best Michelin maps

The detail 1:150,000 scale maps you want are: for the Loire Michelin maps #317 and 318; and #329 for the Dordogne. These are the 1:150,000 scale, a good scale for driving. You can buy them online at the link below, other websites, or get them at good prices in France at the autoroute rest area stores: buy Michelin maps of France

This page is a map of France which shows the area covered by each of the Michelin local maps. If you click on an area/map number, you'll get a description of that map. You can then scroll down and click on a link that will show you the precise area covered by that map.

these are great maps and you certainly need the detailed roads. We were just in this area last week & stayed in Chinon and drove a lot of the small "back roads". It's easy with a good map. If you don't want to buy them ahead of time, you can usually pick up a good detailed map for free at the tourist information office for that area. A GPS works good too but sometimes you want to go on a different road than the GPS suggests.

Thanks for all the great advice. I did buy the Green Michelin guides to read about the history etc. of these places, and the book mentioned these maps with numbers in the 300's. That was really confusing because I think RS only mentions map 518 which is a different color. As seniors on our first trip to France next summer, we need to do a much slower pace than recommended in the RS book. I was there 40 years ago, and all I remember is constantly getting lost and not finding the chateaux I wanted to see.

I was in Amboise a couple of weeks ago. I don't remember the map we had (and I accidentally left it in the glove compartment of the rental car) but it was the on RS recommended (don't have my book handy) and it was great.