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Loire Valley guides
45 articles to prepare your stay: itineraries, châteaux, food, cycling, wine, families, remote work. Written from Meung-sur-Loire.
Itineraries
8 articles
September 1, 2026
Route Jacques-Coeur: 3-Day Road Trip Through Berry (10 Châteaux + Bourges)
An hour south of the grand Loire châteaux, the Berry hides the Jacques-Coeur Route: 180 km, 10 secret châteaux, Noirlac Cistercian Abbey, Sancerre vineyards, capital Bourges.
July 1, 2026
Loire Valley Day Trip from Paris: The Ultimate TGV Guide 2026
A Loire Valley day trip from Paris is technically doable. Here are the three TGV plans that work in 2026, their real budgets (95 to 195 euros), and our insider tip.
April 15, 2026
Loire Valley in Autumn: 12 Golden Landscapes to Discover from October to November
From October to mid-November, the Loire Valley shifts into a palette of ochre, copper and rust. Here are our 12 favorite spots to capture this all-too-short season from your base in Meung-sur-Loire.
April 12, 2026
Loire castles weekend by train from Paris
You can visit the most beautiful Loire châteaux without renting a car. Here's how, from Paris, in 2 days, without missing the essentials.
April 5, 2026
Loire Valley châteaux in 4 days
Four days is the sweet spot for visiting the essential châteaux without rushing, while keeping time for the Loire and local food.
March 28, 2026
The 10 most beautiful Loire châteaux
Of the 300 châteaux in the Loire Valley, ten truly deserve a dedicated visit. Here's our selection, from the great classics to the confidential gems.
March 20, 2026
The Loire Valley in winter
Winter is the most under-used season in the Loire Valley. It's also when the châteaux are nearly empty and the mist on the Loire becomes magical.
March 12, 2026
When to visit the Loire châteaux
The Loire Valley changes radically by season. Here's a month-by-month guide to pick the right time for your traveller profile.
Châteaux
9 articles July 15, 2026
Chambord vs Versailles: Which Château to Choose for Your Weekend (Complete Comparison)
Chambord vs Versailles: the debate has divided heritage lovers for three centuries. One a Renaissance manifesto by a 25-year-old king. The other an absolutist power machine.
May 1, 2026
Cheverny and Marlinspike: The Truth About the Château That Inspired Tintin (Hergé Never Visited)
Cheverny is Captain Haddock's Marlinspike Hall. All Tintin fans know it — and three million of them make the pilgrimage every year. Yet Hergé never set foot at Cheverny.
April 22, 2026
Visit Chambord: complete guide
Chambord is the most visited château in the Loire — therefore the most exposed to mass tourism. Here's how to really enjoy it.
April 18, 2026
Visit Chenonceau
Chenonceau is arguably the most photogenic château in the Loire. It's also the most visited after Versailles. Here's how to make the most of it.
April 15, 2026
Visit Cheverny
Cheverny is different. It's a lived-in château, by the same family for six centuries. And it's the model for Captain Haddock's Marlinspike Hall in Tintin.
April 10, 2026
Amboise and Clos Lucé
Amboise is where Leonardo da Vinci lived and died. Visiting the royal château and Clos Lucé is walking through the genius's last years.
April 8, 2026
Visit the royal Château of Blois
Blois is the unique château where four architectural styles cohabit. A French history lesson in stone, in one visit.
April 1, 2026
The Final 3 Years of Leonardo da Vinci at Clos Lucé: An Investigation Into the Genius in Exile
In 1516, Leonardo was 64, his right hand paralyzed, his Italian patrons gone. Francis I, 22, offered him Amboise. Leonardo accepted, crossed the Alps on a mule with three paintings including the Mona Lisa.
February 15, 2026
Diane de Poitiers vs Catherine de Medici: The True Story of the Rivalry That Shaped Chenonceau
Two women, one king, one château. For thirty years, the mistress and the humiliated queen waged a war of influence at Chenonceau whose traces are still visible in the stone.
Activities
8 articles November 15, 2026
Tarte Tatin: Investigation in Lamotte-Beuvron, Where France's Favorite Dessert Was Born
Tarte Tatin: everyone knows it, few know its true history. Investigation in Lamotte-Beuvron in the Sologne, where two sisters invented in 1898 France's favorite dessert.
June 1, 2026
Loire Valley Grape Harvest 2026: 8 Estates That Open Their Doors
From late August to mid-October, the Loire Valley vineyards enter their moment of truth. For a few persevering amateurs, it is the rare chance to pick yourself at prestigious estates.
May 2, 2026
Loire by Bike: stages and tips
Loire by Bike is one of the most beautiful cycle routes in Europe. Here's how to tackle it based on your level and available time.
April 30, 2026
Loire Valley wines: 8 wineries to visit
The Loire Valley is France's third wine region and one of the most diverse. Here are eight producers to discover on a weekend.
April 28, 2026
Michelin restaurants in the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley has around twenty Michelin stars and as many quiet chef-led bistros. Here's our tested selection.
