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CurtEastPoint

(18,552 posts)
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 03:35 PM Apr 2016

I plan to visit some Loire Valley chateaux this fall. Take a look and help me narrow it down some.

If you've visited any, let me know!

Château de Sully-sur-Loire



Château de Cheverny


Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

Château d'Amboise

Clos Lucé (da Vinci lived here for 3 years!)


Château de Montreuil-Bellay ?


Château de Saumur


Château de Brissac


Château du Plessis-Bourré

Château de Chenonceau 


Château d'Azay-le-Rideau


Château d'Ussé


Château de Villandry

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I plan to visit some Loire Valley chateaux this fall. Take a look and help me narrow it down some. (Original Post) CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 OP
oh wow What a wonderful problem! oldandhappy Apr 2016 #1
Congrats. One of the most beautiful places in Europe. GermanWatcher Apr 2016 #2
I also recommend Chinon, it's a lovely little town on the river underahedgerow Apr 2016 #9
Chinon was wonderful DebbieCDC Apr 2016 #26
they all look great but two I really like are the one Leonardo lived in (fabulous) and CTyankee Apr 2016 #3
I plan on about 4 days to visit several. I will have spent 10 days in Brittany CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #5
been to Paris twice and had a river cruse down the Rhone into the south of France. CTyankee Apr 2016 #6
Sicily is very much on my to-do list. Enjoy! Mangia! CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #7
I've been there once, 10 years ago. I couldn't see that damn painting because it had CTyankee Apr 2016 #8
'Burial of St Lucy' ? CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #10
Hey, you know your Caravaggio! CTyankee Apr 2016 #35
Not really. It piqued my interest and ... Google! Good luck and... CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #39
It will hopefully be in the church where the St. Lucy painting now is preserved. CTyankee Apr 2016 #40
Its like seeing the beautiful fairytale castles from my childhood books made real. procon Apr 2016 #4
Raine recently visited d'Amboise. elleng Apr 2016 #11
Sorry... who? CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #12
Raine1967, elleng Apr 2016 #13
Thanks! CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #15
What fun! doxyluv13 Apr 2016 #14
Those two are def on my list. Thank you! CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #16
1 and 3 look like fairy tale castles! Odin2005 Apr 2016 #17
You apparently left out an essential one: Chambord Albertoo Apr 2016 #18
I did because I've been to it once but could go again! CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #19
Oh, the memories! My husband and I honeymooned in France for a month--31 years ago. mnhtnbb Apr 2016 #20
wonderful area in many ways cynannmarie Apr 2016 #21
If you find one at a good price, feel free to grab it for me, ole buddy, ole friend! struggle4progress Apr 2016 #22
find the cheapest one with the best food...and no drafts snooper2 Apr 2016 #23
I love d'Ussé Recursion Apr 2016 #24
Azerbaijan-le-Rideau burrowowl Apr 2016 #25
Château de Chenonceau looks umissable TubbersUK Apr 2016 #27
Amazing Liberal_in_LA Apr 2016 #28
I've been to Saumur. suffragette Apr 2016 #29
Your comments (everyone's!) are so helpful. Thank you all so much! CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #30
Looking forward to seeing your photos! suffragette Apr 2016 #34
We went to Château d'Amboise, Clos Lucé and Château de Villandry Raine1967 Apr 2016 #31
How delightful! Thank you... CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #32
You're welcome! Raine1967 Apr 2016 #33
I'm partial to the top one KamaAina Apr 2016 #36
I am not the type of person who is envious but that ended jwirr Apr 2016 #37
Sure! And never say never! CurtEastPoint Apr 2016 #38

GermanWatcher

(61 posts)
2. Congrats. One of the most beautiful places in Europe.
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 03:48 PM
Apr 2016

We rode our bikes from Orléans to Nantes in 2011. I'd recommend Chambord, the town and castle of Chinon and Angers with the Bayeux tapestry. And don't forget to sample the Crémant de Loire...

underahedgerow

(1,232 posts)
9. I also recommend Chinon, it's a lovely little town on the river
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 04:29 PM
Apr 2016

and the site of where Joan of Arc met the king. There's a stone and a plaque and it's REALLY cool.

It's such a great area. I would go for the less is more approach or you're just going to get overwhelmed and you'll be rushing so fast, they'll all blend into one. Those chateaus are enormous and LOTS of walking and walking on marble floors totally destroys your feet. You'll be aching. So take it slow, don't rush and see the couple that are best.

DebbieCDC

(2,542 posts)
26. Chinon was wonderful
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 01:19 AM
Apr 2016

And so was Chennonceau. You can't really go wrong though with ANY Loire Valley chateau.

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
3. they all look great but two I really like are the one Leonardo lived in (fabulous) and
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 03:52 PM
Apr 2016

the one with the pointed gothic spires, Chateau Amboise.

Why don't you find out what else is in the areas of these chateeax and see what you discover. That might be a good way...

Me, I'd probably do several in one general area to get some comparisons...what a terrific project!

CurtEastPoint

(18,552 posts)
5. I plan on about 4 days to visit several. I will have spent 10 days in Brittany
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 04:00 PM
Apr 2016

just before this.

I've been to Chambord before and have seen the Bayeux tapestry in Normandy last year.

There is SO MUCH to see in France in a country the size of Texas!

