Blois
Cobbled streets circle Blois’ crowning glories – a magnificent royal château and towering Gothic cathedral – although this pretty town offers more than just another castle. Busy markets fill its arcaded squares almost every day of the week, offering a bright variety of local produce typical of the Loire, including fresh fruit, goat’s cheese and rillettes – a type of pork paté – as well as saucisson and other French favourites. A trip in a traditional wooden boat along the Loire is an unmissable out-of-the-saddle experience here.
Chambord
So big it deserves its own spotlight, the Château de Chambord is, without doubt, the King of the Loire castles. Built to satisfy the extravagant tastes of King Francois I but never completed, this 400-room hunting lodge is elaborately carved and sublimely situated. Kids will love exploring its mind-bending double-helix staircase – with two intertwining flights that never meet - while it vast parkland is now a nature reserve, protecting wild boar, stags and eagles. Cycling the 7km through the huge Forêt de Boulogne before reaching the châteaux de Chambord at its heart is a highlight of any holiday here.
The Châteaux
From renaissance extravagance to medieval masterpieces, the striking Loire châteaux play out stories of kings, queens, battles and intrigue. Don’t miss delightful Chenonceau – a gift from King Francois I to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, stately Chaumont overlooking the Loire, the family-friendly Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre, immaculate Cheverny with the Loire’s largest collection of fine art, Villesavin and its unique wedding dress museum, and imperious royal Amboise.