Andrealovestotravel

Hi everyone,

We decided to start a new topic as we are now going to the Loire Valley and need advice more specific to the region.

We are going to spend 4 nights in the area (we are driving in from Paris and will have a car the whole time we are in the Loire Valley), and would like to stay in a Chateau in the countryside, but close enough to towns and villages so that we can have the opportunity to stay for dinner and walk around in the evening in one of the Loire Valley towns.

We think it would be a good idea to stay near both Tours and Amboise so that we can be central to the whole area and are considering the following places to stay:

Chateau Reignac
Chateau de Brou
Chateau d'Artigny
Chateau de Noizay

Thanks for all of your help. It is much appreciated.

Andrea

Rastaguytoday

Personally speaking, I would not stay in Amboise.

I've stayed there twice. In 1990, it was a quiet town. Ate at some lovely local restaurants.

When I went back in 2007, it had turned into a giant tourist trap.

Restaurants full of American and German tourists, with a sprinkling of Aussies. Very crowded streets.

I will probably stay in Blois next time. I've had friends who've highly recommended it. Ancient village, going back to the 6th century.

cigalechanta

I stayed in Blois but just for an overnight.
I have a friend who lives in the Loire that posts on Slovtrav. Try there if you don't get much help here.

Andrealovestotravel

Hi,

Are you saying that staying at a Chateau in the countryside is a mistake?


Andrea

Kwoo

We just returned from a trip to France, where we spent 3 nights in the Loire Valley. We stayed in Blois for 2 nights & loved it! We stayed in Chinon, which is smaller, for one night. We thought both places were central to what we wanted to see, and there were restaurants & things to do at night. Hope this helps. I just finished my trip report for the Paris part of the trip & hope to finish the Loire part this week.

nytraveler

I think staying in a Chateau is a great idea - we spent 6 nights at the Chateau des Reaux near Chinon - a 15th century fortified castle with walls many feet deep complete with arrow slits and the remains of the moat. But, by there nature chateaus aren;t in the centers of towns but in the countryside.

We especially liked the dinner en famille one night (they did this usually twice a week) with all of the guests (I guess interested guests - but all took part) in a dinner served family style after spending an hour in the residents lounge (gorgeous) getting to know each other and the hosts over champagne. We enjoyed meeting and spending the evening with tourists from Canada, UK, Australia, Argentina and Russia. And the home style meal, with all ingredients from the domaine, was truly wonderful.

Coquelicot

Montbazon near the Chateau d'Artigny has a very small downtown, but maybe enough for your purposes. It's on the Indre and on the other side of the river is a really nice wooded park. A really scenic area, though quite built up.

Reignac is a village with not much of a business district, maybe a boulangerie. But this whole stretch of the Indre is lovely, and the drive down to Loches along the D17 is a treat.

Avalon2

We loved our stays at Domaine des Haute de Loire, between Amboise aqnd Blois. We had dinner in every night and did lunch in various towns. Easy access to many chateauxn Adn dining in you can have as many glsses od=f wine as you like.

bilboburgler

I'd either stay in Saumur or Angers. If Saumur is chosen then I like staying in the Monestry hotel in Fauntevraud (next village on). The cloisters has been converted into a restaurant/breakfast room, the gardens of the Abbey are still working, the Abbey is being restored (and we are talking the biggest Abbey in europe in its time). As well as the hotel there are two fine restaurants in town (the Unicorn was the best last time but things change)

BigRuss

I stayed in Amboise in '07 and liked it - small town and not overrun by tourists nor by Aussies. Wondering if Rastafuss is confusing it with Tours, which lacks charm and is highly congested or if he just hit the town at the same time as a Contiki tour. Fact is, if you are going in summer, then it will be crowded (we went before summer and it was mildly busy).

I would NOT stay in or near Saumur or Angers if you want to see the central or eastern valley, especially the major chateaux (Chambord, Cheverny, Amboise, Chenonceau, Blois) and would consider Chinon a bit far west for those (although L'Abbaye Fontevraud near Chinon is definitely worth a visit). If the chateaux are one of or the main reason for your trip, anyplace west of Tours is a poor location; near Amboise or between Amboise and Blois is ideal. Considering that Tours has little to recommend it other than its rail connections to other parts of France, staying close to it won't really help you. On a weighted basis analyzing where you'd probably want to go most often (likely the areas east of Amboise and west of Blois), Amboise is far more central than Tours for your purposes.

