Loire Valley
 

We are travelling to Europe in Early July and will be travelling with three children aged 10,7,and 2. Currently considering visiting the Loire Valley for one week and staying in self contained accommodation. I am looking for recommedations on where the best location would be to set up base. Also places of interest to visit in this region.
Thanks.

My prime recommendation would be to buy a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to the Loire Valley and begin reading up on what the area has to offer. The Guide includes suggested itineraries and food and lodging information as well and is a great tool for getting the most out of your time.

Lots of info and pictures:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/guillonniere/loirevalley/

Amboise and its area is a great base - centrally located for many of the great chateaus and a fine city but small - kids play area on the island opposite the castle and a large municipal pool there kids may enjoy more than the castles.

I used the Michelin Green book and found it perfect for me. My trip is probably not what you want to do in your circumstances, but here is a summary.

I rented a car in Paris, then drove (via Fontainebleau) the Loire from east to West, starting in Orleans and finishing in Angers, then a visit to Chartres and Giverny on way back to Paris. Trip lasted 10 days.

Castles/towns I liked, were Orleans, Meung sur Loire, Chambord, BLois, Chenonceau (nice town also), Amboise, Blois, Usse (Cinderella castle), Chinon (medieval fair when I was there), Saumur, Fontevraud Abbey, Azay le Rideau, Le Lude for sound/lights show, Angers (including tapestry),Villandry fro the gardens, etc...If you buy the Michelin maps also, and maybe one or two other guides, you will be fine. I drove, and never had any trouble finding hotels, restaurants. Also took to the back roads (not that the roads along river(s) are freeways) and enjoyed those areas a lot. I've heard people on this forum use Amboise as the base. How are you going to get around?

With children the ages of yours, and on the presumption you have a car, I would strongly recommend that you book a mobile home on a campsite. Two that spring to mind are Parc de Fierbois outside Tours, and l'Etang de la Breche in Saumur. Both of these have wonderful swimming pool complexes and playgrounds, and your children would love them. They are within reasonable distances from some chateaux, and Fierbois is less than an hour away from Poitiers which is where you will find Futuroscope Theme Park. When our five children were aged 3-11, we started going to campsites, and found them great.The children can run about, there are washing machines on site, and a supermarket and bar and restaurant. You can look these campsites up on the internet.

If camping, as i did lots with my son in the Loire, i'd recommend Amboise's Camping Municipal, a three-star sight on an island right across from the Amboise Chateau - some camp sites have a marvellous view of the castle just across the Loire - great at night when the castle's facade is lit and the sound-and-light show goes on. This camp is right next to the Piscine (swimming pool; i often chuckle at the French word for swimming pool - piscine!