Blois to Angers: A Week of the Loire’s Finest Châteaux
The Loire Valley is France’s garden — a UNESCO-listed landscape of glittering limestone châteaux, vineyard-covered hills, and the broad, slow river that French kings once called home. This seven-day itinerary follows the Loire from Blois to Angers by bicycle and car, taking in the most spectacular royal châteaux — the fairy-tale turrets of Chambord, the gallery-bridge of Chenonceau, the geometric gardens of Villandry — plus wine cellars carved into cliff faces, medieval villages frozen in time, and the best goat cheese you’ll ever eat. Estimated budget: €750–1,100.
7-Day Itinerary Overview
Route: Blois (Day 1) → Chambord / Cheverny (Day 2) → Chaumont-sur-Loire (Day 3) → Chenonceau / Amboise (Day 4) → Villandry / Langeais (Day 5) → Saumur / Fontevraud (Day 6) → Angers (Day 7)
Best for: History and architecture lovers; cyclists; wine enthusiasts; families; photographers
Budget: €750–1,100 per person (excluding car rental)
Direction: One-way west along the Loire, bike-friendly with many dedicated cycling paths
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Blois — Arrival at the Gateway to the Châteaux
Arrive at Blois — ideally by train from Paris (1h30m from Gare d’Austerlitz). The town itself is a gem: climb to the Blois Royal Château, where four wings from four different eras (Gothic, Renaissance, Classical, and Flamboyant) surround a single courtyard — it’s an architectural timeline in one building. Walk the medieval streets of Vieux Blois, cross the Loire on the Jacques-Gabriel bridge for the classic river view, and dine at one of the bistros on Rue Saint-Lubin. Pick up wine from a local cave for the picnic days ahead.
Accommodation: Blois centre guesthouse (€55–85/night).
Entry: Royal Château of Blois (€14).
Day 2: Chambord & Cheverny — Two Giants of the Renaissance
Rent a bicycle (most hotels in Blois arrange rentals) and cycle the 15km to Chambord, the largest château in the Loire — 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and the famous double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. Spend the morning exploring the roof terrace (the forest of turrets and chimneys is breathtaking). In the afternoon, cycle 10km further to Cheverny, the privately-owned château that inspired Tintin’s Marlinspike Hall — elegant, intimate, and still lived in. The Loire à Vélo cycling path connects all three smoothly.
Transport: Bicycle (€12–18/day rental).
Entry: Chambord (€17), Cheverny (€12).
Day 3: Chaumont-sur-Loire — Gardens & Wine Cellars
Cycle or drive from Blois to Chaumont-sur-Loire (20km west). The château is impressive, but the real draw is the International Garden Festival — 30+ avant-garde gardens designed by landscape artists from around the world, spread across the estate grounds. Each year has a different theme, and the installations are both stunning and thought-provoking. In the evening, walk across the river to the troglodyte wine cellars carved into the cliffs of Onzain — taste the famous Touraine Sauvignon Blanc directly from the barrel.
Accommodation: Chaumont-sur-Loire B&B (€60–90/night).
Entry: Château de Chaumont + Festival (€20).
Day 4: Chenonceau & Amboise — The Ladies’ Château
Drive 30 minutes to Chenonceau, arguably the most beautiful château in the Loire, built across the River Cher on a graceful gallery bridge. This château was shaped by the women who owned it — Catherine de Médici, Diane de Poitiers, and Louise de Lorraine — and their influence is visible in every room. The floral gardens, the candlelit gallery, and the kitchen housed in the castle’s bridge piers are unforgettable. Continue to Amboise for the afternoon to visit the Clos Lucé manor where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. See his working models and inventions displayed in the basement.
Accommodation: Amboise centre hotel (€65–100/night).
Entry: Chenonceau (€17), Clos Lucé (€15).
Day 5: Villandry & Langeais — Gardens of Precision
Visit Villandry, home to the most extraordinary gardens in France — six terraced levels of ornamental vegetable gardens, geometric flower beds, and a water garden, all laid out with the precision of a botanical manuscript. The château itself is modest compared to Chambord, but the gardens are the main event. In the afternoon, drive 10 minutes to Langeais, a formidable medieval fortress with a working drawbridge and 15th-century interiors that feel authentically lived-in. Drive 45 minutes west to Saumur for the night.
Accommodation: Saumur guesthouse (€55–85/night).
Entry: Villandry (€14 for gardens + château), Langeais (€11).
Day 6: Saumur & Fontevraud — Wine City & Royal Abbey
Start the morning in Saumur, the Loire’s wine and horse capital. Tour the Saumur Champigny wine region — the reds here are light, fruity, and remarkably affordable. Visit the magnificent Château de Saumur perched on its hilltop (the late-medieval edifice that inspired the illuminations in Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry). In the afternoon, drive to the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, the largest surviving monastic complex in Europe, where Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine are buried. The contemporary art exhibitions within the abbey walls are a wonderful contrast of old and new.
Accommodation: Saumur or Fontevraud B&B (€60–90/night).
Entry: Château de Saumur (€10), Fontevraud Abbey (€14).
Day 7: Angers — The Apocalypse Tapestry & Departure
Drive 45 minutes to Angers, the western gateway to the Loire Valley. The main attraction is the Angers Castle (Château d’Angers), home to the Apocalypse Tapestry — a 100-metre-long 14th-century woven masterpiece depicting the Book of Revelation in vivid, terrifying detail. It’s one of the most important medieval artworks in Europe and utterly breathtaking in person. After the tapestry, explore the town’s half-timbered old quarter, sample a Crémant de Loire at a riverside café, and depart from Angers-Saint-Laud station (direct TGV to Paris in 1h30m).
Transport: TGV from Angers to Paris (€35–50).
Entry: Château d’Angers + Tapestry (€11).
Budget Summary: 7-Day Loire Valley Itinerary
Estimated Total: €750–1,100 per person
- Car rental (7 days, economy): €200–350
- Fuel: €70–90
- Accommodation (6 nights): €320–540
- Château entry fees: €90–110
- Bicycle rental (2 days): €25–35
- Wine tasting and purchases: €30–60
- Meals: €140–200
- Return TGV to Paris: €35–50
Best Season: April-October (gardens at their peak May-July; harvest season September-October for wine)
Recommended For: Architecture and history enthusiasts, wine lovers, cyclists, anyone who wants to understand why the Loire is called the “Garden of France”
Disclaimer: Prices are estimates and may vary by season. Château entry fees can be bundled with a ‘Pass Loire Valley’ discount card if visiting 3+ châteaux. Book Amboise for da Vinci’s Clos Lucé in advance during summer. This itinerary is for general reference only.