StCirq

I agree with everything Big Russ said. Tours is to be avoided; no need to have anything to do with it other than rail connections, if you need them. Get there and get out.

I've been visiting Amboise with some regularity since the late 1970s. It certainly has changed since then - a LOT! - but I would still not characterize it as overrun with tourists or unpleasant. Fact is, it's a good base for visiting the easstern Loire. Besides the château, which happens to be one of my favorites (who can't get excited over Catherine de Medici inviting the Huegenots to dinner, then beheading them and tossing them in the river?), there is the Clos Lucé with all of Leonardo da Vinci's famous models. And L'Epicerie, which has grown over the time I've known Amboise from a wonderful bakery into a wonderful restaurant.

If you don't want Amboise, then somewhere between it and Blois is best. I adore Angers, and Saumur, but unless your intention is to concentrate on the western Loire, which isn't most people's intent, I'd just plan to visit them, not install myself there.

Sarastro

Depending upon where exactly you are wanting to visit or explore, staying near Tours or Amboise can be an excellent base location; agreeing that staying in Amboise makes you part of an ever increasing tide of tourists which have overrun the town.

The hotels on your list are very exclusive and well located for visiting the best of the chateaux, vineyards, and other local points of interest. One consideration you might want to keep in mind is that the French Police have become increasingly intolerant of those who drink and drive. Consuming little more than a glass of wine can put yourself in a very vicarious position if you are stopped by the police and checks can be arbitrary and occur anywhere day or night. I always like to stay within walking distance of any restaurant where I might be enjoying wine with dinner. I believe all of your hotel locations have restaurants and I would personally take advantage of them on a nightly basis.

Kwoo

Depending on where you decide to stay, try visiting these towns if you have the time: Montresor, Langeais, and Montsoreau & Candes St. Martin, these latter two are right next to each other. You can walk from one to the other. They are listed in most beautiful villages in France.

I just finished posting most of my Loire Valley trip if you want to read it for more details.

ElleD9

We are heading to the Loire later this month and staying at the Chateau des Arpentis, just outside of Amboise. It was recommended by friends and based on their photos it looks amazing. They do not have a restaurant on site but apparently have a fridge/kitchen facilities they make available if you want to bring in food.

Another nice option, though not a chateau is the Auberge du Bon Labourer. This is in Chenonceau, just down the street from the chateau there. We stayed there two years ago and it was very charming. They have a michelin star restaurant on site.

I think both of the above are nicely located for visiting the eastern Loire chateaux. We had stops at Chambord, Chenconceau, Cheverny, Blois and Amboise. Also, just driving around we had the pleasure of what I called the "pop up" chateaux - lesser known ones you just pass by while driving.

Enjoy!

annhig

our preferred travel style is to stay in towns, and drive out into the countryside in the daytime. we've tried staying in chateaux etc but unless you want to eat in and speak to the same people every night, it can get a bit tedious.

french shops stay open quite late [compared to the UK] so when we get back from touring, we like to wander round the shops, perhaps have a drink in a bar, then freshen up and go out to dinner without worrying about how much we've had to drink.

we liked Saumur very much as a base - ok not brilliant for the eastern Loire but certainly good for Angers, Amboise, Chinon, Villandry, Fontavraud, Cholet [for le Puy de Fou] Chenonceaux, Azay-le-rideau, even Blois.

RonZ

We love this hotel, which has surprisingly reasonable rates:

http://www.chateaurochecotte.com/index.html

Andrealovestotravel

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for all of your responses. They have helped us decide where to stay for our 4 nights in the Loire Valley.

We have decided to stay in Amboise.

Keep up with the great advice!!!

Andrea

Michael

<i>can put yourself in a very vicarious position</i>

You need the police for that?

john183

I'm not sure when you will be there but we really enjoyed our time in Amboise at the Manoir St Thomas in late June/early July of 2011. It was busy but did not seem crowded. We visited several castles and found driving around the Loire to be very pleasant. Have fun!!!

michele_d

We also based in Amboise for three nights and thought it was a great base.

We attended this http://www.renaissance-amboise.com/i...ref=BC71375081 and loved it. It is performed on the grass right in front of the chateau in Amboise.

If you are visiting in June, July or August I would highly recommend it. We bought our tickets ahead of time.