Bucket list experience:
The largest chateau in the Loire, and the most excessive of all King François I’s architectural ventures, this 16th-century Renaissance colossus contains an astonishing 440 rooms, 84 staircases, more than 800 sculpted columns and a forest of fantastical chimneys.
Its centrepiece is the spectacular double helix staircase, designed, it is thought, by Leonardo da Vinci, but it also houses an outstanding collection of 4,500 items of furniture, tapestries, antiques and objets d’art.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >The nearest stations are Blois and Mer (about 1.5-hours from Paris); from May-September there’s a shuttle from Blois. There’s a large car park if you’re driving (about €5 per day). There are 90 rooms open to the public, and you are free to wander around them at will.
There’s a brochure (available in multiple languages) available at the entrance to help guide you, and there are explanatory boards in each room explaining the room’s history and exhibits. There are also daily 1-hour guided tours in English, and longer tours in French on the weekends.
The chateau is open all year round, seven days a week.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Tours
€154 | Rating 5 / 5 [35 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Tours
€184 | Rating 4.94 / 5 [131 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Tours
€195 | Rating 4.56 / 5 [50 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Tours
€215 | Rating 4.59 / 5 [27 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Loire Valley, France
Extraordinary historic chateaux, authentic village life, and superb wine blend in this beautiful UNESCO-listed valley.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Loire Valley, France[10 miles]
An 900km waymarked cycle route through the Loire’s beautiful countryside, stopping off at fantastical chateaux, vineyards, and picturesque villages.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 1 day-2 weeks
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Vineuil, Centre-Val de Loire, France[10.8 miles]
Paddling along the Loire is a dreamy was to see its waterfront chateaux, plus the region’s rich flora and fauna. Loire Kayak offer trips ranging from 1 hour to up to 8 days (with camping).
Best for ages: 10+ | £14 | 1 hour - 8 days
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.
