9 Best Hotels in The Loire Valley, France

This grand 17th-century castle—a listed historic monument—set on a gorgeous 100-acre estate is now one of the Loire's standout lodgings, where all the pomp and elegance has been lovingly preserved and tastefully enhanced with contemporary designer furnishings, lighting, and state-of-the-art amenities. At the hotel's gastronomic restaurant, Mémoire, you'll dine in splendor in the chateau's gilded and frescoed salons on dishes that feature ingredients from the domain’s own kitchen gardens and orchards. The Tata Harper spa, set in the former greenhouses, offers relaxing views of the gardens, plus a sauna, a hammam, and a full list of luxury treatments perfect after a day of swimming in the two pools, playing tennis, or biking or walking on the many wooded and garden paths.

Home to one of France's most beauteous châteaux, Azay should rightly have a hotel that befits the town jewel, and this landmark—a three-minute walk from the château gates—nicely fits the bill. Some complain that its fame brings a captive audience, which can result in offhand service. However, guest rooms, which vary in size and style, have character; most are simple, with an antique or two, and many have exposed beams. Public salons are elegant and comfortable, and the excellent wine bar offers gourmet snacks (heavy on the charcuterie, but salads are available too) to accompany two dozen wines by the glass and more by the bottle. Though opening hours are brief (6:30 pm until 8 pm seven days a week), you can order everything from the wine bar menu, plus some hot meals to enjoy in your room until 9:30 pm. 

Revel in the manorial vibe at this regal ivy-clad estate set on 170 acres of manicured gardens and woods. Roomy dwellings in the château, carriage house (the best choice for families), or pavilion mix traditional touches (toile de Jouy fabrics, gilt mirrors, oriental rugs) with plush modern furnishings, ample beds, and large contemporary bathrooms. Other amenities include a guests-only Clarins spa (with sauna, hammam, small fitness room, and outdoor pool), a helipad, and a restaurant with a Michelin star that's famous for its style and quality—an evening here glows with sumptuous white bouquets and dazzling dishes. If you can’t get a table (best to reserve that early), the bistro is a formidable second choice. For utmost romance, the château is your best bet—especially one of the balcony suites—but there are no bad choices at this gracious hotel.

A 15th-century jewel of a castle, once a retreat of kings François I and Henri IV, is today the country setting for the Prince de Broglie's hotel set on magnificent grounds. Owner Prince Louis-Albert is a famed biodiversity preservationist, who cultivates 650 types of tomatoes in the château's potager (vegetable garden). It's not surprising that the three main public salons are suavely done up in shades of tomato red, offsetting the immense marble fireplace, taxidermied animals (by De Broglie own's Deyrolle, Paris's famed taxidermist), and curio cabinet objects collected by the prince. Inside the neo-Renaissance castle, guest rooms range from the grand—François-Premier is a timber-roof cottage blown up to ballroom dimensions—to more standard-issue. The adjoining 17th-century \"stables\" are fitted out with a gardening shop and a tiny eatery. The enormous secluded pool is welcome on hot summer days.

It may not be high luxury, but this welcoming family hotel set in a small village among rolling vineyards about 3 km (2 miles) from Sancerre pretty much checks every other box you can think of for a charming stay. Owned by a ten-generation winemaking family, the attention shown to everything from the impeccably clean and spacious rooms to the top-notch dining in both the bistro and gastronomic restaurant (where you can sample the family wines) demonstrates a deep and abiding connection with the heart and soul of Sancerre. The hotel also offers wine tastings and tours of the family vineyard and picnics.

This unconventional countryside lodging puts a cheeky spin on the traditional chateau hotel. Eccentric layouts in the two contemporary pavilions—some with in-room sinks, ladders to loft rooms, and outside bedrooms (yes, you read that right)—add a frisson of surprise. Lovely grounds and a spacious wooden terrace permit plenty of lounging and outdoor dining, and the hotel’s proximity to the Château de Chaumont, a ten-minute walk away, is a bonus. All the amenities are of a high quality, and the top-notch Le Grand Chaume restaurant, in a dome-topped hut, never disappoints.

Once a Catholic school, this ivy-clad 19th-century building—a 10-minute walk from the Château de Villandry—is now a charming boutique hotel. All 20 rooms are spacious and modern, with comfortable beds and all the amenities, though rooms in the main building tend to be on the larger side, with views of the park. Set on lovely grounds, there are plenty of scenic nooks for some lovely views of the countryside.

Far from their original role as monastic cells and even further from the Flintstone-influenced idea of cave dwellings, these luxe-prehistoric lodgings—with their limestone walls, chic contemporary style, carved fireplaces, sophisticated lighting, finished marble steps, and riverside setting—exude a quiet luxury amid the soothing elements of stone and water. The 12 cave rooms benefit from large windows and naturally cool temperatures, even in summer. Some guests prefer the three rooms in the regular house—no cave-dwelling drama, but they're comfortable and air-conditioned. The gastonomic restaurant, with an enchanting terrace, offers elegant fare and overlooks the lovely pool and the Loire River. A favored country residence for rich Parisians, the town of Rochecorbon is a treat (once off the main traffic road), thanks to its pretty town center.