Amboise, Blois, Villandry... The castles of the Loire valley to see and hear this summer

They adorn the banks of the river like jewels on the arms of a princess. The castles of the Loire, for the most part built or renovated during the Renaissance to compete with the finesse of Italian art, began their déconfinement. All have not yet reopened. Impossible, for example, to enter Chambord or Chenonceau. But the Loire Valley is home to enough treasures to comfort her. At Chaumont-sur-Loire, the Clos Lucé or in Amboise, tours have resumed with the sanitation facilities required. Here is a selection of these monuments, witnesses of an era where the military equipment disappear in favor of ornaments aesthetic.

read also : the castles of the Loire, heralds the reopening Amboise, elegance, elevated

Perched 40 metres above the water at the confluence of the Collects and of the Loire, the château of Amboise became a royal residence during the reign of Charles VIII, at the end of the Fifteenth century. The sovereign transforming the old fortified medieval sumptuous royal palace. Among the distinguished guests of the castle to Catherine de Medici, Francis or John of the Fountain, one of them still resides there. It is of Leonardo da Vinci, whose tomb is in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert within the grounds of the palace. To enter the monument, opened since may 20, the masks are put on sale. Guided tours are maintained, but only from 8: 30am to 9: 30am and will be limited to nine visitors at a time. The free tours, they begin from 10am.

Royal Castle of Amboise. Rise of the Emir Abd el-Kader, 37400 Amboise. From 8.30 to 18.30, Closed on Tuesday. Input : 13,10 € (7-18 years old : 9 €).

Blois, three wings, three atmospheres Since 16 may, you can visit the castle and facades of gothic, renaissance and classic. Elie - stock.adobe.com

Who knows how many shenanigans have heard the walls of the rooms of the royal Castle of Blois ? Henri IV / Marie de ' Medici, in the course of their stay, have certainly imagined a few. Since 16 may, you can visit the castle and facades of gothic, renaissance and classic. Provided, of course, donning a mask and comply with aloofness and sense of movement. More question hit like before the monumental staircase, visible from the courtyard, or take guided tours. A guide was stationed, however, in the court to give guidance. And, at the discretion of the course mapped out by the conservatives, the visitors will pass by the museum of fine arts in the wing Louis XII, often neglected in normal times.

royal Castle of Blois. 6, Place du Château 41000 Blois. Tel.: 02 54 90 33 33. Open every day, only in the afternoon (until 2 June). Entrance : 17€ (6-17 years old : 6,50€).

Clos Lucé, home of Leonardo da Vinci The castle traces today the life of the Italian genius. David Brown - stock.adobe.com

Located a few metres from the château royal d'amboise, the château du Clos Lucé was home to Leonardo da Vinci for the last years of his life. On the invitation of François I, the painter settled there with three of his masterpieces : The mona lisa, The Virgin, the Jesus Child and saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist. Today, the castle traces the life of the Italian genius. The parts are reconstituted as at the time of the artist, while the garden shows the influence of nature on his work. The park is filled with the inventions in the avant-garde of Leonardo: tank, screw aerial or bridge a double span of 20 meters high. Since the re-opening of the 20 may, the sanitary measures must guarantee the safety of visitors. In addition to the distancing and physical port of the mask requirement, the online payment is preferred. Guided tours are held for small groups to nine visitors.

Château du Clos Lucé – Parc Leonardo da Vinci. 2, rue du Clos-Lucé, 37400 Amboise. Tel.: 02 47 57 00 73. Open from 9h to 18h. Entrance : 17€ (6-18 years old : 12€).

Grouper, the beautiful Middle-Age A dungeon of 39 metres high and overlooks the royal house. Yuriy Brykaylo

Residence of Joan of Arc and François I, the royal City of Loches reconciles the feudal era with the Renaissance. A dungeon of 39 meters high, among the best preserved of the roman era, overlooks the logis royal, a jewel of gothic architecture. A museum inhabits what was one of the favorite residences of the Valois dynasty, while a soothing garden of medieval inspiration bloomed at the foot of the dungeon. The visitors are again welcome since 21 may. Wearing a mask is mandatory for more than 11 years. Distributors of hydroalcoholic gel, markings and unique sense of visit to ensure that the gestures barriers. Access to the dungeon is limited to 22 people and home to 23 people. Some areas remain closed to the public, such as the vestibule of the oratory of Anne of Brittany or la Tour neuve.

royal City of Loches. 5, place Charles VII, 37600 Loches. Tel. : 02 47 19 18 08. Open all days from 9h to 19h. Input : 10,5 € (7-18 years old : 8,5€).

Chaumont-sur-Loire, the quiet charm Since 16 may, the monument has reopened, and with it, the 32-acre field and stables. Jeantrekkeur - stock.adobe.com

Burned and razed by Louis XI in 1465, the castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire is transformed into the jewel of the Renaissance. From 1560, Diane de Poitiers, added to the sculptures come to decorate the facades of the paths of rounds of the châtelet of entry and the tour Saint-Nicolas. The castle takes its present form, with the destruction of the north wing, which opens up a point of view on the Loire.

Since 16 may, the monument has reopened, and with it, the 32-acre estate, as well as the stables and their harness made by the house of Hermès. Visitors must reserve a tour slot (10am-14 or 14h-19h) and wear a mask. A course is planned to avoid the cross between the people in the parks and gardens. The restaurants remain closed.

Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire. 41150 Chaumont-sur-Loire. Tel. : 02 54 20 99 22. Open every day from 10h to 19h. Entrance : 19€ (12-18 years old : 12€).

Villandry, thee field flower large gardens and adjacent to the facades of the castle. rysan34 - stock.adobe.com

After having directed for several years the construction of Chambord, Jean le Breton acquires the domain of Villandry in 1532. The secretary of François I decided to build a castle from the Renaissance. It makes shaving the old medieval building, with the exception of the tower against which three quarters are high in the shape of a horseshoe. The legacies of medieval and Italian influences are evacuated in favour of a style that is balanced purely French. Outside, extensive gardens adjacent to the facades of the castle. The ornamental garden, an extension of the interior living rooms, the garden, the water garden and the garden of the sun made in the Nineteenth century.

visitors are invited to walk the aisles with flowers, open every day since 16 may, while respecting social distancing. The castle itself is only visits on the weekend. Wearing a mask is mandatory in the castle, and strongly recommended in the gardens, while the online purchase of tickets is preferred.

Chateau de Villandry. 3, rue Principale, 37510 Villandry. Tel.: 02 47 50 02 09. Gardens open every day from 13h to 17h on weekdays and from 10h to 18h 30, 31 may and 1 June. Castle open from 10am to 17: 30 30, 31 may and 1 June. Entrance to castle and garden: 12€. Gardens only: 7,5€ (8 to 18 years : 7€ and 5€).

The editorial team conseilleLes best addresses and beatings of the heart of the Val de LoireLes castles of the Loire, heralds of the réouvertureLe castle of Amboise, a window royale on the history of FranceSujetsLoirevoyageTourismechâteauaucun comment

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