Loire Valley

Before you go

• The World Heritage stretch runs from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonnes-sur-Loire, about 280 km along the river.
• Camping on public roads, paths and squares is not allowed in France. Mayors and prefectures can add local bans, which must be signed.
• The Loire à Vélo cycle route is about 900 km long. A campsite base with bicycles suits the many châteaux.

Planning

UNESCO inscribed the Loire Valley in 2000 as an exceptional cultural landscape. The World Heritage area covers about 86,000 hectares between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes-sur-Loire. Main towns include Orléans, Blois, Tours and Angers, with Amboise, Chinon and Saumur along the river. Well-known châteaux include Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, Amboise and Azay-le-Rideau. Opening hours and ticketing differ by site, so check each château's own page.

Camping

France restricts camping outside campsites. It is not allowed on public roads, paths and squares, on beaches, in nature reserves or near drinking water sources. Mayors and prefectures may add local bans, which must be signposted. Municipal campsites are a basic, simple alternative with pitches and dump stations. Check the rules of each municipality before staying overnight.

Getting around

The Loire à Vélo route, about 900 km long, runs through the valley and links many sights, which makes a campsite base with day tours practical. Old towns and château approaches can be tight for large vehicles, so watch the signs for height and width. Park large vehicles at the edge of town where signed.

FAQs