The Loire Valley Châteaux

Over the weekend I posted a review of The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron. I picked up the book in part because of the setting. The Loire Valley is dotted with châteaux, vineyards, rolling hills, and rivers and it truly feels magical! I was able to visit the area in 2014 and I adored it. Below are the three châteaux I visited during my stay.

Château de Chambord

Château de Chambord was the hunting lodge of Francis I. It is the largest château in the Loire Valley boasting 440 rooms and 282 fireplaces! The château is believed to have been the inspiration for the Beast’s castle in the animated Beauty and the Beast and was certainly used for inspiration in the recent live action remake. It’s rumored that Leonardo DaVinci designed or inspired the double helix staircase in the chateau. DaVinci spent the end of his life living in nearby Amboise under the patronage of Francis I. Chambord was undergoing renovations when I visited, but I’d love to go back and see it in all it’s glory! For more on Chambord, visit here.

Château de Chenonceau

Château de Chenonceau seems like it’s straight out of a storybook. From the Rapunzel-like tower to the garden mazes this could also easily be inspiration for a Disney movie! The château straddles the River Cher and I can’t imagine a more magical setting.

Francis I acquired Chenonceau in 1535. After his death Henry II offered the château not to his wife, Catherine de’ Medici, but to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. When Henry II died Catherine wasted no time ousting Diane… drama! However, my favorite part of the history of Chenonceau takes place slightly more recently. The château was purchased privately by the Menier family in 1913 (the family still owns it today) and according to the official Chenonceau website: “During the Second World War, the Grand Gallery at Chenonceau became the sole point of access to the free zone, and the Menier family helped to smuggle out people fleeing the Nazi tyranny.” How amazing is that?! For more on Chenonceau, visit here.

Château du Clos Lucé

Château du Clos Lucé is located at the top of the town of Amboise. The most famous inhabitant of Clos Lucé was Leonardo da Vinci. Francis I offered the château to da Vinci in 1516 and he arrived with the Mona Lisa, Saint Anne, and Saint John the Baptist in hand (talk about precious cargo!). Da Vinci died at Clos Lucé in 1519. The château is now a museum about the famous inventor and artist and contains many models of his inventions. For more information, visit here.

Which of these three château would you most like to visit?