Day 6: Azay-le-Rideau - Langeais Castle - Visit Ussé Castle - Chinon
It's 6 in the morning when we start today, following the trip to the Loire Valley in 9 days, where we will go to visit the Castle of Ussé Among several other places, which we are sure, will continue to surprise us on this incredible route through the Loire Castles.
Last night, after visiting the Villandry Castle and the Castle d'Azay-le-Rideau in full sun and with unusual heat, we go to bed with the window wide open, something that makes us, when it is 5 o'clock Tomorrow, waking up surprisingly with cold and that temperatures have dropped a lot, something that makes us happy and more considering that today we have a fairly complete day of visits to several Castles of the LoireIn addition to a locality that we have to confess, we really want to meet.
It's 9 when we leave the Logis Hôtel des Châteaux without breakfast, since it has a price of 11 euros per person and we have seen that in the dining room there are several groups, making the room stay quite small, so we decided to approach Azay -le-Rideau, a few kilometers from the hotel, where we stop at a cafeteria and have a breakfast menu, which includes juice, coffee and pasta for 4.50 euros per person.
And so when it's almost 10 in the morning and under a fine rain that seems to accompany us for a while, we leave to make what will be our first visit of the day, the Langeais Castle.
Day route through the Loire Valley
Today will take us to visit the Castle of Ussé, popularly known as the Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Castle of Langeais and Chinon, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
The journey to Langeais from Azay-le-Rideau is approximately 10-15 minutes, since it is very close to where we have stayed tonight and as soon as we reach the town we park right next to the Castle of Langeais, in an area Free, then go for a walk through the streets that surround the castle, which have a lot of charm and for those who just walk, it is worth getting here.
Langeais
This time we are not going to visit the Castle of Langeais, we are only going to see it from the outside taking advantage to surround it and see it from the different perspectives, from where we also take the opportunity to take some photographs, which we have to confess, they do not reflect at all the charm of this small village in the Loire Valley.
Views of Langeais Castle
Langeais Castle
The best way to travel Langeais is to get lost in its streets, as we do, without a fixed direction, only by being guided by the beautiful houses and shops that surround the entire area of the castle.
If you like gardening, the entire Loire Valley is a treasure, since in most locations, there are plenty of florists, shops to buy seeds and small gardens where they sell plants, to which we, we have to confess, we have not been able to resist and we already have some plants and seeds to plant next year in spring.
Shopping in Langeais
It's 10:30 when we leave Langeais, to go to the second point of the route and that will take us to visit the Castle of Ussé, another of the essential Loire Castles, just 16 kilometers from Langeais and where we arrive when it is 11:15 in the morning.
Ussé Castle
We parked the car right in front of the castle, where there is a free parking lot and we approached the bridge just in front of the Ussé Castle, from where you have the best perspectives and give us that idyllic image in which we all surely think when we imagine a fairytale castle.
Ussé Castle
The idea is not to visit the Castle of Ussé, because from what we have read, the best are the perspectives that you have from the outside, and that is also, after all that we have already visited, the truth is that it is not done somewhat heavy, so to speak, continue visiting the interior of castles.
The best tours and excursions in the Loire Valley in Spanish
If you prefer to forget about preparations or have little time, you can book the following tours in SPANISH
- Excursion to the Loire Castles
- Normandy and Loire Valley in 3 or 4 days
- 2-day tour of the Loire Castles
And more in this case, in which as we commented, the best perspective can be obtained from the outside, so we decided to miss the opportunity to enter also thinking that at some point we will surely come back here and it is always okay to leave something What to visit to have the perfect excuse to return.
Visit the Castle of Ussé
So with this decision we settle for having this view from the outside and also save us 14 euros per person from the entrance.
The next stop of the day is Chinon 16 kilometers from the Ussé Castle, one of the most beautiful places in France, where we will stay tonight, to enjoy it as much as possible.
Today as you can see it is quite calm since we are going to make only two visits to castles, also only its exterior and then go to Chinon, where we will sleep so that in case you have the tightest days, today It could be added to the day we did yesterday without problem and thus shorten the trip a full day.
We arrived in Chinon at 12 in the morning and before going to the Hotel Saint Jacques, we parked right next to the Royal Fortress of Chinon, where as we have done on the previous occasions, we also do not enter, but we want to see from the outside.
