I am planning a trip to the Loire Valley and rather than move around from hotel to hotel, I would like to rent a cottage or gite in the countryside. What town would be the best place to use as a centrally located home base? I would like to see the chateaus, of course, and also visit the wine region.

Thanks!
Jean

How many days will you have - and do you plan to cover the entire region - or just the east or west? To do the entire valley you either need to be right n the center - or do two stays - one east and one west.

We stayed near Chinon and found it good for the centre and western sections. Amboise is also a charming small town.

But we didn;t go that far east.

We spent a week in the Loire a few years ago and based ourselves in a manor house near Chinon. We were able to see a lot from that location. Our mini-trip report will give you an idea of some of the things we were able to do easily from there:

http://www.onelittleworld.com/loire_2.html

I did a day trip to the Loire Valley with a France Rail pass when I was in Paris this past May. I was able to view 4 of the major Chateaus traveling via train in one day. My next trip to France, I am planning on staying in Tours for a couple of days and traveling around the Loire via train again. All the brochures I picked up on that trip recommended Tours as a base for seeing the valley.

while on two cycling trips, I based myself in Onzain, just across the river from Chaumont.

In looking to do another trip to the area, I have not found a gite in Onzain, but I believe there are some in Chaumont.

I think aywhere between Blois and Amboise would be well centered.