Today I invite you to enjoy a walk through one of the areas with the most history and tradition in France. We delve into Loire castles, constructions that are located in the central part of the country and that were built or rebuilt during the XV and XVI centuries.
There are many castles that you can visit if you enter this space that transports us to the most stately past of France. I have selected 7 of them so that you have a first approximation. If you like what you read, you already know the next step: go visit them.
Chambord castle
It is one of the most majestic and is part of the castles that are World Heritage. It has eight towers and more than 400 rooms. Around it we enjoy nature, with a forest and incredible parks and gardens. It is considered the largest of all and was raised to be the hunting lodge of King Francisco I.
D’Ussé Castle
If you like stories you are in the right place. They say it was the castle that inspired the writer of Sleeping Beauty, so both by its appearance and by this data it is true that we will find ourselves in a story. In addition, it is also a reference for Disney palaces. The furniture, its Flemish tapestries and the Renaissance chapel are some of its interior jewels.
Cheverny Castle
It is one of the best known within the wide selection of Loire Castles. It was built in 1620 and is in the Renaissance style. It has beautiful gardens, a forest and even a museum. Inside, how could it be otherwise, there is no shortage of elegant and expensive furniture and opulent decoration worth visiting. As a curiosity, this place inspired the creator of Tintin and, in fact, inside there are references to it: it has a permanent exhibition that will allow you to enter the Moulinsart castle.
Azay-le-Rideau Castle
This castle of renaissance architectureIt is surrounded by a moat (and built on an island in the Indre River) and has impressive turrets with geometric windows. A clear example of all the majesty that we find in the Loire Castles. Its staircase of honor is one of the most famous parts of this building, which is surrounded by gardens and will be a gift for our trip.
Chenonceau Castle
This castle was built on the Cher river and is one of the most iconic of this route through the Loire Valley. It is considered one of the most impressive in the world, and it is no wonder. It is known as the "ladies' castle". It is one of the most visited and it is that walking through its gardens, parks and galleries is one of the things you have to do when you go to this place. It has a labyrinth, a wine plantation and a lot of other secrets.
Royal Castle of Blois
This castle (also a World Heritage Site) became the favorite residence of the french kings in the Renaissance. Joan of Arc was blessed in her chapel in 1429. The castle was restored and became a museum with the reign of Luis Felipe. Inside we find classic elements of the Gothic and Renaissance style. It highlights its staircase of honor and the royal apartments.
Sully-sur-Loire Castle
We finish this review by a castle not excessively large but very beautiful. It is considered a construction military, with a defensive character, and not as much as a residence. Although despite this it had illustrious guests such as Voltaire, Joan of Arc or Louis XIV.
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