Less than two hours from Paris hides one of the jewels of French heritage: the Châteaux de la Loire. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Loire Valley is a region that is great to discover. Through this course, it is the whole history of France that we cross and we can only marvel at the beauty of the architectures and the gardens. Among all these marvels, here are our favorite castles to visit.
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A little history…
It is in this valley that there is the greatest concentration of castles in the world. Indeed, wars have not ceased to rage over the centuries to appropriate this beautiful territory bordered by the Loire. Later, around the XNUMXth century, the court of the kings of France settled there. Thus, it is therefore new buildings that have emerged to accommodate all these people. Then in the middle of the Renaissance, the existing castles have, for their part and for the most part, been brought up to date with the times. There visit of the castles of the Loire is a must for all history lovers and enthusiasts around the world!
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The castle of Chambord
The Château de Chambord is one of the best known. Its Renaissance type architecture would have been imagined by Leonardo da Vinci, who was then living in Amboise. We owe him in particular the idea of the double spiral staircase or the Greek cross structure, similar to that of many Italian monuments such as Saint Peter's Basilica. During the visit, we do not miss to walk in the immense park of the castle and to take a look at the sublime view from the roofs.
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The Royal Castle of Amboise
The Château d'Amboise deserves special attention. Admittedly, the panoramic gardens offer a magnificent view of the Loire, but it is truly the interior that is dazzling. The different rooms, including the royal apartments, are all richly decorated and house a breathtaking collection of Gothic and Renaissance furniture. Finally, the presumed remains of Leonardo da Vinci would be in the castle, in the Saint-Hubert chapel. It is therefore not surprising that it was listed as a historical monument in 1840.
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Chenonceau Castle
The Château de Chenonceau is nicknamed the “Château des Dames”. Indeed, it was notably inhabited by two important women for the history of France: Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis. It is also to the latter that we owe the pretty arcades on the river. During the visit, one can discover furniture and tapestries from the Renaissance, paintings by masters like Rubens or sublime gardens. To change your perspective, don't hesitate to take a cruise on the Cher to see this jewel of heritage from a new angle.
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The Chateau d'Usse
Seeing the Château d'Ussé, we can only say that it reminds us of something... And for good reason, Charles Perrault was inspired by this building to write Sleeping Beauty. It is therefore in a particularly magical universe that we travel when we set out to discover it. Moreover, wax statues telling this beautiful story are staged on the walkway of the castle. Exhibitions are regularly organized and visiting the gardens designed by Le Nôtre is a must in summer.
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The Castle of Azay-le-Rideau
The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is less known than the previous ones, but brings us some great discoveries. A jewel of the Renaissance, it is located in the heart of a magnificent park from the 19e century surrounded by water from the Indre. Like a timeless island, it can be visited from the moat to the attic and framework. Perfect for getting an idea of the architecture of the time.
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Cheverny Castle
The Château de Cheverny is one of the largest in the valley. Its main attraction lies in the richness of the furniture. Here, you can see a Gobelins tapestry, there a four-poster bed which welcomed Henri IV or even a chest of drawers from the Louis XIV period... These treasures have been carefully guarded by the inhabitants of the house, the descendants of the same family since six centuries.
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Villandry Castle
The Château de Villandry is particularly renowned for its magnificent French gardens. Divided into six different spaces on three floors, they are the ones that attract all lovers of greenery. The vegetable garden, for example, is beautifully composed and is discovered in a new light when you gain height. The water garden is also particularly worth a visit.
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And for those who wish to stay on the outskirts of Paris…
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The Palace of Versailles
Listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years, the Palace of Versailles is one of the finest achievements of French art in the XNUMXth century. Until the French Revolution, kings succeeded each other, each in turn embellishing the Château. Today, rediscover the splendor of the reign of Louis XIV by browsing the Hall of Mirrors, the Grand Apartments of the King or the Museum of the History of France...
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Chantilly Castle
The Château de Chantilly unquestionably represents one of the jewels of French heritage. It is the work of a man with an exceptional destiny: Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale, son of the last king of the French, Louis-Philippe. This prince, considered the greatest collector of his time, made Chantilly the setting for his countless masterpieces and precious manuscripts. Thus, the castle has gone through the centuries as the Duke of Aumale bequeathed it in 1886 to the Institut de France... During your visit, you will then dive into the heart of a journey through time, within a sublime princely residence. An unforgettable experience !
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The Castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Located at the gates of Paris and dominating the Seine valley, the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye has crossed the centuries to the rhythm of the great events of history... It was within it that Louis XIV was born in 1638. Under his reign, Saint Germain becomes the seat of government of the kingdom. The Château-Vieux became the king's habitual residence from 1666 to 1682, when the court left for Versailles… It now houses the National Archaeological Museum.
