Châteaux
Chenonceau & Chambord from Amboise: the Loire's two jewels
If you were to see only two châteaux in the Loire, these would be the ones. Chenonceau the graceful, Chambord the colossal: two jewels, two worlds. And from Amboise, The Strolling King serves them to you on a platter.
Chenonceau & Chambord: two châteaux, two worlds
One rests on the water, the other spreads across the plain. One is all lacework, the other a great vessel. To see them both is to grasp the whole Renaissance in a single weekend. Amboise, central, is the starting point.
| Château | Distance from Amboise | Signature | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chenonceau | ~15 km | the château on the Cher, the Château of the Ladies | half a day |
| Chambord | ~50 km | the largest, the double-helix staircase | a full day |
Chenonceau, the château on the Cher
About fifteen kilometres away, Chenonceau spans the river with its gallery, mirrored in the water. It is known as the Château of the Ladies: over the centuries, great women shaped and saved it. It is the most graceful of them all, and the closest to Amboise.
Chambord, the largest of the châteaux
About fifty kilometres away, Chambord dwarfs everything by its sheer size. Willed into being by Francis I and bristling with turrets, it hides a double-helix staircase where you climb and descend without ever crossing paths. Its immense park deserves a whole day of its own.
Seeing both from Amboise
The right rhythm: Chenonceau in half a day, Chambord in a full one. You return each evening to the same place, without repacking your bags. And within Amboise itself, the Royal Château and Clos Lucé await, on foot.
Your base camp: Le Manoir
Le Manoir de Louis 26 is at 19 avenue de Tours, in the heart of Amboise. Bar, terrace and barbecue restaurant to settle in, City Suites for the night. You sleep in the centre, halfway between the two jewels, ready for the next day's château.
The King has a room in your name. Discover Le Manoir, your base camp for Chenonceau and Chambord.
