I’m trying to decide between staying in Amboise or Bloise for our short trip (only two nights!) to the Loire Valley. The current plan is to see Chamboard and Chenonceau, but we may switch one of those out for Cheverney.
Thoughts and hotel recommendations appreciated!!!
There are a few daily buses from Blois to Chateau de Chambord and from Blois to Chateau de Cheverny. So, Blois is the place to base yourself for those two chateaux.
Chateau de Chenonceau is 7 miles from Amboise and about 30 miles from Blois.
Because bus service is infrequent and the trains are painfully slow in the Loire Valley, most people wanting to see more than a couple chateaux take tours or rent a car. AutoEurope brokers car rentals from the Blois-Chambord train station in central Blois.
One more possibility to further confound the issue: Chaumont, half-way between Blois and Amboise. Chaumont is historically tied to Chenonceau.
Henri II gave Chenonceau to his lover, Diane de Poitiers. After he died, his widow the Queen, Catherine de Medici, insisted - as a Queen of Medici blood could - that Diane give up Chenonceau, in exchange for Catherine’s chateau, Chaumont.
The gardens at Chaumont are wonderful. Not so formal and with a good number of “rooms” or smaller, inward looking gardens. The chateau, which overlooks the Loire, is quite graceful.
Amboise feels (and is) smaller than Blois, though it may also feel more ‘touristy.” And Amboise has the added attraction of Its own chateau on the hilltop overlooking the Loire, as well as the more enchanting (in my opinion) Clos de Luce, as mentioned in another recent post. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/best-ways-to-see-chambord-and-chenonceau
Both Chateau Amboise and Clos de Luce are easily walkable if you stay in Amboise. Chenonceau is a nice bike ride away if you choose to bike rather than go by car or train. Ditto for Chaumont.
A few years ago we stayed and ate at La Roseraie in Chenonceaux. This hotel is only 300 metres from the entrance to the chateau. Highly recommended!
Chateau des Tertres in Veuzain sur Loire ( formerly Onzain) is right across the Loire from Chaunontmis a decent hotel I stayed at, albeit 40+ years ago. Good lcationnfor both chateau plus Chaumont. Will you have a car ?
I haven't been to Blois, but have stayed in Amboise several times and absolutely love it. We have stayed in a few places in Amboise, but highly recommend Château des Arpentis. It is lovely and well situated to explore the area.
Amboise has an exceptional market on Sundays and from April to October, even has a man selling live hens of myriad exotic breeds (for egg laying, not for eating). There you can also find various prepared foods from Syrian to Japanese. It boasts several Chateaux, including Château du Clos Lucé, the final home of Leonardo Da Vinci. It's smaller than Blois and many travelers find it the more charming of the two cities, with a small but lively historical core and plenty of very good hotels and restaurants...all walkable.
Thank you for all your helpful replies re: differences between Blois and Amboise! We will be renting a car, so that’s will give us more flexibility.
