Hi, I am helping my son plan his first solo trip to Europe. He will be in Paris as part of a Trafalgar tour -- and has several extra days. He will be going to Versailles and is wondering about the advisability of taking a day tour from Paris to one or two of the castles in the Loire Valley. Would seeing Chambord or Chenonceau be too similar to Versailles? He's interested in castles as a more defensive structure rather than a large (beautiful) palace or estate. Any recommendations for tour companies that would do guided tours of these (or other castles), leaving and returning to Paris, would be most appreciated as well. Thank you!
Posted by
Cloud
325 posts
Would seeing Chambord or Chenonceau be too similar to Versailles?
No. The exteriors of both are the highlights not so much the interiors. Though the staircase in Chambord is unique.
I did my own day trip down there but here is list of tour companies ranked by trip advisor
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187196-Activities-c42-Loire_Valley.html
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
6066 posts
Most of the chateaux in the Loire are palaces, not castles, in the strictest sense. If he's interested in a royal fortress type of castle, then he could visit the Chateau de Vincennes, which is a short ride on the Metro or RER.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8234 posts
We visited both Chenonceau and Chambord in one day, although we were staying in nearby Amboise, and riding bicycles we’d rented in Amboise. They are different from Versailles (where we also rented bikes, to ride around the grounds), but all are fancy mansions, not really defensive forts. The exterior gardens are great to see, in addition to the interesting interiors. One of the things I remember most about Chenonceau is the ballroom that straddles the river, and while still sumptuous, the floor is uneven from age and settling, so no one dancing in there now would be gliding effortlessly across it.
For medieval castles, you’d want Cahors, Carcassone and the Languedoc, Beynac and the Dordogne, or Josselin in Brittany to start with, all farther from Paris than the Loire region.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4816 posts
Sorry but the best defensive castles are in England and Wales.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1877 posts
There are several very viable defensive fortifications within easy reach of Paris. The extensive Vauban fort of Metz is much diminished, but the remains can easily be seen, walked, and even stayed in. For a medieval castle you can point to Homburg, in Germany, or Vianden, Luxembourg, both of which have been rebuilt/maintained and are worth visiting.
https://sites-vauban.org/en/node/7801
Posted by
258 posts
Does your son speak passable French? If so he might appreciate a guided tour (in French, at least when I was there, although that was quite long ago) of the Chateau de Vincennes. Although the Chateau has suffered quite a bit of destruction over the years, it is still possible to see how it was once a mighty fortification. Peter
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10965 posts
Some of the base of the medieval Louvre can be visited under the Louvre.
Loches in the Loire Valley is the remains of a defensive castle, as is Vincennes mentioned by others above.
A couple of today's streets in Paris are what remain of the paths that circled inside and outside some 15th C city walls: rue d'Aboukir and rue de Cléry.
Posted by
South Carolina
115 posts
The ruins of Château Gaillard are close. I have only driven by them, so I cannot speak to whether it is worth making a trip just to go there.