Nestled in the heart of the Loire Valley, Amboise is surrounded by numerous châteaux.
Whether you're a fan of medieval architecture,royal history or simply in search of beauty and wonder, you're sure to find what you're looking for.
In this article, we share our selection of the best châteaux around Amboise to help you plan your stay.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
The best castles around Amboise: selection
The Loire Valley is packed with châteaux. The list can be very long.
Amboise is one of the best destinations for visiting the chateaux of the Loire Valley.
We have:
- selected our favorites and best-known
- listed in order of distance from town
- limited to less than 1 hour's drive from the city
If you don't have much time, we recommend:
- Château de Chenonceau - Book your ticket
- Château de Villandry and its gardens - Book your ticket
Nearby Amboise is home to almost all the finest châteaux of the Loire Valley.
WHERE TO STAY IN Amboise
Downtown
To enjoy the city, its restaurants and castles, we recommend:
- Hotel Le Manoir Saint Thomas - view prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Le Manoir des Minimes - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Au Charme Rabelaisien - prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Charming places nearby. We recommend..:
- Hotel Château du Perreux - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Château de Pray - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Chateau de Nazelles - prices, pictures and availability
1. Château royal d'Amboise (in the town)
With the royal castle of Amboise, you dive into the daily life of the kings of France in the second half of the 15th century and it is really exciting! But if the castle attracts so many visitors today, it is because it is said to house thetomb of the Italian genius and artist, Leonardo da Vinci. We investigated...
- Near the town of: Amboise
- Style: Renaissance
- Interesting for: architecture, Leonardo da Vinci's tomb and gardens overlooking the Loire River
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
2. Château du Clos Lucé (in town)
This small castle, located in the town of Amboise, was the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci. It was King Francis I who decided to place this manor at the disposal of the Italian Master who lived there for three years until his death on May 2, 1519. The interior of the castle plunges you into the world of Leonardo da Vinci and the park presents his brilliant inventions and artistic inspiration.
- Nearest city: Amboise
- Style: 15th century
- Suitable for: interiors and gardens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Suitable for children: particularly suitable for children - see our list
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
3. Château Gaillard (in town)
Chosen for its southern microclimate in the shelter of the cliff on which the royal castle of Amboise stands, the Château Gaillard was used as a place of experimentation to acclimatize Italian tree species (orange trees, lemon trees, peach trees...) to the climate of the Loire. Even today, the gardens bear witness to this botanical vocation. You can even buy very good jam made with the oranges of the castle...
- Nearest city: Amboise
- Style: late 15th century
- Interesting for: gardens
- Opening period: April to mid-November
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article (coming soon).
4. Château de Chenonceau (20 min to the east)
For us, the most beautiful castle of the Loire Valley. The Château de Chenonceaux majestically spans the Cher, its magnificent Renaissance architecture reflected in the river. The gardens and interior are also exceptional and we came away intoxicated by so much beauty.
- Close to the town of Amboise
- Style: Renaissance
- Of interest for: exterior and interior architecture, furniture and gardens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Opening hours on the official château website
- More photos and tips in our article
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
5. Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire (25 min to the east)
If this medieval castle is today a must-see in the Loire Valley, it is for its gardens! The estate has become the French, if not international, reference for contemporary gardens. It offers 13 permanent gardens that preserve the horticultural heritage and 24 ephemeral gardens created around an annual theme. It is in this enchanting setting that the Chaumont-sur-Loire castle stands.
- Nearest city: Blois
- Style: medieval
- Interesting for: gardens
- Open to visitors all year round - garden festival from late April to early November
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
6. Château de Blois (35 min east)
Certainly one of the richest castles of the Loire. The different buildings cover six centuries of architecture and the furniture on display plunges you into the great hours of the Renaissance in breathtaking settings. If that's not enough for you (let's face it...), the castle is home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Blois.
- Nearest city: Blois
- Style: 13th to 17th century
- Of interest for: exterior and interior architecture, furniture, museum
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article (coming soon).
