Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Loire Valley, France, Family Trip / Accommodation

Loire Valley, France, Family Trip / Accommodation

Old Jan 23rd, 2016, 04:51 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Loire Valley, France, Family Trip / Accommodation

Hi there

We're travelling from Mount St Michel to the Loire Valley (Chambord) and then onto Avignon in late March. We have two nights somewhere in the Loire Valley. We're keen to check out the following Villandry (garden)*, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau (bridge)*, Chambord***. We will be travelling with 2 x 5 year old twins and 1 x 22 month old. We have our own car. A few questions please:

* Which of these chateaux do you think will be most appropriate for a family visit? Our kids are pretty good in museums and galleries etc and also love to run around outside. We're just trying to prioritise them in terms of time. We had thought first Chambord, then Villandry and Chenonceau. Is there others that you think are a better option for us.

* Is there a particular town you recommend we stay in to explore this area? And if possible, a recommendation for family friendly accommodation. We're ideally looking for a family suite within a B&B that also either offers a dinner option or access to a kitchenette. We don't want to spend a fortune, which for us is no more than around E150 per night. I've scoured so many websites and I'm going cross eyed from it.

Thanks so much
Wombats is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2016, 06:14 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Wombats !
Great to see you again. I have loved the castles you mention, couldn't really rank them.

Did you look at http://www.gites-de-france.com/ ?

Stay under french language, if you select english, site eliminates places who don't advertise in english.
Whathello is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2016, 06:36 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Villandry Chateau is nothing special - you go there for the gardens - not the chateau. You have picked the 3 destinations I would pick to visit in that area. All three are in the countryside - so I would stay the nights in the countryside - not in a large city (which might take some "doing" driving in & out). You can walk to Chenonceaux from Auberge Bon Laboreur.

I would certainly not try to visit all 3 in one day. Visit Chenonceaux & Villandry on one day and Chambord the next. We were the first in line at Chambord & Chenonceaux when they opened - and an hour later they were mobbed - so get there early.

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is online now  
Old Jan 23rd, 2016, 07:07 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We did all three in one day, went to Chenonceau at 4pm when the tour buses leave. Stayed in Amboise, where we also caught the evening light show at their castle
FrankS is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2016, 07:11 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Amboise Chateau is very nice as is the nearby Chateau de Clos Luce where Leonardo Va Vinci lived and died. Near the latter is a large playground with neat things to do for kids.

Also consider Chinon which is more rugged than the Loire Valley proper Chateaux and if I were a child, I'd like it a lot--I liked it a lot as a childish adult.
dwdvagamundo is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2016, 02:00 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The gardens at Vllandry will not be at their best at the end of March. It will be too early for the flowers to be blooming. We were there at that time several years ago and planting was just starting. You can still walk around and see the layout etc, but do not go expecting the colours seen in photos taken in summer.
rhon is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2016, 01:19 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you everyone. We'll aim to visit over two days.

dwdvagamundo, the playground sounds great, we'll certainly Look out for it! Thank you.

I like eddy idea of a light show at Amboise too.

Thank you. Holiday is creeping up on us and I'm finding it hard to plan while also chasing three little Wombats around!

Cheers
Wombats is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2016, 05:08 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think, we have visited all of the castles of the Loire Valley over the last decades and even slept in a few castles. Here just a few comments:

Chambord: It is impressive because of its cheer size. By far the largest of the castles and magnificent with all its towers, turrets and chimneys on the roof. Inside, you find a magnificent staircase, otherwise the interiors are somewhant blant.

Chenconceaux: The most romantic castle which the gallery that spans across the river. Everybody's darling.

Azay-le-Rideau: The most balanced of all Loire castles, with beautiful interiors. Has the look of a fairy-tale castle. If I could visit only one castle I would select this one.

Villandry: Yes, everyboday says the gardens. But, frankly, I have seen better gardens and the castle itsself is not worth the drive.

Amboise: Not exactly first rank among the Loire castles, but the nightly light and sound show is impressive. Do not miss the nearby residence and museum of Leonardo da Vinci Clos Luce with all his inventive machines (aircraft, submarine etc.).

Loches: This is a typical medieval castle and hence completely different from the refined palace-style renaissance castles.

This is a good website to give you more information:

http://loire-chateaux.co.uk/en-gb/

Area to stay: If you have a car it does not matter too much where you stay. I would select something around Tours or between Tours and Blois (Blois has an interesting castle too). For the light and sound show, staying directly in Amboise might be practical (it is a charming small town directly on the river and makes a good base).

We once stayed with our family of five here, but I am afraid the rate is with €244 per night above your price range:

http://www.tortiniere.com/fr/hotel-t...eaux-loire.php
traveller1959 is offline  
Old Jan 24th, 2016, 06:57 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>>Azay-le-Rideau: The most balanced of all Loire castles, with beautiful interiors. Has the look of a fairy-tale castle. If I could visit only one castle I would select this one.
StuDudley is online now  
Old Jan 24th, 2016, 08:27 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Note that in March the evening son et lumiere performances may not occur. we have seen a couple but it was in early June. Also check the opening hours that early in the year - since it gets dark much earlier then in June/July.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2016, 10:19 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
For anyone who stumbles upon this thread, Azay-le-Rideau is currently "wrapped in plastic " as one local described it. It's being completely renovated externally and given we're thought the interior was underwhelming, we wouldn't recommend it right now.

We loved
Chenconceaux. The sumptuous Easter themed floral arrangements were fantastic. And the roaring fire places on a cold day made it a lovely place to visit. The building itself is if course worth it alone.
Wombats is offline  
Old Apr 6th, 2016, 06:05 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wombats - thank you for your update, particularly regarding Azay le Rideau. Where did you end up staying? We are heading to the Loire for two nights from Paris at the end of the month and traveling with our two kids. Trying to decide between staying in Amboise where we could walk to dinner or one of the many chateau style lodgings in the countryside.
Sally30 is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2016, 02:22 PM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We stayed in a Gite we found on AirBnB.

I think Amboise would be a Great base. Our kids loved the Da Vinci Chateau.

Have a nice trip.
Wombats is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Laurie4
Europe
18
Jun 11th, 2015 08:08 PM
ibailey
Europe
14
Mar 30th, 2009 11:04 PM
eugene
Europe
10
Mar 16th, 2009 11:27 AM
lavaflow
Europe
4
Mar 8th, 2006 10:52 AM
Michael D. Bergson
Europe
4
Nov 23rd, 2002 06:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -