Page 188 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Châteaux of the
14 Loire

From warring medieval warlords to the kings and queens of Renaissance
France, a parade of powerful men and women have left their mark on the
Loire Valley. The result is France’s most magnificent collection of castles.
This itinerary visits nine of the Loire’s most iconic châteaux, ranging from
austere medieval fortresses to ostentatious royal pleasure palaces. Midway
through, a side trip leads off the beaten track to four lesser-known châteaux.

Le Lude # \
F G TOURAINE
8
/ · # \
A28
# \ Château-
# \ Beaumont- Renault
# \
Châteaux- # \ la-Ronce
Noyant la-Vallière Neuillé-
# \ Pont-Pierre / ·
A10
0 ¸
D959
PAYS DE Reugny # \
LA LOIRE Poce-sur-
Cisse
Nazelles- # \
Vernantes Rochecorbon Vouvray Négron # \
# \ #
6
# \ # \ # \ Amboise #
# \ Gizeux
# \ Tours # ]
# \ CENTRE / ·
D81
Villandry Montlouis-
sur-Loire
# \ #
Langeais # # \ Savonnières
3
# \ # / ·
# D7 Montbazon Truyes Bleré # \
2
# \
#
Bourgueil # \ Vallères H / ·
A85
# \ Rigny- / · / · Esvres
D39
/ · # \ Île St- Ussé # \ Azay-le- D16 p189 Monts # \ # \ #\ # \ / ·
D45
A85
Martin
# \ / · # V Rideau# / · Artannes / · Veigne # \ # \
# \
#
4
# \
D17
D7
# \ D84
# \
Château d'Ussé
# \
Montsoreau Indre # \ Huismes 0 ¸ Perre Saché Sablonnière Cormery # \ Courçay # \
# \ D751
# \Candes-St-Martin # \ Reignac- # \
/ · Parc Naturel Régional F G INDRE-
8
D16
sur-Indre
Loire Anjou ET-LOIRE 0 ¸
Touraine
Lerne l L / · D943 # \ Auger
#
A10
# 1
# \ Chinon
Isle
# \ # \ Vienne
Seuilly Loches
Forêt de Sainte- # \
Chinon
POITOU- # \ Maure-de- I ndre
CHARENTES F G Touraine
191 km to 10 ‚