Campsites in the Loire Valley and the Chateaux, the definitive guide

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by: wgoodridge
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Word Count: 1286
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 Time: 11:43 AM
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There is no getting away from the fact that the Loire Valley in France will educate and entertain each and every visitor that follows the trail along the great Loire river. There is plenty to see and do for all ages; after all there are over 300 chateaux in the Loire Valley! To help you choose which to visit, I have described the most important of them all.

Château de chambord
Not only is the monumental Château de Chambord the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, with 440 rooms, but its parkland is surrounded by the most extensive walled forest in Europe: A 32km (20-mile) wall encloses 5,440 hectares (13,440 acres). The Renaissance chateau fires the imagination with scenes of 16th-century hunting parties, balls and banquets. King François I, who had most of the chateau built in the 1520s wanted to divert the river Loire itself to run around it. The architects dissuaded him, diverting a small tributary instead, which caused sufficient flooding to fill the moats. The roof originally doubled as a viewing terrace from which to observe the start and finish of hunts.

Inside, is a famous double-turn spiral staircase, by which people can ascend and descend simultaneously without meeting each other. It is believed to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. As if that wasn't enough, there are 14 large and 60 small staircases, although you are not allowed access to all of them. A lot of the furniture and furnishings inside the chateau were destroyed during the Revolution, but some remarkable paintings and tapestries remain. Various events take place in the chateau, park and forest. The chateau is incredibly popular in summer there can be up to 8,000 visitors a day. If you only have time to visit one chateau in the Loire Valley Château de Chambord is an excellent choice.

Château de Chenonceau
One of the most beautiful of the Loire chateaux, Chenonceau enjoys a stunning position, built over the gently moving waters of the Cher river. The history of this elegant chateau is entwined with that of the several powerful women who were largely responsible for its construction, beginning with Catherine Briçonnet in the early 16th century. Henri II later gave Chenonceau to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, and she laid out a fine garden and built a bridge from the chateau over the river Cher. Catherine de Médicis, regent after Henri II's death, forced Diane out, then laid out the park, built a two-floor gallery on the bridge, and added the large outbuildings. She bequeathed the chateau to Louise of Lorraine, her daughter-in-law and wife of Henri III.

The days of royal grandeur passed, and in the mid-19th century the chateau was bought by Madame Pelouze, who made it her life's work to restore it to its former glory. Today you can see the richly furnished interiors, including tapestries and some old masters, as well as the kitchen and wine cellar, where chateau wines are sold. A wax museum presents 'La Galérie des Dames', with historic scenes featuring the ladies. The gardens and park include a maze, and there is a floral workshop and boutique.

Château royal de Blois
Blois, on the north bank of the river, is the visitor capital of the Loire valley. Its skyline is dominated by the immense structure of the Château Royal de Blois. The chateau has a blood-filled history of royal intrigue and a mix of architectural styles spanning four enturies. From the 13th century onwards, a succession of buildings was erected around a central courtyard. The most impressive is the elegant François I Italianate wing, with its famous spiral staircase tower. The guided tour includes the royal apartments where, in 1588, Henri III orchestrated the murder of his rival the Duc de Guise. As you walk round, look for Louis XII's royal emblem, the porcupine, and François I's symbol, the salamander, both used as decorative motifs. A visit here is good value for money, as your ticket also includes entrance to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Gaston d'Orléans wing, St-Calais chapel, gem-cutter's museum, archaeology rooms, temporary exhibitions and the St-Saturnin churchyard on the other side of the river. A son et lumière show takes place every evening in the chateau courtyard from the end of April to mid-September (in English on Wednesdays).

Château d'Ussé
The Château d'Ussé is promoted as Sleeping Beauty's castle and is said to have inspired Charles Perrault to write the story after a visit in the 17th century. With its multitude of turrets and spires, set against the wooded background of the Forêt de Chinon, it certainly has the most fairy-tale appearance of all the Loire chateaux. One of few chateaux still in private hands and open to the public, it is building a reputation for its annual exhibition of period costumes, which changes as various loaned collections come and go. Visits to the chateau are by guided tour, lasting around an hour and a half. Written translations are available in English and six other languages. The outside of the chateau is more captivating than its interior, so you may prefer merely to wander through the formal gardens designed by André Le Nôtre (who also designed the gardens at Versailles) rather than take the guided tour inside. The chateau is compact, but be prepared to climb up and down the many stairs. It is popular with children'those under ten in particular will appreciate the Sleeping Beauty displays.

Château de Villandry
Local people say that the best way to appreciate Villandry is to visit at least once during each of the four seasons. The gardens are indeed stunning all year round. Early in the morning in February, the sculpted yews have an icing-sugar dusting of frost; in April the jardin d'amour (garden of love) is filled with tulips; June is the month for roses; and in October, fat pumpkins sit in the kitchen garden. Anyone not able to make several visits can see photographs of the gardens on the excellent website or take in the slide show in the chateau. The gardens are a re-creation of a formal Renaissance garden à la française (French style). They include a water garden, hedges sculpted into the shapes of a Maltese cross and a Basque country cross, a child-friendly maze, and the Jardin de la Musique. Even the vegetable garden is sculpted to perfection, with the many crosses betraying the fact that it was once tended by monks. The chateau was built in the Italian Renaissance style by Jean le Breton (who also supervised the construction of Chambord. The only remnant of the older structure that remains is the tower behind the main courtyard. Special events include a tulip festival, art and photography exhibitions, and various classical music concerts.

The best way to get around the Loire Valley is by going camping. There are many campsites in the Loire Valley and staying 3 or 4 nights in a few, like in Onzain, Blois and Amboise, will give you the time to relax, enjoy the outdoors and visit the different chateaux. Tip: The Loire Valley is very busy in the school summer holidays, so if you are planning a trip it is best to book your campsite accommodation sooner rather than later. If you can, the best time to pay a visit would be during Whitsun week - the chance of good weather and the campsites are not as busy.

About the Author

Will Goodridge is an online marketing consultant helping travel companies make the most of selling holidays online. His online marketing consultant blog is read by many in the industry. Will Goodridge also has a passion for travelling and particularly enjoys holidays in France with his family. The website in the article saves families time and money when looking for camping and campsites in France.