Off to the Loire Valley in July for a week with friends in a motorhome, will be there for Bastille Day. Will have some pushbikes in the camper garage and looking to see the best it has to offer. All like a bottle of wine or two and good food, lovely scenary etc. Any advice, tips or places that we must see?
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There are a considerable amount of Chateau's around the Loire Valley so you're spoilt for choice, but the Chateau de Chaumont in Chaumont-sur-Loire is well worth a visit it has a huge 'themed' garden complex alongside as well.
Just to the east is a castle building project where they are building a castle from scratch using traditional methods only. It's called Guedelon Castle in Treigny and it's 20 years since they started. There is a website www.guedelon.fr it's fascinating to see and there are plenty of hands on activities to get involved in. A bit of a trek depending on where you are staying, but a very good day out.
Depends on what you want to do, but if it's alcohol related :-) then the Langlois-Chateau in Samur is very good, they do a tour plus wine tasting in a converted cave.
If you like your cathedrals then Orleans is a must and it also has some decent restaurants, bars and cafe's in and around the city centre.
I would highly recommend a visit here:
https://www.chenonceau.com/en
https://www.puydufou.com/en
The state owned ones, which includes the famous chateau of chambord (https://www.experienceloire.com/chateau-de-chambord.htm) are very sparely decorated, if they have any furniture in them at all.
The privately owned chateau have a lot of the original furniture and fittings and are spectacular.
One of the most spectacular is Cheverny (https://www.experienceloire.com/cheverny.htm), which was also used as a model for Tintin’s house in the comic books, of the same name.
Also worth a visit is the Clos-Lucé (https://www.experienceloire.com/clos-luce.htm), especially if you are interested in Leonardo Da Vinci!
As for Chateaux, I’d recommend Chenonceau which is fairy tale beautiful but can get spectacularly busy if you pick the wrong time and it isn’t set up for crowds, Chambord (big and ominous), Villandry (amazing gardens) and Azay le Rideaux are great too.
An interesting diversion is Montmorillon which is about 90 mins drive south of the main Loire drag. Lovely little town with a nice square, church and bridge over the river. Stayed there a few years ago and have happy memories.
If you can get to Angers,the tapestry of the apocalypse is worth seeing too. Enjoy.
Edit. Nearly forgot, the Abbey at Fontevraud is great and is quite close to the Jamet vineyard. Just over the river.