Nothing says romantic quite like the French countryside — it is an absolute dream with the rolling hills, charming castles, and acres of flowers. While there are plenty of options to choose from, one area that really called to me was Loire Valley. Located right in Central France and stretching across the Loire River (the longest river in the country), the valley is filled with fields of produce and the most beautiful châteaux.
Although my visit to Loire Valley, in the early summer of 2018, had been as a day trip, the place is definitely worth spending a night or two, especially if the beauty of green landscapes and the splendor of historical castles are what excite you! (There are at least 300 castles across the towns of the Loire Valley!)
Château de Chambord
If you’ve been following along our stories here at Traveling SuitKace, you already know we are obsessed with Disney! Well, this trip only validates that love more since one of my biggest reasons for heading out to Loire Valley was to see Château de Chambord — the castle said to be the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast! Ahh, my heart! (I always related to Princess Belle the most!)
Being the largest castle in the Loire, Chambord has rightfully become an iconic symbol of the French Renaissance. It’s baffling to think that it was originally commissioned by François I as a hunting lodge! I suppose things got a little bit out of hand and a castle with 400 rooms, including a double helix staircase said to be inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, constituted as a hunting lodge! All the same, Chambord is a sight to behold and Victor Hugo couldn’t agree more:
Can you imagine, dear Paul, that ever since I saw Chambord, I have been asking anyone and everyone: Have you seen Chambord?
Victor hugo
The grandness of the castle extends onto its French formal gardens and wooded park. Our guide happily shared a fun fact of how the park at Château de Chambord is as vast as inner Paris — occupying nearly 13,000 acres! Also, located right on the property is Relais de Chambord, a boutique hotel offering guests wondrous views of the château and the opportunity to experience the French countryside in all its splendor.
Château de Chenonceau
The other castle in the Loire, which I was equally excited to see was Château de Chenonceau. Trivia: This castle is also known as the Ladies’ Château because of the women who lived in it and influenced its design all throughout history. Talk about women empowerment:
The history of the Château de Chenonceau is defined by an almost uninterrupted succession of women who built, embellished, protected, restored, and saved it.
château de chenonceau website
An interesting, and probably the most notable, story cascading the castle’s walls is that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici. The château was presented as a gift by Henry II to Diane, who was his mistress in the mid-1550s. She loved Chenonceau and took it upon herself to commission the construction of the arched bridges joining the castle to the opposite bank.
However, Henry II was actually married to Catherine, and when he passed away, she forced Diane to give up ownership of Chenonceau offering her another castle in exchange. Catherine, then, expanded the property by adding rooms and a chapel, and further beautified the formal gardens.
Besides the controversy and being smaller in size, Chenonceau remains to be the most visited and certainly the most recognizable of all the châteaux in the Loire. With the elegant arches, there’s no mistaking the castle spanning across the River Cher. The beauty of the castle encompasses what it holds inside; it houses a remarkable set of masterpieces — furniture, paintings, and tapestries — from notable painters and craftsmen.
Walking the halls and roaming the gardens of Chenonceau, it’s no surprise at all why someone would fervently adore this castle as much as Diane and Catherine once did. Today, the area surrounding the property is designed as a French village with quaint houses and stables, alongside colorful flower, fruit, and vegetable nurseries.
The Loire is a true escape into the French countryside with its sprawling gardens, incredible architecture, and enchanting tales from centuries ago — it’s no wonder why Loire Valley has been inscribed as a World Heritage Site! It truly was a dreamy, fairytale experience unlike any other.
Lots of love and travel miles,
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