88c-14.49 0-28.38-5.76-38.63-16a54.659 54.659 0 0 1-16-38.63v-14.06c0-17.19 8.1-33.38 21.85-43.7l27.58-20.69a54.663 54.663 0 0 1 32.78-10.93h.89c8.48 0 16.85 1.97 24.43 5.77l14.72 7.36c3.68 1.84 7.93 2.14 11.83.84l47.31-15.77c6.33-2.11 10.6-8.03 10.6-14.7 0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-10.09c-4.11 0-8.05-1.63-10.96-4.54l-6.92-6.92a15.493 15.493 0 0 0-10.96-4.54H199.5c-8.56 0-15.5-6.94-15.5-15.5v-4.4c0-7.11 4.84-13.31 11.74-15.04l14.45-3.61c3.74-.94 7-3.23 9.14-6.44l8.08-12.11c2.87-4.31 7.71-6.9 12.89-6.9h24.21c8.56 0 15.5-6.94 15.5-15.5v-21.7C359.23 71.63 422.86 131.02 441.93 208H423.5c-8.56 0-15.5 6.94-15.5 15.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65154c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65154c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WHERE TO STAY IN THE LOIRE VALLEY<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df01035 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"df01035\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Loire Valley has great roads and beautiful chateaux located throughout, so you really can not go wrong. You could either pick a location based on what chateaux you want to see, especially if you are short on time, or you could just select the accommodation you like best, regardless of location, as we did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-270bc17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"270bc17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SLEEP IN A CHATEAUX in LOIRE VALLEY<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f818f77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f818f77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s now possible to stay at the <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/fr\/relais-de-chambord.html?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Relais de Chambord<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">,<\/span> next to the chateau. It&#8217;s well located to also see Blois Chateau and Cheverny, both about 15 kms away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7890ddd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7890ddd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">LOIRE COUNTRY INNS<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b3e897 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b3e897\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small hotels in the French countryside are often referred to as auberge or they might <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">use the english bed &amp; breakfast. The beautiful countryside is what the Loire Valley is all about and there are wonderful options of all varieties and price points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75c4a5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"75c4a5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/le-moulin-bregeon-loire-valley.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4471\" alt=\"le moulin bregeon in loire valley\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/le-moulin-bregeon-loire-valley.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/le-moulin-bregeon-loire-valley-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/le-moulin-bregeon-loire-valley-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Le Moulin Bregeon, a wheat mill turned country hotel in Loire Valley<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a9efdd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a9efdd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Le Moulin Bregeon<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09cf888 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"09cf888\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I can highly recommend, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stay22.com\/allez\/booking?aid=midlifeglobetrotter&amp;campaign=midlifeglobetrotter&amp;product=lma&amp;habl=false&amp;isinc=false&amp;sid22=b4aaff66-8c96-4c52-a878-a10fb6f3ca98&amp;source=direct&amp;medium=deeplink&amp;address=Loire+Valley%2C+France&amp;link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Ffr%2Fle-moulin-bregeon.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Le Moulin Bregeon<\/span><\/a>, an charming former wheat mill turned country retreat, near the town of Saumur, between the larger cities of Tours and Angers. I\u2019ve written a story about <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/charming-loire-valley-hotel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">my experience<\/a><\/span> because it\u2019s one of my favorite hotels. (Barbara Streisand agrees; she has also stayed there.) Ideally you would stay at least three nights, giving you two full days to explore the chateaux and have time to relax at this beautiful inn. They also offer cooking classes using the local Loire Valley ingredients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1788c1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1788c1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Auberge du Cheval Blanc<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59968e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59968e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you are looking for something budget-friendly, I stayed at the very well-priced\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotechevalblancsologne.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Auberge du Cheval Blanc<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>which has the option to dine at its incredible 4-star restaurant. Although the inn is more quaint than fancy, it is comfortable and charming and has a very nice breakfast. Dinner here was my favourite meal on my last trip to France &#8211; that includes everything I ate in Paris. This was my favourite! You will be hosted by a charming couple, Joel, the chef of Cheval Blanc, and his wife Patricia. Auberge du Cheval Blanc is very near Chambord and Cheverny.