Guides & field notes

Planning guides

• Trains, cars, bikes, shuttles and toursGetting to and around the valley →
• The classic loop, hour by hourTwo days, five châteaux, one river →
• The full-valley circuitThree to five days, done properly →
• What actually fits, by TGV or tourThe Loire in a day from Paris →
• Month by month, honestlyWhen the Loire is at its best →
• Trains, shuttles and day tripsDoing the Loire without driving →
• Tours vs Amboise vs BloisWhere to stay for the châteaux →
• The family playbookThe Loire with children, honestly →
• Which one is for youNine châteaux, compared honestly →
• The backstory in six chaptersWhy the Loire is full of châteaux →
• Blois, Ussé, Saumur and moreBeyond the nine →

Field notes — the nine châteaux

• The grand oneChambord →
• The one on the waterChenonceau →
• The garden châteauVillandry →
• The lived-in houseCheverny →
• Château & garden festivalChaumont →
• The royal terraceAmboise →
• Leonardo's last homeClos Lucé →
• The river jewelAzay-le-Rideau →
• The fortressAngers →

And

• Twenty-two plain answersQuestions, answered →
• Who writes this, and howAbout this guide →