The most beautiful Loire Valley châteaux
The top 3 according to 12 votes from people: Château de Chenonceau · Château de Chambord · Royal Château of Amboise. (Updated Jan 28, 2025.)
The Loire Valley châteaux that appear in every selection: Renaissance architecture, gardens and royal history.
Automatically translated (original in Français). See the original
Top 10
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1
Château de Chenonceau
The 'Ladies' Château', built on arches spanning the Cher.
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2
Château de Chambord
The largest Loire château, with its double-helix staircase; around a million visitors a year.
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3
Royal Château of Amboise
Royal residence where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, in the Saint-Hubert chapel.
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4
Château de Villandry
Famous for its Renaissance gardens, including the ornamental kitchen garden.
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5
Royal Château of Blois
Four wings from four eras around a courtyard, with the François I staircase.
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6
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Renaissance gem that seems to float on the Indre.
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7
Château de Cheverny
Furnished château still lived in, which inspired Hergé's Marlinspike Hall.
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8
Château d'Ussé
Turreted château said to have inspired Perrault's Sleeping Beauty.
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9
Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire
Château that hosts the International Garden Festival every year.
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10
Château du Clos Lucé
Leonardo da Vinci's last home in Amboise, with models of his inventions.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Château de Saumur
White château overlooking the Loire, famous from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.
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12
Brissac Castle
Seven-story Château d'Anjou, nicknamed "the giant of the Loire Valley", inhabited by the same family since 1502.
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13
Valencay Castle
Renaissance castle of Indre, purchased by Talleyrand in 1803 on the orders of Napoleon.
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14
Château de Langeais
Medieval fortress with a rich collection of tapestries and furniture.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (12)
Le Clos Lucé, dernière demeure de Léonard de Vinci, très émouvant.
Chaumont et son festival des jardins chaque année.
Cheverny a inspiré Moulinsart à Hergé, les fans de Tintin vont adorer.
Azay-le-Rideau qui se reflète dans l'eau, le plus romantique.
Chenonceau en premier, le château des Dames enjambant le Cher, magnifique.
Faire les châteaux à vélo par la Loire à Vélo, je recommande !
Il manque Brissac, le plus haut château de France !
Et Valençay, où Talleyrand recevait.
Trop de monde à Chambord en août, allez-y en septembre.
Super liste, on part en octobre avec les enfants 😊
Les jardins de Villandry en été, un spectacle.
Chambord et son escalier à double révolution, peut-être dessiné par Léonard.