Planning trip in Sept and would like suggestions for other things to see in Loire Valley along with castles. We'll be driving from Paris ending up in Normandy area.
Posted by
Orinda, California, United States
286 posts
On our last visit to the Loire, we did wine tasting and toured some Troglodyte sites in and around Saumur. The sites - caves, museums and shops were very interesting and unique! Here is an article about the area. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/a-tour-of-frances-cave-homes-138310721/?no-ist
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Cyclers enjoy renting a bike to ride along the river; TI's have bike-path maps. Canoeing (www.canoe-company.fr) also possible. A spluge option would be a hot-air balloon ride (www.france-montgolfiere.com). Amboise also has the house of Leonardo at Clos-Luce, if you happen to be in that town (but I would not make a special trip). The main market day at Chinon is Thursday. Rick's France book has more detail on all of the above.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
784 posts
When we've been in the Loire in September there has been an international garden festival (Fete du Jardin) at the chateau at Chamont. Believe it is an annual event and involves landscape designers from all over the world. There is a different theme each year. We've been twice (in 1994 & 2000) and found it very interesting. If they are still doing it, it would be a nice stop.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Most of the "castles" in the Loire Valley are not really castles, they're chateaux/chateaus. You'll notice the difference between the two.
Posted by
Portland
3595 posts
One chateau that has something different is Angers. It houses the 14th century tapestry of the Apocalypse, more than 100 meters long. I've read that there is also a modern tapestry, but I haven't seen it.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6502 posts
Don't know if this floats your boat, but the zoo just south of St-Aignan is supposed to be one of the best in Europe. We spent a fun interesting day there after getting chateaued out during a week-long stay.
As noted above, the Clos Luce in Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years, has fascinating exhibits about him, also an adjoining wooded park with models of his various inventions.
Posted by
OP
SC
74 posts
Great suggestions! Thank you everyone. The bike ride sounds really like a good idea as does DaVinci. I can hardly wait to get there and see the countryside.