There are more than 300 châteaux in the Loire Valley, more than you can visit in one holiday, so a little advance preparation and planning will pay dividends. Within one hour from Les Mortiers you can visit 18 châteaux.
The Loire Valley was the centre of power in France until the 16th century and after that continued to be the area favoured by the French kings and nobility for hunting and leisure. Their presence in the lush, fertile valley attracted the very best builders, skilled in the use of the natural tuffeau stone to build the châteaux.
Whichever château you visit you can be sure the setting will be beautiful. The Loire Valley is a World Heritage Site and noted as special by UNESCO for “an exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty, comprised of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments – the Châteaux – and lands that have been cultivated and shaped by centuries of interaction between local populations and their physical environment, in particular the Loire itself.”
It’s for you to enjoy!
The list below shows the châteaux you can visit easily from Les Mortiers to make it a pleasant outing, rather than a full-scale expedition! Eighteen châteaux are less than an hour away. As a rough guide 1 kilometre equates to 1 minute’s drive, slightly less for châteaux over 60 minutes away.
Chateau | Distance | Time |
---|---|---|
GiseuxOpen: 1st April to 4th November |
6.5km | - |
Le LudeOpen: 1st April to 30th September |
27km | - |
Breil de FoinsOpen: 14th July to 31st August |
23km | - |
BaugéOpen: 13th February to 1st November |
29km | - |
Le Manoir de ClairefontaineOpen: 2th April to 9th May, 1st July to 31st August |
29km | - |
ChampchevrierOpen: 15th June to 3rd Sunday in September – and by appointment |
25km | - |
SaumurOpen: 1st April to 4th November |
32km | - |
MontsoreauOpen: March on Saturday and Sundays. 1st April to 14th November daily |
37km | - |
LangeaisOpen: All year round |
31km | - |
ChatonnièreOpen: Gardens open from January to 15th November. see Frenchholiday Calendar for special events |
39km | - |
Châteaude BrézéOpen: 1st February to 31st December |
47km | - |
Château de Montreuil-BellayOpen: 1st April to 5th November |
47km | - |
Château de LuynesOpen: 1st April to 30th September |
47km | - |
Château de Azay Le RideauOpen: All year |
41km | - |
Château de MontgeoffroyOpen: 28th March to 11th November |
42km | - |
Château de VillandryOpen: Every day all year |
41km | - |
Château de Rigny-UsséOpen: 14th February to 11 November |
40km | - |
Fortress Royale de ChinonOpen: Open all year, except 25/12 and 1/1 |
38km | - |
Château de DurtalOpen: Check for details |
49km | 53 minutes |
Château de CandeOpen: All year, by appointment in low season |
50km | 58 minutes |
Château de RivauOpen: Easter to November 14th |
49km | 57 minutes |
Château d’AngersOpen: All year, except 1/1, 1/5, 1/11, 11/11, 25/12 |
54km | 63 minutes |
Château Musée de la Communication (Trélazé)Open: Open weekends and school holidays, closed mid-July and August |
49km | 62 minutes |
Château de Brissac-QuincéOpen: Please check site for opening hours |
57km | 72 minutes |
Château de SerrantOpen: Open 15th March to 15th November |
88km | 76 minutes |
Château La BourdaisièreOpen: 1st April to 30th October |
67km | 72 minutes |
Château AmboiseOpen: All year, except 25/12 and 1/1 |
74km | 79 minutes |
Parc de RichelieuOpen: Daily |
60km | 72 minutes |
Château du Plessis-BourréOpen: Open 15th February to end of November |
67km | 74 minutes |
Parc Leonardo da Vinci au Château du Clos LucéOpen: All year, except 25/12 and 1/1 |
75km | 89 minutes |