7. Château de Villandry (45 min west)
Villandry impressed us for its breathtaking gardens and their permanent dialogue with the rooms of the castle. The gardens were redesigned in the 20th century according to the rules of the Renaissance and adopt a tiered structure that corresponds to that of the castle. Just gorgeous!
- Near the city of: Tours
- Style: Renaissance
- Of interest for: interior architecture and gardens
- Open to visitors: December and February to mid-November
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
8. Château de Cheverny (45 min east)
The castle of Cheverny was built in the 17th century, but it became part of the history of the Loire castles when Hergé was inspired to make the famous castle of Moulinsart in which Tintin is held prisoner, before becoming the property of the volcanic Captain Haddock. In addition to a museum dedicated to these paper characters, Claire was delighted by the château's vast park, which can be visited by electric buggy and boat, and its remarkable trees.
- Nearest city: Tours
- Style: 17th century
- Interesting for: Tintin Park and Museum
- Open to visitors all year round
- Suitable for children: particularly suitable for children
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article (coming soon).
9. Château d'Azay-le-Rideau (45 min west)
The castle of Azay-le-Rideau is for us one of the most poetic of the Loire Valley. Its typically renaissance architecture is magnified by its romantic park and the quietness that emanates from the place.
- Near the city of: Tours
- Style : Renaissance
- Of interest for: outdoor architecture and gardens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: activities designed to appeal to children
- Accommodation available: No
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
10. Château de Chambord (55 min east)
Certainly, the most impressive castle of the Loire. Its massive architecture did not leave us indifferent. The embodiment of the know-how of this crazy and creative period that was the Renaissance, thedouble helix staircase of Leonardo da Vinci, which combines technical excellence and ornament.
- Near the town of: Blois
- Style: Renaissance
- Interesting for: exterior and interior architecture
- Open to visitors all year round
- Suitable for children: particularly suitable for children
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- Visit the official château website
- More photos and tips in our article
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11. Château de Valençay (1h east)
The castle could have been "just" a renaissance castle as the Loire Valley has so many. But, in 1803, Tayllerand, Napoleon Bonaparte's Minister of Foreign Affairs, acquired it and made it part of French History, that of the 19th century! The interior is richly furnished and immerses you in the Frenchart of living and entertaining.
- Nearest city: Blois
- Style : renaissance
- Interesting for: furniture
- Open to visitors: mid-March to mid-November
- Possibility of accommodation: no
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
12. Château d'Ussé (1h west)
The castle of Ussé is one of the most enchanting in the Loire Valley and is suitable for children. We liked its architecture that fits so well with the landscape facing the Indre River, and its tiered gardens designed by Le Nôtre. The visit of the interiors, ends with a collection of wax dolls, which plunges us into the famous tales of Charles Perraut who was inspired by Ussé to write "Sleeping Beauty".
- A favorite of Manu's
- Near the city of: Tours
- Style: Renaissance
- Interesting for: exterior architecture, wax doll re-enactments and gardens
- Open to visitors all year round
- Child-friendly: particularly suitable for children
- Accommodation available: No
- Timetable on the official website here
- More photos and tips in our article
Sleep in a château near Amboise
An authentic renaissance castle transformed into a hotel-restaurant. It is logical when you learn that it was the property of the butler of King Charles VII in the 15th century. The castle is not open to the public, unless you sleep or eat there, which we strongly recommend!
- This castle is a hotel-restaurant that cannot be visited, except for its guests
- Style : renaissance
- Of interest for: exterior architecture and furniture
- Opening period: mid-March to mid-November
- Possibility of accommodation: yes
- read our complete article (photos and reviews) on the Chissay castle hotel
DISCOVER Amboise
- Things to do in Amboise
- Where to sleep in Amboise: best hotels
- Where to eat in Amboise: best restaurants
- Visit the Château d'Amboise
- Visit the Château du Clos Lucé
- Mini-cake park
- Best castles around Amboise
Other castles near Amboise
- Montrésor village and castle (45min south)
- Château de Langeais (50min west) - see article
- Château de Meung-sur-Loire (55min to the east)
- Château des énigmes de Fréteval, for children (1h to the northeast)
- Château de Beauregard (40min east)
- or see our list of Loire castles
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