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3349b15 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3349b15\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">TOWN &amp; CITIES of the LOIRE VALLEY<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9cd17e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a9cd17e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To me, the Loire is about country inns, quiet roads and little villages, but some people prefer staying somewhere larger with options for exploring and walking around in the evening.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-313a219 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"313a219\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Loire-valley-towns.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5719\" alt=\"Town signs in Loire Valley\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Loire-valley-towns.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Loire-valley-towns-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Loire-valley-towns-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d52664c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d52664c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Many of the region&#8217;s beautiful cities are set on the Loire River; it&#8217;s France\u2019s largest river and stretches through the region to the Atlantic coast.\u00a0 (The area between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes is designated a Unesco World Heritage site.)\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>AMBOISE<\/strong> &#8211; If you wish to stay in a larger center, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amboise is a favourite of visitors with its charming old quarter and noteworthy <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chateau de Amboise. It was home to French kings from the 15th to the 19th centuries and hosted literary figures and artists such as Leonardo da Vinci who helped design it. The location of Amboise is ideal for touring some of the Loire Valley\u2019s most famous Chateaux, including Chambord, Chenonceau<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and Cheverny.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>BLOIS<\/strong> &#8211; I also really enjoyed the town of Blois and would consider staying there with it\u2019s great location and lovely castle. I also had the best quiche of my life at the Forges restaurant across from the chateau.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>ORLEANS<\/strong> &#8211; <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are pressed for time, the regional capital, Orleans, is a quick train ride from Paris and has many hotel choices. The beautiful <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sainte-Croix Cathedral is here and the Joan of Arc festival is celebrated each spring to commemorate the heroine\u2019s liberation of the city.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ffa3fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7ffa3fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/blois-chateau-town.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4855\" alt=\"chateau du blois is unique as it in a town\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/blois-chateau-town.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/blois-chateau-town-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/blois-chateau-town-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The town of Blois, with the chateau at the heart of this charming city<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d747fd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d747fd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>CHARTRES<\/strong> &#8211; <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chartres is bigger than Amboise and the main draw here is its Cathedral Notre-Dame. Built between 1145 and 1194, it is\u00a0 considered one of the best examples of French Gothic architecture and has remarkably well-preserved stained glass windows dating to the 13th century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>AZAY-le-RIDEAU<\/strong> &#8211; If you prefer a small town, Azay-le-Rideau looks absolutely charming and has the wonderful <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chateau d&#8217;Azay le Rideau, also on my list to visit<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3e0a1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3e0a1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This website, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manorcastles.com\/places\/tags\/castle-chateau-hotels-loire-valley\/france-1\/\">Manor Castles,<\/a><\/span> has a curated list of seven recommended chateaux you can stay in, in the Loire Valley, and allows you to search by a specific feature such as &#8220;swimming pool&#8221; or &#8220;self-catered&#8221;.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-acef0f0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"acef0f0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1276f9b\" data-id=\"1276f9b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71bc796 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"71bc796\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/cycling-linieres-bouton-france.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4796\" alt=\"Susan Heinrich pictured with a bicycle in the town of Linieres Bouton, in Loire Valley, France.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/cycling-linieres-bouton-france.