For lovers of gardens and beautiful landscapes, don't miss out on the Château de Valmer! Although the estate lost its castle in a fire, it conceals dazzling green spaces that have been awarded the Jardin Remarquable label.
Inherited from the Renaissance, this garden is truly unique in the Loire Valley , as it is one of the few not to have been altered, retaining its original design with a succession of Italian-style terraces.
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to Château de Valmer, in Chançay, not far from Tours.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to Château de Valmer worthwhile?
Château de Valmer is well worth a visit for its magnificent gardens, which have been listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 1930!
Let yourself be amazed by the diversity of species and landscapes that you can contemplate in complete tranquillity, as the estate is still confidential.
In our opinion, it's one of the 10 most beautiful gardens in the Loire Valley.
Don't hesitate to discover this nugget!
What you can see
Borrowing a place steeped in history
If the beautiful Château de Valmer was ravaged on the night of October 20-21, 1948 by a fire caused by an iron, then its remains are all the more worthy of cherishing! The entrance porch is part of this (as are the common buildings and the Petit Valmer, the owners' residence) and sets a majestic tone for the visit to come!
Understanding the structure of the early castle
Walk up the entrance driveway and you'll discover the Florentine fountain terrace and, at the far end, surprising yew walls. They symbolize the site of the former castle in an original way, and provide an insight into how the landscape was integrated into the castle.
If you're looking for perfectly preserved Renaissance castles, we invite you to book a guided tour of the Châteaux de Chenonceau and Chambord.
Discover the pretty troglodyte chapel
Just to the right of the yew castle, you can see the beautifully sculpted facade of the chapel dug into the tufa in 1524. Inside, you'll find a beautiful polychrome wooden altar and two 16th-century stained-glass windows, accompanied by explanatory labels. This pretty chapel reminded us of another chapel we loved to visit at Château d'Ussé.
Stroll through the lovely park
Before discovering the intricacies of the garden, we decided to take a stroll through the adjoining 60-hectare park. Planted in the 17th century and enclosed by walls, it's a delight to lose yourself in the alleys of oak, chestnut and hornbeam trees. Although it was built to be exploited, its distinctive feature is that it was also designed for leisurely strolls. You'll see some great views, and this wood can be an ideal retreat if you come to visit Valmer in high summer!
Marvel at the view from the terraces
After this plunge into the green of the forest, we returned to the high terrace to admire the unobstructed view of the estate. You can see how the Italianate terraces follow the slope of the hillside, creating a dazzling landscape. You can also make out the 15th-century dovecote and the vineyard.
Get lost in the different spaces
In addition to the refined composition of the gardens, which are a pleasure to stroll through, what impressed us most at Valmer were the secret passages leading from one terrace to another. To access the vegetable garden, for example, you have two options: from the terrace built in the 18th century, or from the double staircase. Before the 18th century, access to the kitchen garden was useless for the squires, and gardeners had to climb a hidden staircase.
Admire the conservatory garden
You'll be struck by the admirable symmetry of the vegetable garden and its collection of 3,500 varieties. Drawn up in the 15th century, an enormous amount of work has gone into restoring the kitchen garden to its Renaissance state in order to showcase this "genetic heritage", as Alix de Saint Venant, landscape gardener and owner of the premises, points out. Reminding us that a garden is alive, she encourages visitors to discover the garden with their 5 senses, even crumpling leaves to release their scents or taste certain edible flowers!
If you're a fan of vegetable gardens, we invite you to discover the extraordinary kitchen garden at the Château de Villandry, the real highlight of the garden we've been talking about here.
Let yourself be drawn in by the different species in the garden
It's impossible not to succumb to the splendor of the Valmer garden, whose vibrant colors and enchanting fragrances are sure to enliven your stroll. We particularly liked the fact that each essence is accompanied by its eponymous sign, some of which have poetic names!
Finally, you'll notice that the plants are perfectly designed and trimmed to blend harmoniously with the mineral structures and walls of the château.
Let yourself be surprised by the sculptures in the park
In addition to the statue of Saint Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners, you'll be delighted to discover a number of charming sculptures: angels, lions, antique-style vases and, of course, the divinities adorning the fountains.
It adds an old-fashioned touch to the visit, which we like!
Discover the moat garden
This garden was planted in 1979 on the site of the former moat, making the walk both surprising and refreshing. You'll be able to see an admirable Sophora leaning overhead with its pods dangling. And on the walls, yew buttresses have been planted as if to support the old stones. To get there, take the 15th-century spiral staircase.
End on a high note with a tasting of the estate's wines
And what could be more divine than to end your visit with a wine tasting in this picturesque setting? Wine lovers will be delighted to learn that the wine is produced entirely on site, from harvesting in the 35 hectares of vines that surround the estate to maturing in the perfectly preserved tufa stone cellars.
