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See French Castles Chenonceau and Amboise on a Day Trip
The French chateaus of Chenonceau and Amboise are worthwhile additions to your Loire Valley itinerary. Combining visits to both of these castles makes for an excellent day trip. Chenonceau is one of the most spectacular of the Loire Valley castles, situated over the Cher River and with excellent gardens. At Amboise, enjoy grand views and study the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, who retired here.
Read on for our overview of what to see and do at Chenonceau and Amboise. You’ll see tips on when to go, entry ticket costs, and what else to do with more time in the region after you’ve seen these chateaus.
When to Visit
If you’re visiting between spring and early fall, it’s likely that the Loire Valley castles will be open pretty much every day and for longer hours than during the colder months. Do double check each chateau’s website to ensure you don’t miss out on the top attractions during your visit.
I recommend seeing Chenonceau first, for a couple of reasons. It’s one of the most popular castles in the Loire Valley, so you can expect it to get crowded. There’s also more to see here, and you’ll probably want to spend more time there anyway. You probably won’t need more than an hour and a half at Amboise.
Chenonceau Chateau is open every day of the year. Its longest hours are in July and August, when it opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. The shortest hours are from early January through early April, when it opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m.
Amboise Chateau is open daily except for 1 January and 25 December. The longest hours are in July and August, when it opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. The shortest hours are from early January through early February, when it is open only from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and then again from 2:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
How to Get There
Particularly if you’re visiting Loire Valley chateaus on other days, it makes a lot of sense to rent a car. It’s convenient to get one at the St-Pierre-des-Corps train station, only about 15 minutes outside of Amboise.
A rental vehicle will give you maximum flexibility and enjoyment during your visit to the region. You can’t really visit the castles of the region quickly and affordably without one.
Cost of Entry Tickets at Chenonceau and Amboise
Chenonceau is one of the most expensive of the chateaus in the region, and charges each adult €15 for a standard ticket and €19 for the ticket plus an audio guide. The audio guide is worth the extra €4.
Amboise charges €13.50 for each adult. A ticket with a special behind-the-scenes tour costs €18.
Check at a local Tourist Information office to see if you can buy a special pass that will allow you to see many of the chateaus at discounted rates.
What to Expect at Chenonceau
After you park your car, walk past mulberry trees and then down a long tree-lined boulevard, with branches nearly forming a roof overhead. The audio guide and the booklet provide valuable context, so don’t forget about those.
Take a look at the sweeping view of the chateau from the river.
The chateau, situated on an island surrounded by water and attached to land by a bridge, is most impressive. Five ladies, especially Diane of Poitiers and Catherine de Medici, had heavily influenced its look, with elegant spires, sprawling gardens, and a long gallery over the water.
Explore the guard room and chapel, then make your way over to bedroom of Diane de Poitiers. Catherine de Medici later kicked her out of Chenonceau, and Diane moved to Chaumont.
Don’t the miss the 200-foot Grand Gallery across the river. Above the gallery you’ll see another gallery dedicated to the Medicis.
The audio guide explains in detail the meanings of all the symbols, art, and architecture throughout the interior. Other highlights include a giant kitchen, painting of mistresses depicted as nymphs, a superb gold-framed painting of King Louis XIV, exotic plants, Louise of Lorraine’s black mourning room adorned with tears, feathers, and death’s heads, and the historical exhibit in the gallery.
The on-site cafeteria is a convenient place to have lunch when the time comes.
What to Expect at Amboise
Plan to arrive at Amboise by mid-afternoon.
You’ll see a chapel that’s alleged to hold the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci.
From the chapel, you’ll see the grand rooms of the chateau. As you move from floor to floor, you’ll see examples of Gothic, Renaissance, and 19th century architecture. Check out the portraits and Minimes Tower. From the roof of Minimes Tower, you’ll be able to look out over the Loire. In 1843, a room here welcomed Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, who freed Emir Abd al-Kader in 1852.
Walk through Heurtault Tower and exit.
Then explore the gardens. Take a look at a drawing of how epic the chateau grounds once were. The neatly trimmed hedges, orderly rows of yellow trees, and main chateau building provide some nice viewing opportunities.
After you’ve finished touring the chateau, spend some time in the town of Amboise. Walk along the Amboise riverbank. Look at the medieval Romanesque Church of St. Denis. Admire the historic buildings along Rue Nationale. Explore the City Hall Museum.
If you’re in the area that evening, the castle looks quite good at night while illuminated.
What to Do Next
Many other chateaus in the Loire Valley beckon after you’ve seen Chenonceau and Amboise. I’d recommend seeing at least some of them, but don’t plan to visit more than two or three each day to avoid turning the experience into a blur. Consider the following Loire Valley itineraries:
If you’re interested in visiting another castle that looks like it’s straight out of the Loire Valley, you can also visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. George Vanderbilt and Richard Morris Hunt designed it to look like a Renaissance French chateau.