April 25, 2026
Loire Valley markets
Going to the market is understanding a region in two hours. Here are the best Loire Valley markets and what to find.
April 20, 2026
Canoeing on the Loire and water activities
The Loire is Europe's last great wild river. Paddling on it is one of the most beautiful ways to understand it.
March 1, 2026
International Garden Festival of Chaumont-sur-Loire 2026: "The Garden Goes to the Movies"
Since 1992, the Chaumont Garden Festival has become the global rendezvous of contemporary landscape design. For 2026, "The Garden Goes to the Movies" promises spectacular installations inspired by great films.
Themes
20 articles October 15, 2026
Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire Abbey: Attend Gregorian Chants in 2026
35 minutes from Meung-sur-Loire, Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire Abbey (known as "Fleury") houses the second tomb of Saint Benedict and keeps alive 1,100 years of uninterrupted Gregorian chant.
October 1, 2026
Visiting Loire Valley Châteaux with Your Dog: The 2026 List by Access Level
Visiting the Loire Valley châteaux with your dog in 2026 is possible — provided you know each site's policy. Here is the complete list of 15 dog-friendly châteaux classified by access level.
September 15, 2026
Loire Châteaux Parking: Free, Paid, and Tips to Avoid Traffic Jams
Parking at Loire Valley châteaux has become a headache. Here is the 2026 practical guide with local tips to save 1 hour every day and up to 30 euros per visit.
August 15, 2026
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in Orléans, 1572: France's Second Bloodiest City After Paris
We always speak of the Paris St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of August 24, 1572. We forget that the second bloodiest city was Orléans, with over 1,000 Protestants murdered in two days.
August 1, 2026
Wheelchair-Accessible Loire Châteaux: Complete Guide for Mobility, Visual and Hearing Disabilities
Visiting the Loire Valley châteaux in a wheelchair, with low vision, or with hearing impairment is now widely possible. Here is the comprehensive PMR guide to the 12 main châteaux, updated for 2026.
June 15, 2026
Basilica Notre-Dame de Cléry: Louis XI's Secret 15 Minutes from Meung-sur-Loire
Fifteen minutes from Meung-sur-Loire, the Basilica of Cléry-Saint-André holds the tomb of Louis XI, the king who snubbed Saint-Denis to rest in this Loire sanctuary.
May 15, 2026
Stag Rut in Sologne 2026: 7 Spots to Hear the King of the Forest
From mid-September to mid-October in Sologne, the evening silence gives way to a deep, almost prehistoric cry: the stag rut. One of the most intense natural spectacles in Europe.
May 10, 2026
Family holidays in the Loire
The Loire Valley is one of France's most kid-friendly destinations. Here are ten activities that really delight children.
May 8, 2026
Remote working from the Loire Valley
Working from the Loire Valley 1-2 weeks a month is a Paris alternative that's becoming common. Here's how to organise it.
May 5, 2026
Honeymoon in the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is one of France's most emblematic romantic destinations. Here's how to make it a memorable stay.
May 3, 2026
The gardens of the Loire châteaux
Some Loire châteaux are worth as much for their gardens as their walls. Here are the eight essential gardens.
April 1, 2026
Festivals and events 2026
The Loire Valley lives year-round to the rhythm of festivals and themed events. Here are the 2026 highlights not to miss.
March 25, 2026
Photographing the Loire châteaux
The Loire châteaux are one of France's richest photographic subjects. Here's how to really capture them.
March 22, 2026
Beaugency: visit the medieval town
Beaugency is a surprisingly well-preserved medieval town 10 minutes from Meung-sur-Loire. The ideal half-day between two royal châteaux.
March 18, 2026
Visit Orléans in 1 day
Orléans is the Loire Valley capital and one of France's most underrated cities. Here's how to visit it in 1 day.
March 15, 2026
Lesser-known Loire Valley châteaux
If you've already done Chambord, Chenonceau and Cheverny, these six less-frequented châteaux await — some rival the stars.
March 15, 2026
Joan of Arc Festival in Orléans 2026: Complete Program from April 29 to May 8
Each year, Orléans celebrates the woman who freed it from the English in 1429. Ten days of medieval festivities culminate on May 8. In 2026, Clémence Miot, 16, embodies Joan for the 597th edition.
March 10, 2026
What to do in Meung-sur-Loire
Meung-sur-Loire is more than a château stop. It's a real Loire village with its own heritage. Here's our local guide.
February 1, 2026
François Villon at Meung-sur-Loire: On the Trail of the Cursed Poet Imprisoned by the Bishop
Summer 1461. A thirty-year-old Parisian poet, already condemned to death once for murder, rots in the dungeons of the château of Meung-sur-Loire. Without the providential death of a king 200 km away, French poetry history would have changed.
January 15, 2026
Christmas at the Loire Valley Châteaux 2026-2027: Program, Illuminations and Official Passes
From mid-November through early January, five royal châteaux turn into fairy-tale stages: giant trees, video mapping, candlelit dinners, façade illuminations. Here is our complete guide.