If you wish to continue your discovery of Touraine wines, we invite you to book a wine-tasting tour. See prices and availability.
Château de Valmer: how to find us
Where is Château de Valmer?
- In the town of Chançay (Indre-et-Loire)
- 30min drive from Tours
Access by car and parking
Château de Valmer is 30 minutes from the city of Tours, which is itself well served by several freeways: the A10 (between Paris and Bordeaux), the A28 (between Rouen and Tours) and the A85 (between Nantes and Bourges). The establishment has its own secure car and coach park.
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.
Public transport access
A single bus line (A) provides a direct link between the Tours bus stop and Chançay, but the timetable is very limited. We therefore advise you to opt for a car, especially if you're planning to visit several Loire Valley Châteaux. Cycling is also a good alternative, as Château de Valmer is on the Loire à Vélo cycle route (website here) and has secure bike racks.
Visiting difficulties
There are no particular difficulties, apart from the 5 hectares to cover to see the different corners of the garden. Please note, however, that you will sometimes have to climb stairs to reach certain terraces. Lastly, although the various aisles are accessible to wheelchairs and baby carriages, the floor is made of sand.
DISCOVER Tours
- Things to do in Tours
- Where to sleep in Tours: best hotels
- Where to eat in Tours: best restaurants - coming soon
- Rent a car in Tours
- Best castles around Tours
- Visit the Tours Museum of Fine Arts - coming soon
- Visit the Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours - coming soon
- Visit the Botanical Garden of Tours - coming soon
- Visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral
- Visit the Companionship Museum - coming soon
Useful tips for visiting Valmer Castle
Schedules and prices
The castle is open:
- January 3 to April 26: Monday to Friday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm.
- April 27 to September 29: Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 8pm.
Last entry at 7pm.
Please note that times may vary according to events taking place on site. You can find out more on the official website here.
Prices are as follows:
- Full price: €12
- Reduced rate (unemployed, students): €10
- Children (under 18): €8
How long
We recommend that you allow between 2 and 3 hours for your visit, to have enough time to discover all the secrets of the gardens and enjoy the tasting (included in the ticket price). And don't forget to take a look at the store, which honors plants with natural cosmetics, jams and cuttings.
Note that if you wish to take a full tour of the adjoining park (60 hectares), this will considerably extend your visit.
Best moment
To make the most of the Château de Valmer gardens, we recommend you visit during the flowering season, between April and June.
Of course, the rest of the year is just as enjoyable, as the species change with the seasons, but the spectacular returns in spring.
The site remains untouched by tourists, even in summer, despite its considerable interest. So you can come whenever you like, ideally early in the morning or at the end of the day to take advantage of the beautiful light.
There are also a number of organized activities, such as "Valmerapéros" and sensory tours. Find details on the calendar here.
Direction of visit
Self-guided tour of Château de Valmer. A visitor's booklet is available at the entrance to help you find your way around the different garden areas, and signposts (photo below) help you understand the layout.
There's no set order for visiting them, but we recommend starting with the highest terrace to understand how the garden was designed. You'll then have the chance to explore the garden's various terraces, before finishing with the moat garden and a tasting of the estate's wines.
Visiting with children
A range of equipment is available to make visiting Valmer Castle easier for toddlers, including bottle warmers, changing tables in the toilets and secure stroller lockers. The entire route is also suitable for baby carriages.
If you don't have a specially designed tour for children, you can ask for a "Garden Game" booklet (€5), which takes your children on a playful tour of the gardens, punctuated by a variety of challenges, to help them learn while they play.
Eating out
As well as tasting the estate's wines, you can enjoy a picnic outside. During the summer, a number of chairs are scattered around the estate for you to take a short break during your visit.
Otherwise, the city of Tours offers a varied and original range, which you can read about in our dedicated article (coming soon).
Hotels
As Château de Valmer is only a 30-minute drive from Tours, we recommend you take advantage of the city's varied and pleasant hotel offer.
Here's our selection:
WHERE TO STAY IN Tours
In the city center
Enjoy the city, its restaurants and beautiful architecture.
- Hotel Ferdinand - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hôtel du Cygne - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel L'Adresse - check prices, pictures and availability
Near the station and around the city center
An early train? Or just a little more peace and quiet? Here are our recommendations:
- Hotel Les Trésorières - 5 stars - check prices, pictures and availability
- Aparthotel Central Parc Tours - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Oceania L'Univers Tours - check prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Looking for a bit of peace and quiet, without straying too far from the city of Tours? Here's our suggestion:
- Hotel Domaine de la Tortinière - 20 min away - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Troglododo - unusual 25min away - check prices, pictures and availability
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