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/cycling-linieres-bouton-france-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/cycling-linieres-bouton-france-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Cycling to a chateau in the Loire Valley<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fabcf3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fabcf3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CYCLING IN THE LOIRE VALLEY<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-389b90f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"389b90f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I really enjoyed cycling in the Loire Valley on day outings and would love to do a longer multi-day tour. Much of the terrain is flat with gently rolling hills, with ample stops for delicious food and drink, so it\u2019s an ideal foray into cycling adventures.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you enjoy active travel and are interested in a cycling holiday, there are many well-regarded tour companies which offer them. Here are a few:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc26ce8 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-2074 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"bc26ce8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-globe-africa\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 8C111.03 8 0 119.03 0 256s111.03 248 248 248 248-111.03 248-248S384.97 8 248 8zm160 215.5v6.93c0 5.87-3.32 11.24-8.57 13.86l-15.39 7.7a15.485 15.485 0 0 1-15.53-.97l-18.21-12.14a15.52 15.52 0 0 0-13.5-1.81l-2.65.88c-9.7 3.23-13.66 14.79-7.99 23.3l13.24 19.86c2.87 4.31 7.71 6.9 12.89 6.9h8.21c8.56 0 15.5 6.94 15.5 15.5v11.34c0 3.35-1.09 6.62-3.1 9.3l-18.74 24.98c-1.42 1.9-2.39 4.1-2.83 6.43l-4.3 22.83c-.62 3.29-2.29 6.29-4.76 8.56a159.608 159.608 0 0 0-25 29.16l-13.03 19.55a27.756 27.756 0 0 1-23.09 12.36c-10.51 0-20.12-5.94-24.82-15.34a78.902 78.902 0 0 1-8.33-35.29V367.5c0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-25.88c-14.49 0-28.38-5.76-38.63-16a54.659 54.659 0 0 1-16-38.63v-14.06c0-17.19 8.1-33.38 21.85-43.7l27.58-20.69a54.663 54.663 0 0 1 32.78-10.93h.89c8.48 0 16.85 1.97 24.43 5.77l14.72 7.36c3.68 1.84 7.93 2.14 11.83.84l47.31-15.77c6.33-2.11 10.6-8.03 10.6-14.7 0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-10.09c-4.11 0-8.05-1.63-10.96-4.54l-6.92-6.92a15.493 15.493 0 0 0-10.96-4.54H199.5c-8.56 0-15.5-6.94-15.5-15.5v-4.4c0-7.11 4.84-13.31 11.74-15.04l14.45-3.61c3.74-.94 7-3.23 9.14-6.44l8.08-12.11c2.87-4.31 7.71-6.9 12.89-6.9h24.21c8.56 0 15.5-6.94 15.5-15.5v-21.7C359.23 71.63 422.86 131.02 441.93 208H423.5c-8.56 0-15.5 6.94-15.5 15.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7485a97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7485a97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.butterfield.com\/trip\/loire-chateaux-biking\/\" target=\"_blank\">BUTTERFIELD &amp; ROBINSON - guided<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95a7d93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"95a7d93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canadian luxury-travel company <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.butterfield.com\/trip\/small-group\/loire-valley-biking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Butterfield &amp; Robinson<\/a> <\/span>has a 6-day tour.\u00a0 This might be ideal if you have a bigger budget, prefer luxury accommodation and don&#8217;t mind a little more cycling to work off the wine and cheese, about 40-50 kilometers a day. Priced from US$5995<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e974039 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e974039\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwater.com\/list\/by-region\/loire\/cycling.htm\" target=\"_blank\">HEADWATER - Self-guided<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-527877c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"527877c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.K.-based Headwater offers several cycling tours of the Loire Valley (self-guided and guided) including <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.headwater.com\/holidays\/cycling\/france\/C05LO.htm\">Cycling the Chateau of the Loire, <\/a><\/span>\u00a0 a 5-night itinerary priced from about US$1200.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-72ef5e3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"72ef5e3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ba60e8\" data-id=\"1ba60e8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6707c6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6707c6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/autumn-loire-valley-.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5715\" alt=\"Autumn leaves and a country house beyond down a gravel laneway, in the Loire Valley in France\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/autumn-loire-valley-.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/autumn-loire-valley--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/autumn-loire-valley--768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A visit to the Loire Valley can be wonderful in autumn<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ba737a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9ba737a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WHEN TO VISIT THE LOIRE VALLEY<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d693d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d693d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve\u00a0 visited the Loire Valley, and its chateaux, in autumn and early summer. I highly recommend September and October, probably my favorite time in France. It was also lovely in June, with warm days and cool nights. Summer is a busy time in Europe and can be too hot for some people. If you go in July or August, consider choosing areas that are less popular with European travelers, to avoid the crowds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paris is lovely in winter, but much of the countryside slows down, so there is less available to visitors, with some hotels and attractions entirely closed. France is also quite damp and grey in winter, although the Loire Valley doesn\u2019t get much snow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The upsides of winter travel are lower prices and no crowds, obviously. And who doesn\u2019t want a reason to spend half a day touring chateaux and the other half inside, drinking wine and eating cheese by the fire.