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Loire Valley
- Thread starter berliej
- Start date
Look forward to chatting about it when we meet up here in a couple of weeks
We are looking to spending 7 full days.. will be landing in Paris and will take a car. Still working on a ll the logistics. Not quite sure how we will divide up the days. We also prefer to spend a couple of days in a place and not a a different place every night.
I am thinking of doing that.. possibly straight from De Gaulle Airport to somewhere
Larry H
10+ Posts
We spent a week based in Amboise, our third time there (in part because we go back to see a resident who became a friend) earlier this month, and previously stayed in Loudun and Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher. We're now close to running out of chateaux to visit which are open all year (many privately owned chateaux close in early Nov. for the winter, after the All Saints Day school vacations), as we travel off-season, but in season there are about 100 open to the public.
We've been to 20 chateaux (Amboise, Angers, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois, Chambord, Chaumont, Chenonceau, Chinon, Fougères-sur-Bievre, Gailliard, Langlais, Clos Luce, Loches, Saumur, Selles-sur-Cher, Talcy, Usse, Valençay and Villandry), and to Fontevraud Abbey.
Amboise has 3 chateaux of varying sizes, and is an attractive but heavily dependent on tourism town of about 13,000 population. It is centrally located and right on the Loire. I liked Loudun, population about 7000, because it's a bit off the tourist track. St.-Aignan-sur-Cher, about 3,000, is much smaller, but also nice.
Figure about a 5 hour drive from CDG with stops and lunch. Taking the TGV to Tours and renting a car there makes sense for those arriving at CDG on a short flight with little opportunity to sleep. We're retired and in France for 4 weeks so we got off the plane and checked into an airport hotel overnight before picking up our rental car.
We've been to 20 chateaux (Amboise, Angers, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois, Chambord, Chaumont, Chenonceau, Chinon, Fougères-sur-Bievre, Gailliard, Langlais, Clos Luce, Loches, Saumur, Selles-sur-Cher, Talcy, Usse, Valençay and Villandry), and to Fontevraud Abbey.
Amboise has 3 chateaux of varying sizes, and is an attractive but heavily dependent on tourism town of about 13,000 population. It is centrally located and right on the Loire. I liked Loudun, population about 7000, because it's a bit off the tourist track. St.-Aignan-sur-Cher, about 3,000, is much smaller, but also nice.
Figure about a 5 hour drive from CDG with stops and lunch. Taking the TGV to Tours and renting a car there makes sense for those arriving at CDG on a short flight with little opportunity to sleep. We're retired and in France for 4 weeks so we got off the plane and checked into an airport hotel overnight before picking up our rental car.
Larry H
10+ Posts
I should have mentioned that to travel by TGV to Tours (the station is actually in neighboring St.-Pierre des Corps) requires transferring from CDG into Paris to the Gare Montparnasse. The TGV line at CDG does not go to Tours.
Thanks for the information. Not sure if we want to drive for 5 hours straight after a flight. Maybe just pick up a car and then begin our journey but stop over somewhere on the way for a night. Any ideas?
Larry H
10+ Posts
Google Maps estimates drive time CDG to Amboise at 3 hours (267 km), using toll roads all the way. We're not comfortable driving at the 130 kmh speed limit, and take a couple of pit stops and a leisurely lunch. We often tire of the autoroute and get off near Orleans to drive the slower but more scenic route along the Loire. If you're renting an apartment, you may not be able to check in before 4 p.m.
Have you been to Versailles? Last year we drove an hour there from CDG (through Paris on the Périphérique) to see the palace and stay overnight, before continuing to Amboise.
Even closer to CDG (but in the opposite direction from the Loire) is the nearly as splendid Chateau de Chantilly. We spent the night nearby at a small hotel in Auvers-sur-Oise.
Have you been to Versailles? Last year we drove an hour there from CDG (through Paris on the Périphérique) to see the palace and stay overnight, before continuing to Amboise.
Even closer to CDG (but in the opposite direction from the Loire) is the nearly as splendid Chateau de Chantilly. We spent the night nearby at a small hotel in Auvers-sur-Oise.
Have been to versailles. Thinking about stopping in chartres
There actually are direct TGV trains from CDG airport to Tours (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps is the TGV station on the east side of Tours, not far from Amboise). I live here in the Loire Valley and always take a train on that line when I fly back from the U.S. The TGVs from CDG to Tours originate in Lille and run all the way down to Bordeaux.
Hi Ken. thanks for that information. If we take that train, where would we be able to rent a car?
There are several car rental agencies at the Tours TGV station. Be careful, though, because they close for two hours at lunchtime (or used to) and are closed on Sundays and maybe Saturdays as well. Here's a link to more information:
Thank you!!
Parigi
100+ Posts
The Loire Valley actually covers quite a big area.
One week should be the minimum stay.
One of you saw 20 châteaux. Wow ! I can't do more than 2 days of château visits (about 5). They are like rich pastries. One château goes a long way.
I love the garden-themed smaller châteaux to the famous big ones but that's just moi.
Another thing to visit, if you are sick of châteaux, are the fascinating troglodyte villages and vineyards.
One week should be the minimum stay.
One of you saw 20 châteaux. Wow ! I can't do more than 2 days of château visits (about 5). They are like rich pastries. One château goes a long way.
I love the garden-themed smaller châteaux to the famous big ones but that's just moi.
Another thing to visit, if you are sick of châteaux, are the fascinating troglodyte villages and vineyards.
NoSpin
100+ Posts
Here is my post on the Loire Valley -
www.sloweurope.com
Loire Valley
I read such good information in the Dordogne thread, I thought I would start a Loire Valley thread. After 5 days in the Dordogne, my wife and I are spending 5 days in Amboise. There is so much to see and do there that I know we will only scratch the surface. I thought I would open this thread...
www.sloweurope.com