Chinon Royal Fortress
From here and seeing that we are only a few meters down from the medieval center of Chinon, we decided to forget the elevator through which you can go down for free and we get lost by incredible little streets full of charm until we reach the center of Chinon, confirming the reasons why which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Streets of Chinon
Chinon medieval center
After visiting this area of Chinon, taking into account that the day has changed completely, lowering the temperature more than 10 degrees, we opted to sit in one of the cafeterias of the center, where we drink coffee, which warms us and above all, we accompanies on a day that is getting more gray, giving us even a few drops, in the form of drizzle.
After this technical stop, with which we have just taken energy, when it is 1:30 p.m. and without the weather improving, we approach Les Savours de Italia, an Italian restaurant downtown, where we order an antipasti, a pizza , a plate of pasta, beer and two coffees for 39 euros.
Eating at Les Savors of Italy
We return again to the streets of Chinon when it is 2:30 in the afternoon, getting lost again by its beautiful historical center, which we travel, calmly and trying to enjoy it to the fullest.
What to see in Chinon. Loire Valley
On the bank of the river Vienne we find Chinon, one of the most beautiful towns in the Loire Valley, which highlights, in addition to its medieval center, its imposing castle.
For the visit we recommend you dedicate a minimum of one morning or one afternoon, since although it is not very big, it is a real pleasure to get lost and walk through its streets full of charm, which we are sure, will surprise you at every corner.
Chinon
Chinon Royal Fortress
This incredible fortress, from which you have the best perspectives from the opposite bank of the Vienne River or from the medieval center of Chinon, is divided into three zones, Fort St. George, the Middle Castle, which includes the rooms of the Kings and the Fort of Coudray, where you can see and highlight the Tower of Coudray, known for being the place where the Templars were imprisoned and where Joan of Arc was.
Views of the Royal Fortress of Chinon
Chinon Royal Fortress
Medieval City of Chinon
With a medieval architecture, the historic center of Chinon is one of the most beautiful that you can meet in this area of France, and we would even dare to say, in the country. Although its two main arteries, Rue Haute St. Maurice and Rue Voltaire, are two of the streets that you can not miss, we advise you to lose yourself in the parallel streets, full of charm, in which you will discover impressive corners.
Medieval City of Chinon
Medieval City of Chinon
Rue Haute St. Maurice
This is one of the main arteries of the town, from where you have incredible views of the fortress.
Rue Haute St. Maurice
Rue Voltaire
Another of the main arteries of Chinon, parallel to the previous one, in which we can find many lovely shops and restaurants.
Rue Voltaire
Chapelle Ste. Radegonde
500 meters from Chinon is this beautiful chapel, today almost in ruins, which highlights the fresco Real home.
Chinon Elevator
This elevator takes you, free of charge, from the Royal Fortress of Chinon to the center of the town, located a few meters below.
If you start the visit to Chinon in the upper part, we advise you to walk down downtown, to have the possibility of getting lost in the medieval streets, surrounding the main arteries and then back up, in case you have parked in the upper part , in the elevator.
Chinon Elevator
More practical information to prepare your trip to the Loire Valley
- The 10 essential Loire Castles
- The best tips for traveling to the Loire Valley
We are touring the historic center, losing ourselves in its main area for almost two hours, which we fly away, enjoying as children and it is that this small population has surprised us greatly and very pleasantly.
It's 5 in the afternoon when we go to the Hotel Saint Jacques, where we will stay tonight and where we rest until 7 in the afternoon, that we return to the historic center of Chinon, with temperatures much lower than these previous days, for dinner at the Creperie du Grand Carroi, where we ordered a salty galette and a gratin, plus a glass of wine, soda and a dessert for 35 euros.
Creperie du Grand Carroi
With this amazing, very good dinner, we say goodbye to the day returning to the Hotel Saint Jacques where we fall as children and that is that this trip to the Loire Valley is making us feel great, since traveling somewhat slower to what we are accustomed, it is giving us time To savor fate to the fullest.
Day 7: Chinon - Abbey of Fontevraud - Candes-St.Martin - Montsoreau - Turquant - Saumur Castle - Visit Angers Castle
