Hello - I'm staying in Amboise and looking for a city to visit by car within about 1 hour of Amboise. We love visiting walkable, beautiful medieval cities. Historical significance and art/architecture highlights a bonus. We love places like Bayeaux, Brugges for comparison.
What do people recommend and love? Tours? Orleans? Vendome? Angers? I've been to the region before, but not familiar with a lot of the surrounding cities.
Blois, with 45K residents, has a historic center, one of the best chateau in the Loire to visit— steeped in French history—and is just 12 miles from Chateau de Chambord. Blois is a 30-minute drive from Amboise.
Loches, a picture-perfect medieval town with its own citadel and castle, would be high on my list with a car rental. Loches is quaint with just a few thousand residents and is only a 30-minute drive south from Amboise.
Tours is much larger than Blois, with a metro population of 400K. The city itself is a college town with much of its historic architecture preserved in the city center.
I’m going to echo Kenko. Blois is amazing! Tours is fantastic - but more “big city” and likely not quite what you are looking for.
We also visited Blois and Loches from Amboise and enjoyed them both very much. If I had to pick only one, it would definitely be Loches - it was very beautiful and walkable. I can't imagine anyone not finding it very special.
Another suggestion would be Le Mans - Google Maps says it is about a 1.5 hour drive from Amboise (we took the train from Saumur so I can't personally comment on the drive). The historical centre is stunning.......I felt as though I had gone back in time! It has both Roman ruins and medieval architecture. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been.
Agree with all above and would also suggest checking out tiny Montresor.
It punches above its weight as a daytrip. Its easy 'Balcon' walking trail by the river is very compelling. The views to the church, and also out to the countryside, from the additional chateau's trail are the quintessence of France Profonde. Factor in the interesting restaurant 'Ecole Gourmande' (weird hours) and one can expect a fine visit. That's not counting the rare 'gemmail' fused-glass art on display for free in the old carding hall across from the boulangerie.
The friendly Brit lady who runs the Tourism office is also a bonus--she knows the entire area well.
PS We really enjoyed lunch at the low-key Chateau Gaillard in Amboise. Very quiet, very sympa and VG food.
Ca c'est bon!
I am done. The end.
The beautiful chateau of Chenonceaux is quite near Amboise, so don't miss it. I'm not sure if the boat tour on the river still runs, but we took it in 2015 and loved it. It's a boat accommodating maybe 20 people. The tour lasts about an hour round trip and goes under the iconic bridge of the chateau. I think the operator was called La Belandre.
Thank you everyone! Great recommendations. I'm looking into Blois, Loche and Montresor. We've been to Chenonceau - and adore it - but won't be making a return trip. Trying to cover some new territory. Blois, Loche and Montesor. Any thoughts around if all three are good with people with limited mobility? My parents are traveling with us (which the whole family adores), but they aren't able to do hill/stair climbs for days. I'm thinking of our trip together in Tuscany where I had to find cities to visit with elevators/escalators at city centers or parking at the tops of hills...
Also - thank you for the Amboise restaurant recommendation. Next thing on my list is figuring out where to eat. We didn't have a lot of luck in Amboise last go, so will be doing some more planning around that....
Yo Erica,
That 'limited mobility' lens was one that we two had to peer through last fall in the Loire. My wife had new knee issues and my back was also a concern.
The best of Loches definitely lies atop its upper historic hub called La Cite, so some planning might be wise. A taxi there and back could work. We were able to walk it twice but those with more serious mobility might not want to risk it. Fwiw, the walk up there that leads from the chateau across to the Donjon is very, very sympa.
As for Montresor, that famed 'Balcon' riverside stroll is flat. There is but one resting bench, which is impossible to miss near a modest wooden dock. The only appreciable rise in that village is found on the paved trail that leads from the Tourism Office up towards the chateau. The attraction with the latter IMHO, is not the actual chateau but instead the killer south/east views aforementioned.
Tours rightly touts its historic Place Plumereau (aka 'place plum'). Visitors in search of aged architecture will be pleased.
Good luck.
I am done. the road trip
Two good places to eat in Loches are Le p'tit restau in the center of Loches and Trattoria Mauvieres, good pizza in a troglo on the south side of town. Nearby Azay sur Indre (note--don't confuse this little village with Azay le Rideau, which has a famous chateau) has a really good prix fixe lunch at Le relais d'Azay. though you must reserve a day ahead or better two or three days ahead. It's super popular.
When you're in Loches, if you visit the municipal garden you'll have a wonderful view from there across the river to the historic buildings on top of the hill. The Saturday market is great, though so popular that it's hard to find parking.
Not to be missed during spring through fall is beautiful Chedigny, the village of roses. It's maybe a 20 minute drive from Loches. It was the first village in France to be named a Jardin remarquable because its streets are lined with roses, wisteria, and other beautiful perennial flowers. I say "streets" but there's really only one longish one and one short one. It's a small village, bit I can spend an hour there taking photos. When we arrive in the area we go there first thing, then every day as long as we're in that neck of the woods, and then one last time as we are leaving.
Chedigny has a rose festival at the end of May, but in recent years peak bloom has been happening before that. No matter what time you're there in the growing season, you'll find beauty in the streets. In addition, the Jardin de Cure behind the church (entry fee of a few euros) is worth a visit to see an old-fashioned garden of vegetables, fruit, flowers, and herbs.
Near Loches and Chedigny is the really tiny village of Chanceaux pres Loches. It's just a chateau (private), church, chalet with exterior murals, and an allee of fine old plane trees (sycamores to us).
I agree about Montresor. A wonderful village. The riverside path may be a challenge if it's been rainy.
If you have a Michelin map for the area, you'll see roads marked in green, which means they are exceptionally scenic. As if this wasn't already a very scenic part of France! IIRC, D17 which runs along the Indre river is very scenic in parts. If you follow the D17 in summer, you'll cross over many bridges with boxes of flowers.
Have a wonderful visit.
No one has yet spoken up for Orléans, so I'll do so now. 🙂 The Loire at Orléans is crystal clear and beautiful, and the Orléanaises spend a lot of time enjoying the riverside. Parcours, volleyball, running, cycling, or just walking. And of course enjoying apéro at one of the several riverside cafés. The old medieval city is delightful, and the evening light shows at the cathedral (summers and Christmas only) are stunning. Some very good restaurants can also be found in Orléans.
