Paris to the Loire
 

First, I want to thank everyone who helped me see the light about my "Paris to Dordogne to Rome" idea - again, your help was invaluable. Now I've got a new idea (!) and wonder if it's any better, and if it is, I'd love some advice...

My plan of visiting Paris and Rome while I'm in Europe remain the same - actually, while I'm in Italy I'm going to be spending some time in nearby Colleferro to visit relatives. But while I'm in France I'd love to get away from the city a little bit. I read that the TGV will take you to the Loire Valley in "1 hour" - is it worth taking a day (or two) trip out there while I'm in France? and if so, where would be a good place to check out? I'm particularly interested in smaller towns...

It's very feasible, although I would suggest renting a car for the two days. Take the TGV to Tours or Angers and start touring from there. Perhaps spend two days going up the Loire and returning from Orléans. For some ideas of which chateaux to visit, you might want to look at my photos:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34670352

I second the suggestion on renting a car. I am not sure how you would get around without one, especially if you only have two days. Tours was my starting point and it worked out well. The only thing I would have changed is I would have taken a train to Tours first, then rented a car there, rather than driving from Paris. (too much traffic, too much time, got lost, etc.) I am excited for you, the Loire Valley was one of my favorite trips. I can't wait to go back someday.

i hadn't really planned on taking much of a tour of the area - more like just having a brief refuge in a smaller city. i'm actually a little nervous about renting a car; i hear it's rather expensive (i'm on a tight budget) and i'm from new york city - haven't driven in years!

are there buses i could take from tours/angers to a smaller place?

I took the train to Blois and stayed for 2 nights. From there we took the bus to Chambord and back. I was there in March and with the reduced buses could only see Chambord or Chenonceau, not both. But during the tourist season, they are timed so you could do both. The chateau in Blois was interesting to visit. Another easy day trip is to Chartre to tour the cathedral. The town is also lovely.

Hi Bellicosa,
I don't see any reason to rent a car for a short trip to the Loire of 1-2 days. I don't own a car and don't rent one when I go to Europe.

Last April I stayed in Angers for 1 week. I did 4 day trips and could have easily done 2 more by train+bus, if I'd had enough time. I spent the first weekend in Angers, that is almost 3 full days. But you could train to Saumur, for example, it only takes 20 minutes. While the château is closed for renovations until 2007, the old town is still lovely to tour, the tourist office hands out a map and with a suggested walk, which takes you up to the château, from which there's a marvellous view over the whole area.

Other options for nice towns in the area, to which I havn't been yet:

Blois, as was mentioned in this thread, from where you could easily train to Amboise to see the chateâu. You could also stay in Beaugency and take the train to Blois from there (I understand neighbouring Meung-sur-Loire is also worth a short visit).

Or you could train to Bourges, highly recommended here by one forum member (I'm dying to go, myself) and if you like to visit the Chenonceau chateâu, you could take a train from there. The journey takes about 50 minutes.

How are you getting to Rome?

You can also reach Chenonceau by rail as there is a station just outside the entrance.

Château, of course, is the right spelling. I don't know how I placed that accent in the wrong place, twice. I see the word "Angers", I lose my mind. I just love France too much.