My husband and I will have 3 days, 3 nights in the Loire, the middle of May. We will be driving from Caan, would like to find a central place to stay, Preferably a chateau, and then take day trips. There is so much to see and do that it is overwhelming to decide. We love small villages, beautiful gardens, history....not much for museums unless we have a specific interest. Would appreciate any suggestions of how to get the most out of 3 days.

Can't help with the Chateau stay, but you could always just google Chateau accomadation in Loire Valley.
We stayed just outside Amboise and found it very central for the three day visit we took a few years ago.

Coming from Caen (assume that's what you meant), and with three days, I would head first for Angers and spend a night there. Visit the château there and the Jean Lurçat tapestries and just enjoy the town.

Then I'd head to the eastern Loire, via Saumur, stopping to see the town and the château there. I'd make my base for the next two nights in or near Amboise (check out Le Choiseul and the Manoir des Minimes on Google if you want accommodation suggestions - not châteaux, per se, but nice accommodations). I'd spend the time there visiting a couple of the famous Loire châteaux, a winery, exploring the countryside. Be sure to visit the Clos Lucé in Amboise, too, if Leaonardo DaVinci interests you, or if you want to know who brought forks to France.

I highly recommend this castle hotel. It is centrally located and very agreeable:

www.tortiniere.com

ibailey,

Some years ago we enjoyed our stay at Chateau de Rochecotte.

http://www.chateau-de-rochecotte.fr/index.php

Maybe somebody can give more recent informaion.

Byrd

traveller1959 recs a GREAT cheateux, and their food is out of this world

agree with frank and 1959

spent four nights at domaine de la tortiniere in 2006 and thought it was the perfect locationm nice rooms and great restaurant.

also, we had a drink at chateau d'artigny and thought it was at least as nice. when we booked it was about 10 - 20E a night more than tortiniere, but it might be worth it.

if you're driving from germany make sure you see chambord on your way south if you're interested (its a long way from tours / montbazon) but most of the other chateau's are very close.

have fun

We had a very nice return stay at the Rochecotte last month. Marvelous hotel serving good meals in a very elegant dining room. Rooms are variously priced, all very nice, and we got one of less expensive ones.

After several visits, my rankings are:

(1) Chambord - the biggest and most impressive
(2) Chenonceaux - arguably the prettiest - had an incredible lunch (duck in wine sauce) at a restaurant on the grounds
(3) Blois - larger town and chateau amazing history
(4) Amboise - cutest town in the east Loire (there aren't many) and the chateau is very interesting
(5) Villandry - amazing gardens
(6) Azay le Rideau - near Villandry and worth a stop and a cute town
(6) Usse - drive past for photo op

If you have had enough of chateaux head for the larger towns in the west (Saumur and Angers), but these are quite a drive.

What great information...I took out my Michelin map and started to map several possibilities. It is as expected, everyone has their favorites, but I love the choices, especially the places to stay...will check out all of them. Am open for any and all so keep them coming. thanks for the quick replys.

I live in the Loire Valley, and yes a chateau is the way to go, there's also a lovely hotel in Candes-St-Martin, see a great special at www.myweekin.net under hotels, its very clean, easy to park, modern rooms, 5 minutes from the Abbaye Fontevraud, otherwise, there's lot of links. Rochecotte is beautiful but a little tired, Domaine de la Tortiniere recently had their bathrooms all refurbished this year and is looking good, also Chateau Reignac is my favourite for its interior design, superb near Loches.

Hi,
In 1997 I spent a week walking through the Loire (River of Kings) with The Wayfarers.
Since then I returned with my husband in 2006 and we drove this time, but visiting most of the previous places I had already seen.

This is a short summary of where we stayed in '97 & '06.

Saturday:
TGV from Paris - Rendevous Tours - 1 night at The Holiday Inn.

Sunday;
Azay-le-Rideaux - Grand Monarque Hotel - 1 night - visit to the stunning moated Chateaux & picturesque village.

Monday:
Walk through orchards and forests to the village of Sache` on the Indre River, visiting the chateau where Balzac wrote his famous novels and lunch at a 15th century Inn. Along farmland tracks to medieval Villaines-les-Rochers to see wicker-work.
Back to Azay.

Tuesday:
Walk past 15th century cottages and castle ruins at Crissy-sur-Manse and through vineyards to Cravant-les-Coteaux for a wine-tasting deep in the rock cellar. Lunch in medieval Chinon where Joan of Arc met the young Charles VII.
Hotel for the night was across the River Vienne, but cannot remember the name. It had a lovely swimming pool.

Wednesday:
Over farmyards and villages with beautiful valley views to lunch in a gothic vaulted room of the Abbey of Seuilly. Then walk on to picturesque limestone Lerne` through a forest and on for overnight in the Prieure` St Lazare part of the 12th century Abbey of Fontevraud.

Thursday:
A guided tour of the Abbey to see resting place of Richard the Lion-Heart, then on to Candes-Saint-Martin, one of France's most beautiful villages lying at the confleunce of the rivers Loir & Vienne. Picnic lunch on the river bank before walking along hillside vineyards before leaving for Saumur and our stop for the night.
(in 2006 we stayed at Hotel Anne D'Anjou overlooking the Loire)in Saumur.

Friday:
Walk through lovely little villages and along forest tracks to lunch in a Troglodyte cave for a feast of simple local specialities. Then on to our chateau hotel at Chenehutte-les-Tuffeaux for our farewell dinner. Magical!

Saturday:
Angers & TGV back to Paris.

Full agreement with traveller 1959..The chateau ( Domaine de le Tortiniere) is beautiful, convenient, and very traveller friendly. My husband and I loved it and would have liked to have been able to stay longer. Too bad you are going in the Spring as the woods are awash with wild cyclamen in Oct. But anytime is fanastic.. have a great time. Amer_can

We are staying either Amboise or Blois, then Auxerre and Strasbourg for a few nights each and would like help with places to stay. We like somewhere central and 3 star plus. Also some ideas on lovely little villages and walks around Amboise and Auxerre.

Last June we stayed @ chateau-de-la-villaine and it was wonderful. Adrian and Juke were wonderful hosts and if you stay there BE SURE to stay for the all guest dinner they offer every night. It is a multi course meal ~ 35Euro pp including wine but well worth it. Juke is a terrific cook and she grows most of the veggies there on the property. Ask for one of the upstairs rooms that shares a balcony with the room next door. Last year we met the couple who were staying next to us out there, drank some wine, ate some cheese and this year we are traveling to Belgium to stay with them on vacation. Enjoy... it is a beautiful area