We don%26#39;t want to get there by the fastest route, but rather the most scenic one that%26#39;s also more or less direct. Tentatively, I%26#39;m planning to leave Paris by the N20 to Etampes, take smaller roads from Etampes to Orleans, then hug the Loire from Orleans to Amboise.
First question: Is there a better general route? (We already know countryside around Chartres, Chateaudun, and Vendome a little, so would prefer to avoid that route, which seems a little less direct, anyway.)
Second question: From Orleans to Amboise, is it better to take the northern (right) bank, say the N152, or the southern (left) bank, say the D951.
We%26#39;ll stay in Amboise a fair time to see the chateaux and such, so I%26#39;m not looking for detours to chateaux now. Just the most scenic, generally direct route.
(I%26#39;m searching and posting in the Loire Valley and Orleans forums, too.)
Thanks to all.
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There isnt really a scenic route, Paris to Orleans is across prarie and not that attractive to anyone used to open landscapes.
Driving along the Loire is slow and tedious, there are a lot of roadworks and most of the time you are driving the wrong side of the Loire levee to see anything.
Far better to get that part of the trip out of the way as soon as possible.
I note you%26#39;re talking about looking at chateaux in Amboise. They really aren%26#39;t worth all that much time, being a 1940s rebulid of a 19century rebuild of a 17the century rebuild.. etc etc, and a house (referred to as a chateau, but anyone can call a house a chateau) with a tenous link to Leonardo.
The interesting chateaux are scattered around the Loire Valley, so ut might be worth your while plotting a route from chateau to chateax rather than aiming for Amboise.
Simon
http://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/
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Thanks, Simon. That%26#39;s helpful.
Amboise is our base, as we found a nice rental there and it%26#39;s fairly central. We%26#39;ll be exploring many of the chateaux, villages, and so on, i.e., not just Amboise itself.
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Just curious: does this mean that the Château d%26#39;Amboise and Le Close de Luce are not worth seeing ?? I ask because, some friends and I are planning a 2 nights car trip around the Loire Valley in Spring 2010 - and those 2 are on our list.
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Gitte, they are worth seeing -- especially if you have any interest in Leonardo da Vinci. I wouldn%26#39;t put them as A+ sites, but they are worth a visit, especially if you%26#39;re staying in Amboise.
PM me here or on the other board if you like -- I have tons of information about the area.
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I would take the highway/autoroute to get out of Paris. There isnt really anything to see before Orleans in my opinion; I would go further towards Orleans before leaving the auto route, unless you really want to meander. We stopped ayt a very pretty area for lunch/walk on our way to the Loire towns - Olivet sur Loiret - Quartre Saisons - it was right on the river with outside dining and a very pretty river walk. It%26#39;s south of Orleans - take A71 at Orleans and it%26#39;s one of the first exits; N 20 will also get you there - on the highway it%26#39;s about a two hour drive. As for the river routes, I prefer the D951 The N152 may be faster but D951 is more interesting
jhg
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%26lt;%26lt;does this mean that the Château d%26#39;Amboise and Le Close de Luce are not worth seeing ?%26gt;%26gt;
Perhaps a better way to approach Château d%26#39;Amboise would be to determine what you might otherwise miss if you were to spend the time to visit these two places. Most of the château itself was long ago dismantled, the stone sold. Nothing of da Vinci remains at le Clos Luce outside of a few recreation models of his inventions.
Overall I should rate them a %26quot;C%26quot; at best, there are far more compelling visits in the area.
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I agree - there is nothing much along the way - just get to the Loire valley as quickly as possible as there is more to do and see there than you can fit in.
I spent 8 days there split between b%26amp;bs in Blois and Chinon and loved both towns.
Blois didn%26#39;t seem touristy at all and has a very walkable (if hilly) market/shopping city center. Market day was great also (Saturday). It%26#39;s chateaux is worth a visit and it a great proximity to Chambord and Cheverny.
I can highly recommend the B%26amp;B La Petite Fugue www.lapetitefugue.com Great location, charming owners, with custom full breakfasts.
Chinon is smaller and older - a maze of streets to wander around in. The castle was closed for renovations when I was there but it didn%26#39;t matter. From Chinon I was able to range out to: Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Langeais, and Fontevraud Abbey
I strongly recommend you mix seeing large and small chateaux, they have a much different flavor.
There is a good website chateaux-de-la-loire.fr/list_of_castles.htm that lists all the chateaux along with links to further information.
They also rate the chateaux (1 to 4 fleur-de-lis) and from the 10 or so that I saw I feel they nailed the ratings dead on.
Have fun
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Gitte
where you bin hiding?
Amboise would be the first place to see if it was the only chateau in the area. In the USA it would be stupendous, in Denmark, possibly also very interesting.
In the Loire, though, it%26#39;s just another chateau. Blois and Chambord are a lot more interesting, Chenonceaux and Azay le Rideau prettier ,Chinon bigger, Loches more historically important... I could go on (and after a couple of glasses of wine I certainly would!!)
Even Michelin guides don%26#39;t rate Amboise terribly highly. In Fact, our town gets the same 2 star rating (and we get no tourists)
Simon
http://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/
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Wiz, haven%26#39;t been hiding. Just temporarily flirting with other forums.
I have been to Cheverny, Blois and Chambord, when I was only 15 (100 years ago) - and wouldn%26#39;t mind seeing them again. Some of the other girls haven%26#39;t been to the Loire at all, so it is important that we get the good stuff.
As of now we have Chenonceau and Abbaye de Fontevraud on the list, plus Chambord and perhaps also Ch. de Langeais and Ch. de Rivau. Do you know Ch. de Valencay ?
Re. chateaux in Denmark: we do have a few - but more %26quot;rustique%26quot; I%26#39;d say. 3dphoto.net/world/topics/castles/denmark.html
Sorry, for hi-jacking the thread. This should perhaps continue in the Loire forum ?
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I know Valencay from the outside only - it is one of the first Chateau I ever saw.
There are chateaux everywhere here - I am always discovering %26quot;new%26quot; ones, and many of them are open to the public. Quite how they get their visitors I don%26#39;t know, because they never seem to advertise.
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