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
6. been to Paris twice and had a river cruse down the Rhone into the south of France.
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 04:03 PM
Apr 2016

That was wonderful. I'm going to Sicily in two weeks. Hope to get to see a Caravaggio that is in a church there...

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
8. I've been there once, 10 years ago. I couldn't see that damn painting because it had
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 04:28 PM
Apr 2016

been sent to Florence for restoration. Second try...

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
35. Hey, you know your Caravaggio!
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 12:35 PM
Apr 2016

I did an art essay on this painting here on DU. It was basically a rewritten piece from my Master's thesis 11 years ago. I will try to get inside the church in Siricusa when I'm in Sicily later as I have candles to light for some friends to send a healing vibe...

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
40. It will hopefully be in the church where the St. Lucy painting now is preserved.
Fri Apr 22, 2016, 05:06 PM
Apr 2016

It's in an old church in Siricusa that attracts lots of visitors because of the painting, I hope. My friend is so grateful that I am doing this but I think it a sweet thing for those who appreciate it. Some don't want it and that's fine, too.

doxyluv13

(247 posts)
14. What fun!
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 04:45 PM
Apr 2016

I would say, and I've been to most, not to miss Chenonceau--it's built across a frickin river. If you are at all interested in gardening, Villandry is worth it even tho only a few rooms of the chateau are open. The French had figured out how to extend the growing season in the pre-greenhouse era by these sunken gardens and their microclimates. This gave a better sense of how the chateau residents lived than just seeing their stuff.

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
18. You apparently left out an essential one: Chambord
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 06:40 PM
Apr 2016

The other top ones are arguably Amboise, Azay, Chenonceaux and Villandry.

Chambord:

mnhtnbb

(31,319 posts)
20. Oh, the memories! My husband and I honeymooned in France for a month--31 years ago.
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 10:48 PM
Apr 2016

I absolutely loved the Loire Valley and we visited many of the chateaux.

My favorites:

Chambord

Chenonceau

The Royal Chateau of Blois

but we also visited

Chaumont sur Loire

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

cynannmarie

(113 posts)
21. wonderful area in many ways
Mon Apr 18, 2016, 11:53 PM
Apr 2016

I've been to most of these, although it's been some years now. Most memorable for me were Chenonceau, Villandry, Azay le Rideau and the 2 related to Leonardo da Vinci--Amboise and Clos Luce. The exhibit of Leonardo's inventions was super interesting. If you're really into it you can see more than 1 in a day since the driving distance between most of them is short. Chenonceau might take the longest time since it is so large. But it is fabulous. Azay le Rideau is small and can be seen in an hour or so. Have a terrific trip!

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
24. I love d'Ussé
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 12:35 AM
Apr 2016

There's a hotel right nearby in Chinon, Diderot, that is wonderful, and a great Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant called l'Oceanic, which makes the best turbot I've ever had in my life (and that was two days after eating turbot at le Meurice in Paris...)

burrowowl

(17,607 posts)
25. Azerbaijan-le-Rideau
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 01:17 AM
Apr 2016

Done by woman architect be sure to sample local wine with good garden grown veggies etc

suffragette

(12,232 posts)
29. I've been to Saumur.
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 01:49 AM
Apr 2016

It's a lovely town. Our hotel had french doors which opened to a beautiful view of the river.

Because I had sprained my ankle badly, I did not make it up the hill to the chateau, but my sister did and enjoyed it.

We both enjoyed the wonderful fish in beurre blanc, a tasting tour at Combier (the peach liqueur is essence of fresh peach) and the kindness of the people there who went out of their way to be helpful to us (including a helpful upgrade to a lower level room with a large bathtub with waterjets and a ride to the train station). Also the chocolatier plied us with free samples and tucked generous freebies into our bag of a small purchase.

We had planned a couple of side trips from there, but my ankle did not allow for these.

One would have been to a dolmen in Saumur. Very unusual in that it is on private property and I think they have a small cafe. To sip coffee at ease near something so ancient stirred my imagination.

The other was to have been to the Abbey of Fontevraud. There are effigies of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine there. Eleanor in particular led such an amazing life, especially for a woman of her time.

Also, on the train from Angers to there, you can see local cave dwellings, some of which are still used.


https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187199-d3291376-r222713742-Distillery_Combier-Saumur_Maine_et_Loire_Pays_de_la_Loire.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontevraud_Abbey

http://www.saumur-tourisme.net/ville-uk.html

http://www.ledolmendebagneux.com/

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
31. We went to Château d'Amboise, Clos Lucé and Château de Villandry
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 08:55 AM
Apr 2016

It was only a day trip but we managed to see these three:

Château d'Amboise:










Clos Lucé: (There is a tunnel that connects Lucé to d'Amboise for DaVinci)










and Villandry. (The gardens were still starting to pop but they were amazing nonetheless)












Have fun! I can't wait to get back there and spend a week!

CurtEastPoint

(18,552 posts)
32. How delightful! Thank you...
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 09:07 AM
Apr 2016

so much for sharing! Great photos and my favorite of course was the cat on the cushion. I appreciate your taking the time to post these!

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
37. I am not the type of person who is envious but that ended
Tue Apr 19, 2016, 01:24 PM
Apr 2016

with this post. Going to earmark this so I can use it as a travel guide on the internet. That is the only way I will be able to get there.

Have fun and thanks for the post.

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