We are based in Amboise the last two weeks in April, 2026, and plan to visit many towns and castles. Any really good 'don't miss' spots recommended?
We will take the train back to GDG Airport, after Alamo car drop-off at Tours-St. Pierre.
Posted by
299 posts
Chenenceau castle. Do not miss it.
Posted by
Seattle
395 posts
Clos Luce, Leonardo's chateau in Amboise.
Chateau Gaillard in Amboise.
Chateau d'Amboise.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest, Washington State
16 posts
My wife and I spent this past October all over France and Fontevraud is one of those places that lingers long after you leave. I still find myself visiting it in dreams—and I would return in a heartbeat the next time we’re in France. It quickly became one of my favorite experiences in France. With a rental car, it is a perfectly easy drive.
Founded in 1101, the Abbaye de Fontevraud grew into the largest surviving monastic complex from the Middle Ages and later became the burial place of the Plantagenet dynasty—Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, and Richard the Lionheart among them. Centuries later, Napoleon converted it into a prison, a role it served until 1963. Today the restoration reveals these layers of history beautifully.
Descending into the crypt and seeing the original stones of the abbey’s foundation was awe-striking. The space felt deeply reverent. With perfect October weather and very few other visitors, we wandered the grounds for more than three hours, often feeling less like tourists and more like quiet witnesses to history.
Posted by
Canada
51 posts
Check out Loches. Lovely town to spend the day in!
Posted by
PA, USA
107 posts
I second Loches, especially on a market day. Nearby Chedigny is just about our favorite village in France, tiny but packed with roses, wisterias, and lots of perennials along its few streets. They have a rose festival at the end of May but I think there'd be something to see in April.