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Château des Reaux

The Château des Reaux was once the home of of the French writer and poet Tallemant Réaux and has kept his name and air of romance. The castle is now privately owned and a family run hotel, built in the XVth Century the château is situated 4 km from the town of Bourgueil.

The château is flanked by two towers and is almost surrounded by water, its extensive gardens spread over an area of ten hectares.

Getting There
From Paris: Take the A11 Motorway in the direction Angers. Then, Motorway A85 direction Chinon, exit at Port Boulet and after the circle, follow signs for the château.

Château at Azay-le-Rideau

The château at Azay-le-Rideau is one of the earliest French Renaissance châteaux, building work started in 1515 and took 12 years to complete. This fairy tale style chateau is built on a small island in the Indre river and it rises straight out of the water. Although this château is small by some standards its location and style make it one of the most beautiful.

The interior of the château is packed full of Renaissance pieces and decorative sculptures as well as historical portraits and tapestries.

Opening Times
from October to March : 10-12:30 and 2-5:30
from April to June and in September : 9:30-6
in July and August : 9:30-7

Closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25

Admission Price
Adults: 8 euro
Children under 18: free

Getting There
From Tours: exit no 11 and secondary road D 751 towards Chinon
From Poitiers: main road N 10 to Sainte-Maure, then secondary roads D 760 and D 57 to Azay-le-Rideau

Château Sully-Sur-Loire

Sully-Sur-Loire is another of the Loire's fairy tale castles and is idyllically set on the bank of the Loire river with the water lapping its foundations.

One of the oldest château of the the Loire Valley Sully was built around 1395 but it is thought that a castle has sat on the site since Roman times.

Much of the inside of the château has been restored and it boasts numerous tapestries, sculptures and architectural delights. Each year in June Sully-Sur-Loire hosts a classical music festival with concerts held in the gardens inside a huge marquee.

Getting There
Sully-Sur-Loire Château is situated approx 7km to the east of St-Benoît in the department of Loiret.

Opening Times
February, March, October, November and December: open from 10 am to 12 pm and 14 am to 17 pm - closed on Monday
April, May, June and September: open from 10 am to 18 pm - closed on Monday
July and August: open from 10 am to 18 pm
Closed: December 25 and all of January

Admission
Adults: 6 euros
Children between 6 and 17: 4 euros
Children under 6: Free

Château de Chaumont

Technically the oldest castle in the Loire Valley the Château de Chaumont was originally built as a fortress in the 10th century but in 1465 King Louis XI had the castle burned down and it was rebuilt again by Charles I d'Amboise in 1465.

Château de Chaumont is now a state owned museum and each year hosts a Garden Festival from June to October.

Below the château nestling on the banks of the river is the pretty village of Chaumont sur Loire. The village, château and surrounding area have been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Château de Chenonceau

Probably one of the most famous chateaux of the Loire valley Chenonceau bridges the river River Cher and was built in the 11th century. Inside the château there are huge collections of tapestries and paintings including works by Rubens, Le Tintoret, Rigaud and Nattier.

The outside is surrounded by beautiful formal gardens, monuments, statuary and extensive parkland. During the summer months a musical night walk through the gardens is held.

Getting There
Chenonceau is located in Touraine on the Cher River’s bank and is 214 kms from Paris and 34 kms from Tours.

From Paris take the A10 motorway known as the Aquitaine and exit at Blois or Amboise.

Opening Times
The Castle is open every day of the year.

Admission
Adults: 10 euros
Students and children under 15: 8 euros
Children under 7: Free