Are you planning a short weekend getaway and looking for a 2-day itinerary to visit the Loire Valley castles ? Well, here's my suggested route with a map to visit the most beautiful Loire Valley castles in 2 days.
Which Loire castles should you absolutely visit in 2 days?
This is the question everyone asks when planning their trip. Depending on the length of your stay in the Loire Valley , you'll certainly have the opportunity to visit several castles. However, to fully enjoy the visits and gardens, it's best to limit yourself to visiting only two per day. So, for a weekend, you'll need to choose from the numerous castles (almost 3,000) only the four or five that are truly worth visiting.
The 5 most beautiful castles of the Loire
To prepare for my 2-day trip, I consulted forums, travel blogs, and TripAdvisor reviews, and I was able to check which castles were the most popular, the most Instagrammed, and the highest rated. They are indeed on the list of the 10 must-see Loire Valley castles.
Here are the 5 most beautiful Loire Valley castles to visit in 2 days:
- Villandry Castle
- Chenonceau Castle
- Château de Cheverny
- Chambord Castle
- Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau
How to visit these most beautiful castles of the Loire in 2 days?
To visit these 5 most beautiful castles in 2 days, the best option is to plan a road trip by car, van, or motorcycle. Simply start from the Royal Château of Amboise (not the most beautiful, but an ideal starting point) and follow a loop that takes in the 5 most beautiful Loire Valley castles.
Circuit to visit the castles of the Loire in 2 days
Here is my program with the stages of my circuit which allows you to visit the most beautiful castles of the Loire in 2 days:
- DAY 1: Amboise Castle + Chenonceau Castle + Cheverny Castle
- DAY 2: Château de Chambord + Château d'Azay-le-Rideau + Château de Villandry
Itinerary to visit the Châteaux of the Loire in 2 days
Click on "More options" in the map to follow the GPS
My tour of the most beautiful Châteaux of the Loire in 2 days
To start my tour, I chose the magnificent city of Amboise which is central to the location of the Castles to visit.
I therefore advise you to stay in Amboise for its perfect geographical location for the weekend ( see recommended hotel ).
And of course, being in Amboise, a first castle visit is a must: That of the Royal Château of Amboise.
Palace of the kings of France throughout the Renaissance, it is also the burial place of the great Leonardo da Vinci.
Chenonceau
The richness of the monument, the interior decoration and the exterior decor of this castle amaze all tourists. The visit is interesting to discover the various rooms which are associated with the history of the men but especially with that of the women who occupied it in particular Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis.
Cheverny
The domain of Cheverny is a private property kept by the same family for more than six centuries. The Château de Cheverny is the first castle to have been opened to the public in 1. It can therefore be visited inside but it is strongly recommended to also visit the splendid botanical park of the domain.
To get closer to the next stage of the circuit the following day, the best option will be to drive to the Domaine de Chambord to spend the night.
Chambord
It is surely the most famous Loire Valley castle for tourists from all over the world ! A stop at the Château de Chambord is included in all tours in France offered by foreign tour operators.
Impressive with its oversized dimensions, 426 rooms and 282 fireplaces, it is also popular for its rare double revolution staircase.
Azay-le-Rideau
Built during the reign of François 1er, this castle has a crazy charm. Surrounded by the waters of the Indre which is a tributary of the Loire, these places are conducive to romanticism.
Villandry
The Château de Villandry is one of my favorites. It's so elegant amidst its magnificent flower gardens! This stop is definitely worthwhile if your travel schedule allows, or if you're lucky enough to have a very long weekend!
Where to stay to visit the Loire castles in 2 days
If you're looking for affordable accommodation in an ideal location for this little tour around the Loire Valley castles , here's a great option for a family:
This is accommodation in a beautiful house surrounded by nature, with a swimming pool . This rental is perfect as it's located just a few kilometers from Azay-le-Rideau, making it convenient for exploring the Loire Valley castles!
And if you have more days in the area,
here is the circuit of
hello, you give an accommodation link during the 2-day road trip of the chateaux de la loire, located in azay le Rideau, but the link does not work (can you help me to see this accommodation please)
Hello Baptiste,
Indeed, the link was no longer good. I changed the recommendation for a house 12 km from Azay le Rideau. Indeed, the new accommodation that I indicate is well located and very well rated on booking.com by customers.
I wish you a nice road trip.