Chantel & Paul's Wedding 2016

Things to Do in the Loire Valley

 

For many, Loire Valley is renowned for more than 300 Châteaus (castles), fuelled with lavishly planted gardens, stunning architecture and historical links to the French kings and nobles. Depending on your schedule, there are a variety of things you can do in Loire Valley. For your own convenience, having access to a car is highly recommended. Here are a few suggestions to help plan your trip:

 

For those who only have one day to spare after the wedding:

The closest main town from Château de Challain is called Angers. It is 40 minutes' drive by car. Paying a relaxing day trip to Angers could comprise of a stroll by the Loire (river), a visit to the black-stoned Château d'Angers with its fantastic tapestry and complete the day with a gastronomic experience in town.

 

2-3 days:

For those who are after a more extended stay… not only can you visit Angers, we would also recommend visiting some vineyards and beautiful Châteaus in the east of the Loire Valley region. Our favourites are Château de Chambord (the giant version of the Château where we will get married), Château de Villandry (a gorgeous garden) and Leonardo da Vinci's last residence Château du Clos Lucé (an encounter with one of the greatest minds in human history). Do allow a good proportion of a day for each of these sites to have a fuller experience. Again, there is never a lack of options when it comes to rewarding yourself with an indulgent meal in the middle or after a day of walking in these historical sites.

Please note: For those who are short on time and returning home by flight, you may want to fly out from Tours airport (East of Loire Valley, where most famous chateaus are located) rather than Nantes/ Angers (West of Loire Valley) to save yourself some time!

 

For those who have 4+ days to spare:

Apart from visiting the above suggested sites that would offer you the major highlights of the region, we would recommend the following:

To the west: There are plenty of smaller scale family owned Châteaus e.g. Château de Serrant. You can join the guided tour (in French, with an English booklet) which would give you a glimpse into the hidden gems. For those who want a mini sun break, you may consider paying a trip to the seaside of the Western coast of France e.g. Le Croisic and Le Baule in Brittany (approximately an hour drive from Nantes Airport).

To the east: For those who survived the overdose of Châteaux and would insist for more, we would suggest Château de Chenonceau and the "sleeping beauty castle", Château d'Ussé. We would also recommend the picturesque town, Amboise where you can enjoy a cocktail along the river. 

 

For the extreme adventurers: Hot air balooning, cycling, horse riding, canoeing and kayaking can all be found in the region.

 

For those who enjoy taking it easy: Golfing, fishing and various river tours are available.