I was thinking of renting a car in Tours and visiting some of the wonderful Chateaux in the area. Any suggestions for a day trip with car? Which of the Chateuax would be recommended? We would have around 8 hours to visit the area.
thanks
Posted by
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
255 posts
All are unique and worthwhile. My favs were Chaumont and Chenenceau. Amboise was also cool with great views from the top and Da Vinci's grave. You can't make a mistake,
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
With only a day, pick a direction from Tours. East are Chenonceau, Chambord, Amboise, Blois, Chaumont, Cheverny, others. West are Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Langeais, others. The ones to the west are closer to Tours and each other, but driving time isn't really the issue. Pick two, maybe three, don't try to see more.
For me, they'd be Chenonceau, Chambord, and either Amboise or Blois, if I had so little time and hadn't seen them before. (But then how would I know?) Hope the rest of your trip is less rushed!
Edit -- See Nigel's report on his recent chateaux trip on this forum. And he makes a good point about Blois -- it's in the middle of a fair-sized city with more traffic than you'll find around the other chateaux. So maybe save it for when you have more time.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7885 posts
Pay close attention to Chateau visiting hours and Car Rental station hours. It sounds like you're doing a run-out from Paris. If it's a peak time of year, I'd consider checking whether a group tour might have the power to skip lines-simply because of your decision to do it in one day, not because I like group tours. Some of the smaller Chateaus are quick to park and enter, but you have to decide that you want to see them.
It would be a shame to find a pretty place like, say, Azay-le-Rideau, and find you don't have time to get a picnic in town an eat it on the lawn.