The Loire Valley Travel Guide
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Places to Explore
- Sights
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Entertainment
- Travel Tips
- Features
- Fodor's Choice
- Deals
- French Phrases
- Guidebooks
Guidebooks
-
Fodor's France 2013
Trade Paperback
Photo: Manfred Steinbach/shutterstock
A fairy-tale realm par excellence, the Loire Valley is studded with storybook villages, time-burnished towns, and—bien sûr—the famous châteaux de la Loire. These postcard icons, like Chenonceau and Chambord, seem to be strung like a strand of pearls across a countryside so serene it could win the Nobel Peace Prize. With magic at every curve in the road, Cinderella's glass coach might be the optimum way to get around. If that is not available, buses and trains can beautifully ferry you to the main towns of the three Loire provinces—Anjou (to the west), Orléans (to the east), and the center ring of the show, Touraine.
The Loire Valley Hotels
Even before the age of the railway, the Loire Valley drew vacationers from far afield, so there are hundreds of hotels of all types. At the higher end are...read more
The Loire Valley Restaurants
Find the best Loire Valley restaurants in every price category with our top picks.
Fodor's Choice
Things To Do in The Loire Valley
Explore the best sights, entertainment, and shopping with our top choices and insider tips.
Travel Deals in The Loire Valley
- Book in Tours Fr $123+/Nt Save with Hotels.com, $10/night less
- 4-Star Alliance Tours Centre Fr $155+/Nt Save with Hotels.com, $18/night less
- Save at 4-Star Mercure Angers Centre: $96 & Up in Aug — $96 Expedia
The Loire Valley Experiences
-
Finesse rather than fireworks marks the gastronomy of this gentle, lovely region, known for exceptional white wines, delicate fish, and France's... Read more
-
Step into a fairy tale at Sleeping Beauty's castle: Play once-upon-a-time at Ussé—gleaming white against an emerald forest backcloth... Read more
-
With its nearly flat terrain, the Loire Valley is custom-built for traveling by bike, and the newly created Loire à Vélo signposted... Read more
-
We admit it—there are almost too many châteaux in this part of France. It's nearly impossible to see all of them, so we've noted... Read more
-
Fewer regions of France repay leisurely exploration more than the Val de Loire. And perhaps the best way to gently meander through the Loire... Read more
News & Features
-
Trip Ideas
From backpackers to businessmen, luxury seekers to religious pilgrims, travelers of all walks are draw... Read more
-
Trip Ideas
Ask around and most people will tell you to spend as short a layover as possible in Athens before booking... Read more
-
News, Hotels
When an Aman Resort opens, we come running.... Read more
Free Fodor's Newsletter
Subscribe today for weekly travel inspiration, tips, and special offers.
· Travel Planner
·Weather
Now
84.4° F Scattered Clouds 53% HumidityCheck historic weather for your trip dates
Arriving:Fodor's Trip Planning Ideas
- Summer Fun in NOLA: Discover the true spirit of New Orleans
- Weekend Getaways: Fodor's Recommends the Best Weekend Escapes in the US
- Great American Vacation: Find Your Next U.S. Trip with Fodor's
- 80 Degrees: Fodor's Helps You Find Your Best Beach Vacation Spots
- Go List: Fodor's Top 25 Places to Go in 2013
- Best of Europe: Fodor's Picks the Best Places to Visit in Europe
· Forums Trip Reports
-
We always benefit tremendously from the trip reports and advice on the Fodor's forum, so thought it might be nice to share our week in Paris with an almost-two-year-old. Read more
-
This is hardly a new subject or even a "Paris secret" since anybody who takes an evening boat trip on the Seine during the warm months has seen the hundreds of people dancing on the Left Bank across from Read more
·France Forum
-
Can anyone personally recommend a guide/driver with a car for a couple who would like to spend some time in Provence for 7-10 days. Read more
