Travel Journal

The Loire Valley Châteaux We Love Most

©Chenonceau

This isn’t a complete list, and it’s not meant to be. These are simply the châteaux we enjoy visiting, the ones we tend to recommend without overthinking it.

January 15, 2026

The first time we visited the Loire Valley, we tried to see too much.
Too many châteaux, too many stops, too many hours in the car. It was impressive, but exhausting, and we didn’t retain much of it.

Since then, we’ve changed the way we visit the region. We choose fewer places and give them more time. We walk slowly. We sit down. We don’t worry about seeing everything.

These are the châteaux that make sense to us. Some are well known, others less so. What they have in common is that the visit feels balanced; architecture, gardens, interiors, and atmosphere all working together.

©Tourisme Saumur

Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau is often the first château people think of, and there’s a reason for that.

It’s large, but it never feels overwhelming. The way it stretches across the river softens everything, the light, the movement, even the crowds. We like visiting it early in the day, before things get busy.

The interiors are worth taking time with. They’re elegant but not theatrical. You can imagine how the rooms were used, not just how they were decorated. The gardens are very different from one another, which makes walking through them more interesting than expected.

If someone is visiting the Loire Valley for the first time and only chooses one château, this is often the one we suggest.

©Villandry

Château de Villandry

Villandry is all about the gardens.

We usually head straight outside and spend most of our time there. The organisation, the geometry, the way the vegetable garden is treated with the same care as the ornamental ones, it’s all very intentional.

It’s a good reminder that gardens in France aren’t just decorative. They’re practical, cultural, and deeply tied to daily life. Villandry shows that clearly.

This is a château we recommend to anyone who enjoys gardens, but also to those who think they don’t, it tends to change minds.

©Ussé

Château d’Ussé

Ussé is smaller, quieter, and very romantic.

It’s the kind of place you visit without rushing. The architecture is classic Loire Valley, towers, pale stone, wooded surroundings. It’s easy to understand why it’s often linked to fairy tales.

We like pairing a visit to Ussé with a long lunch nearby and no strict plans afterward. It’s not a château that needs hours, but it does benefit from a slower pace.

©Azay-le-Rideau

Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

Azay-le-Rideau is calm and well proportioned.

It sits on the water, and the reflections immediately slow things down. The architecture is balanced and elegant without being imposing.

This is a good château to visit when you want something quieter and less crowded, especially outside peak season. We always find ourselves staying longer than planned here, without really noticing the time.

Château de Valençay

Valençay doesn’t try to impress, and that’s what makes it appealing.

It’s less visited, more discreet, and very refined. The interiors are elegant without excess, and the overall visit feels relaxed.

We tend to recommend Valençay to people who appreciate understatement, those who don’t need the most famous name, but want a place that feels coherent and well cared for.

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