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope thus guide has you dreaming of a trip to the Loire Valley. For more planning information, this website is helpful: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loirevalley-france.co.uk\/loire-chateaux\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Loire Chateaux.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253ff16 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-2074 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"253ff16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-globe-africa\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 8C111.03 8 0 119.03 0 256s111.03 248 248 248 248-111.03 248-248S384.97 8 248 8zm160 215.5v6.93c0 5.87-3.32 11.24-8.57 13.86l-15.39 7.7a15.485 15.485 0 0 1-15.53-.97l-18.21-12.14a15.52 15.52 0 0 0-13.5-1.81l-2.65.88c-9.7 3.23-13.66 14.79-7.99 23.3l13.24 19.86c2.87 4.31 7.71 6.9 12.89 6.9h8.21c8.56 0 15.5 6.94 15.5 15.5v11.34c0 3.35-1.09 6.62-3.1 9.3l-18.74 24.98c-1.42 1.9-2.39 4.1-2.83 6.43l-4.3 22.83c-.62 3.29-2.29 6.29-4.76 8.56a159.608 159.608 0 0 0-25 29.16l-13.03 19.55a27.756 27.756 0 0 1-23.09 12.36c-10.51 0-20.12-5.94-24.82-15.34a78.902 78.902 0 0 1-8.33-35.29V367.5c0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-25.88c-14.49 0-28.38-5.76-38.63-16a54.659 54.659 0 0 1-16-38.63v-14.06c0-17.19 8.1-33.38 21.85-43.7l27.58-20.69a54.663 54.663 0 0 1 32.78-10.93h.89c8.48 0 16.85 1.97 24.43 5.77l14.72 7.36c3.68 1.84 7.93 2.14 11.83.84l47.31-15.77c6.33-2.11 10.6-8.03 10.6-14.7 0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-10.09c-4.11 0-8.05-1.63-10.96-4.54l-6.92-6.92a15.493 15.493 0 0 0-10.96-4.54H199.5c-8.56 0-15.5-6.94-15.5-15.5v-4.4c0-7.11 4.84-13.31 11.74-15.04l14.45-3.61c3.74-.94 7-3.23 9.14-6.44l8.08-12.11c2.87-4.31 7.71-6.9 12.89-6.9h24.21c8.56 0 15.5-6.94 15.5-15.5v-21.7C359.23 71.63 422.86 131.02 441.93 208H423.5c-8.56 0-15.5 6.94-15.5 15.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bc7b7dc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bc7b7dc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2d313cb\" data-id=\"2d313cb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43351bd2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"43351bd2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tuileries-garden-paris.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-20683\" alt=\"The Tuileries Garden in Paris\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tuileries-garden-paris.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tuileries-garden-paris-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tuileries-garden-paris-768x640.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tuileries-garden-paris-150x125.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf515f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bf515f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Paris and the Loire Valley<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3edfa14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3edfa14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I recommend combining Paris with the Loire Valley, as they are quite close to each other and easy to reach by train. (I&#8217;ve marked cities with direct trains from Paris on the map at the top of the story.) Paris\u00a0 is my favorite city; I&#8217;ve visited more than 10 times! Here are some stories that might be of interest.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7eb9a161 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7eb9a161\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/holiday-apartments-paris\/\"><span class=\"s1\">Find &amp; Book a Holiday Apartment in Paris<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/travel-paris-shoes\/\">Best Shoes for Exploring Paris<\/a><\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/best-view-eiffel-tower\/\"><span class=\"s1\">Where to Get the Best View of the Eiffel Tower<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/paris-at-night\/\">Things to do in Paris at Night<\/a><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/solo-trip-paris\/\">Plan a Solo Trip to Paris\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/affordable-french-clothing-brands\/\">Affordable French Clothing Brands -Shopping in Paris<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FRANCE Gorgeous scenery, amazing food and stunning chateaux make it one of my favorite places Why only see Paris on a trip to France, when you can do as French royalty did\u2014leave the city for the refined pleasures of the many &#8220;Chateau de Loire&#8221; in the nearby Loire Valley.\u00a0 With over 100 chateaux to explore, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4866,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[172,30,84,100,38,108,40,54,191],"class_list":["post-4828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-guides","tag-architecture","tag-dream-trips","tag-europe","tag-favourite-places","tag-france","tag-loire-valley","tag-travel-for-foodies","tag-unesco-world-heritage","tag-where-to-travel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/chateau-de-cheverny-france.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4828\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}