Chinon Area of the Loire

I stayed at Hotel Diderot last summer on the Loire to the South of France of tour and thought it was lovely. The room was beautiful and there was a pleasant outdoor area to relax in. The breakfast was great and included several homemade jams that the owners make.

There are troglos everywhere. Probably the most interesting are at Souzay-Champigny, especially if you're on a bicycle.

Fontevraud is a good visit. I assume you're in a car, otherwise getting to anywhere except Tours is difficult

Transportation without a car can be a big problem. We liked Fontevraud Abbey, but Troglodytes was a bit touristy. Ruined Chateau/Fortress Chinon was interesting, and it's a nice restaurant town. Ch. Villandry and Azay le Rideau are nice. The nuclear power plant in Chinon is much easier to see from a distance than most American ones.

Yes, I will have a car. Glad to know the hotel is lovely and that the abbey is worth the visit. Not sure yet about the troglodytes. RS does not include in his guidebooks so I’m assuming he doesn’t think them worthwhile and researching on line shows there are several. Thanks everyone for your comments!

I agree with Tim's recommendations for the Fontevraud Abbey, Villandry and Azay le Rideau.
Eleanore of Aquitaine's history at the Abbey is remarkable. The Gardens at Villandry are impressive, designed on three levels. And Azay le Rideau is very picturesque.

Glad someone has asked about the troglodytes. RS just hasn’t visited them or figures everyone wants to see Renaissance châteaux. What people don’t realize is that 90% of the population in this part of the Loire Valley lived in troglodytes until the end of the 19th century. Farms were carved out of the ground. If you needed another room, you started digging.
There are several near Doué-la-fontaine. Here’s one: https://troglo-sarcophages.fr/

There is an early-Medieval troglodyte chateau you can visit. https://www.chateaudebreze.com/
I find most château a bit boring, but this one is fascinating. And it has a Renaissance château built above ground.

Finally, we’ve eaten well in a troglodyte restaurant, near the Villandry. https://www.legosiersec.com/

Hi For troglo near Saumur, visit Brézé castle. There ia a, older trogloditic castle under the renaissance castle, and it's really impressing.
https://www.chateaudebreze.com/castle-france-loire-saumur.html

Another vote for how wonderful the Hotel Diderot is.

I liked Chinon, Hotel Diderot, and the abbey. I am a bit obsessed with Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, so seeing their final resting place was pretty exciting for me. .

I really appreciate everyone’s comments. Will definitely see the abbey and the Cheateau de Breze. Would like to see Azay, Langeais and Villandry, but might save Villandry for a better time when the gardens will be fully blooming (and because I don’t know if I can fit everything in!). And, of course, I’ll be exploring Chinon and the castle ruins, too. I’d like to do some wine tasting, as well. Any suggestions there?

Brézé is a wine producer and has a tasting room. So, two château, and wine tasting all in one place