We will be traveling all over Europe in the summer. Our original plan was that while we were in Paris, we would take a day trip to the Loire Valley to see some of the Chateau's.

But, since so many people on this board rave about the Loire Valley, I really was thinking that we should spend a few days there. Here's the problem... if we do stay in the Loire Valley, we could probably only spend 2 nights there.

There will be five of us all together, and I don't know if the hassle of renting a car, figuring out the roads on maps, etc. is worth it for just 2 days.

None of us have driven before in Europe, and with the size of our group, I'm not sure if we will need a bigger vehicle, which might mean even more money.

So what do you suggest - just do a daytrip, or spend the 2 days there?

Hi anna,

I would rent a van and go.

However, based on your concerns, I suggest you look into tours from Paris to the Loire valley.

If you like biking, here's one

http://www.mikesbiketoursparis.com/Chateau.htm

I second the idea of renting a van. This area is close to Paris and the driving is not expecially challenging (good roads, no mountians etc,) and many of the chateaux are quite close together. For a special experience stay at one of the local family-owned castles that rent rooms - it's amazing to wake up in the morning realizing you're in a 500+ year old massive stone building surrounded by a moat designed to protect the locals/town from marauding armies. Many of these are very inexpensive and offer great inclusive breakfasts.

Hi all!

I'm in a situation similar to Anna's - my wife and I are going to spend a couple of days in the Loire as a side trip from Paris.

I agree with Ira and NY, the driving in France is no problem once you're outside of Paris. I've done it many times on working trips to Europe, but would prefer to play "relaxed tourist" and rely on trains, buses, etc this time.

I've seen lots of references to staying at various chateaux - can anyone recommend something with a real "medieval" feel? We're thinking of chateau in the fortress sense, not palatial. There's so many around that I'm having trouble zeroing in on any particular town.

Thanks,
Matt

KathyMatt--any chateau with a medieval feel is likely to be an anachronistic reconstruction. Those that are medieval (Angers, Langeais, Chinon) are historical monuments and do not have accomodations. My reading of the history of the region is that small medieval castles, such as the fortress of a lesser lord, disappeared quickly as the kings of France imposed their control on the area.

Michael

That makes sense - maybe part of why I'm having trouble sorting things out. Perhaps I should be looking for places that are "in the neighborhood" of the castle(s) we might be interested in.

I spent a week and a half in Alsace last month (working - not touristing). I did get one day off to see the sights. I was staying near Neuf-Brisach and drove up to Riquehwir (sp) and then down the wine road. Spent the afternoon in Kaysersberg just walking and watching life go by.

We had already booked a trip to Paris for the end of March (our second trip). When I told my wife about my day in Alsace, she said that we should try to find some place kind of like that for an overnight 2-day trip out of the city.

I really enjoyed Alsace (the people, food, wine, and scenery), but that just seems too far to go for our time frame. That's when I started seeing the Loire as a possiblity. Maybe someone else has another suggestion....

Thanks!
Matt

Hi, Anna and Matt. Take a look at this site
http://www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com/ to browse a few dozen chateaux-hotels in the area. I would suggest you choose one in either Indre-et-Loire or Loir-et-Cher departments to be near the famous chateaux. Last year a group of us stayed at the Chateau de Montgoger south of Tours and enjoyed it very much. It is conveniently located for the chateaux west of Tours (Azay-le-Rideau, Langeais, Villandry, Chinon) but not so much for those to the east (Chenonceau, Amboise, Blois, Chambord, Cheverny). Enjoy your time, however long or short, in the Loire Valley!

I spent 10 days in the Loire Valley last May, and loved it. I took TGV from Paris (Montparnasse) to Tours, and stayed there 2 nights without a car. There are minivan tours of some chateaux from there (leave from the Tourist Office, and can be booked thru them). Then I rented a car in Tours for the rest to trip. You could get to Amboise easily from Tours on the train (I think you can go direct from Paris to Amboise), and it's a great place to spend a couple of days. The castle at Amboise is very interesting, and has so much history associated with it. Also, there are minivan tours from Amboise to some of the other chateaux.

I stayed at the Manoir des Minimes, which is lovely (not a chateau, but a really nice, small hotel - upscale). There is no restaurant at that hotel, though, and if some of your group of five include children, it might not be the best place. But Amboise would! I was there on a French holiday weekend, and there were loads of kids - lots for them to do around there. Do a search of the Loire Valley on this board, and you'll come up with lots of idea. I certainly don't think you need the car for just a couple of days.

One of the more unique experiences we had traveling was staying in a Chateau in the Loire Valley. We stayed at Jallanges, near Vouvray (Tours). It was really charming. The Chateau itself was beautiful with lovely gardens and interesting, elegant accomodations. I really enjoyed breakfasts in the morning; a lavish feast shared with the other guests and the owners.

By all means, rent a car. I'm a huge fan of trains and buses, but a car is the only way to explore the Loire Valley. We had so much fun stopping at the tiny, family owned wineries and tasting their product in the shop in the back of the house.

Amboise is a popular base for exploring the area. Some would prefer to go there by train and then rent a car, but it is close enough to Paris to justify driving there directly. Dealing with two forms of transportation would seem to be a particular disadvantage given the size of your group. On the return, however, it would probably be better to drop the car in Amboise and take the train. If you do drive, I would suggest that only one person be given the job of navigator!

The chateau we stayed in (Chateau des Reaux) was amazing - really a 15th century castle built specifically for military defense. The bedrooms (all up one or more flights of original stone stairs) ranged from simple to quite charming, there was a ground floor room with sofas, tables etc set aside for guests use, and the housekeeper served a beautiful included breakfast in the dining room each morning (fresh croissants, other bread/rolls with butter, honey and jam, coffee, tea, juices, fruits, cereals, yogurts and boiled eggs.) There was a terrace for relaxing and gardens for wandering.

However, it was several miles outside of Chinon and definitely not doable without a car.

I don't know if you will find any similar properties in major towns - since they were built as defensive militarty installations they will be located in small towns. (The castles found in the larger towns are the world-famous ones you will be touring.) If you want to stay in a larger town such as Amboise you'll need to stay in a hotel.

I think it might make a difference as to whether you have some kind of railpass that would make the train trip relatively "free" or, at least, cheaper than usual. Since you said you're going to be traveling all over Europe, I thought you might. If no, since there are five of you, I think renting a larger car/van might be a good idea -- the drive isn't terribly difficult and you'll be able to drive around the Loire area better.

For budgetary reason, I would either rent a car OR take the train, not do both. Paying for five RT TGV fares is not cheap, they normally cost about 72 euro (maybe USD90) on that route, and for five people that is a lot of money for train fare. Of course, if you book the train tickets ahead and get an advanced purchase discount or some of those are children, it will be lower.

There are also discounts available to people travelling together.

You might consider doing this on bicycle as we did years ago. The countryside is lucious, many small roads and by biking you work off enough calories to pig out on scrumptuous french pastry every where.
AndrewDavid

Thanks to everyone for their replies. But, some of you didn't mention if you would rent a car just for 2 days. We were going to take the TGV from Paris to Tours, and use Tourevasion tour group for the day trip.

Some of you mentioned a biking tour around the Loire Valley - would you be kind enough to go into more detail about where you travel to, etc.

You might want to consider renting the car in Paris and see Chartres on the way down to the Loire. But in terms of cost I think that it would rule out the tour you mentioned.