Which Loire castle to visit?
 

Would Vaux-de-Compte (sp?) be a good choice for a day trip to the Loirs Valley from Paris? Been to Versailles and Fontainbleu, but wanted to show someone else a good example, and maybe a nice town nearby as well.

This is accessible by train, isn't it?

I would also recommend Amboise which has an excellent chateau and it itself an pretty town. You can taxi or bus to nearby Château de Chenonceau from there.

Amboise is an easy train ride from Paris....make it an early start so you can get in a full day.

Naxos

Vaux le Vicomte is not in the Loire..but is located on the outskirts of Paris near Melun.

You can get to Melun by rail and from there to the chateaux by taxi or bus.

The place served as a kind of smaller scale model for Versailles..the interiors are wonderfully furnished.

it is worth a trip IMO.

My correction..you can get to the (singular) chateau from melun....

as to Amboise...a couple hours from Paris by rail; the nearest chateau would be Chenonceau besides the one in Amboise itself.

Verailles and Fontainebleau are royal, and Vaux-le-Vicomte is not, so it's not the same kind of thing at all. It is a good example, but if they want the Loire, that doesn't work. It's not in any town, but I don't know if the closest town is worth seeing or not.

Chenonceaux is lovely, it's a top example. It probably would take longer to get there, though.

Amboise is actually not a chateaux (a pleasure palace) - it's earlier - and really a castle/fortress. Nevertheless it is interesting, as is the cute little town and the Le Clos Luce.

For a real chateaux - if you;re doing only one - I would do either Chambord or Chenonceaux - really in the Loire and much more representative.

But- it depends on your interests - some are better for gardens (Villandry), some for history, some for size. In any case to see them properly you need either to rent a car or take a van tour from one of the major towns. (Most of the chateaux are - naturally - deep in the countryside with little access by public transit.)

For gardens, head to Villandry. For a château that gives you an idea of life in its day, Langeais. For a lovely château with a moat, Azay-le-Rideau.

I would choose Blois, fascinating for its history, and nearby Royal Palace of Chambort.

To enjoy them more read a little about Francois I, Henri II , and Catalina de Medici.