Visit Loire Valley - 5 Things to Love & Hate about The Loire Valley, France
The Loire Valley with it's numerous chateaux is a wonder to behold. The quaint towns, hidden palaces, miles of biking, rivers and farm homes to visit really make Loire one of the best places to visit in France.
This video covers the best and worst of visiting the Loire Valley in France.
Filmed in The Loire Valley, France
Copyright Mark Wolters 2018
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Went to Loire valley in 2001 and 2005 for study abroad and it truly is beautiful
Just a simple warning from a local if you visit Loire Valley in summer or fall, don't swim in the Loire River : fast current, moving sands and when water level is low cyanobacteria proliferate and can be dangerous for young people or your animals.
Je m'y baigne souvent l'été il faut juste bien connaître la région de Tours
Si tu connais le coin pourquoi pas, si tu t'informes sur la qualité de l'eau et que t'es pas une personne à risque pourquoi pas (et encore...). Mais vu les morts de la saison dernière + tous les incidents vaut mieux décourager les touristes qui voudraient s'y risquer sans se renseigner.
Yann so you are saying we could die?
There is some place where it's safe, just don't "jump" in the river in the middle of nowhere, it's can be a pretty dangerous river when you don't know it
Yann, you are the local :) in this stream. I am traveling all the way from Peru to visit and I was wondering if you could help me with information as my French is basic and I don't know what to do with the websites.... I have thought of some chateaux and I wish you could set me in the right direction as to where to book it, which is the official loire tourist office and if the public transport is dreadful enough for me to hop on one of those all inclusive tours. Hope I'm not bothering too much. Thanks Diana
When I visited France I took a 4 day tour. Three of those days were spent in the Loire Valley. The tour gave me a great opportunity to see so many chateaux and castles. Amboise was one of my favourites, and I would ♥︎love to go back. 🇫🇷 👑 🏰 ⚜️
Visited Paris, the Loire Valley, and Normandy a few years back in the spring time. The trip was purely magical. ❤ Amboise, Versailles, and Chenonceau are absolutely gorgeous. Highly recommend! So glad you guys made this video.
I went in late fall, and it was perfect. No big crowds. Chambord is my absolute favorite!
Chambord is wonderful. It was built for Francois 1st. Unfortunately it was not appreciated as it should have, King Francois came and spent the night once and never returned because it was too drafty.
The Loire Valley is quickly moving up my list of places to visit. Thanks for the great insight.
Rick Steves Shout Out -- woo woo! (you're such a professional and a gentleman) ha
Love all the information you share. I imagine your courses are quite interesting.
makeupjazzetc I may have sat in on a few over the years... he really is a great prof.
My favorite Château is Villandry with his wonderfull gardens! Greetings from france
The gardens at Château Villandry are wonderful! Greetings from Canada. 🇨🇦
Your channel by far is the best travel channel I have found.....keep it coming....
+Annette Osland thank you!
Annette Osland that's kind of you. 😊 thanks!
Great tips! I've been on the Loire four times, once from Orleans to Nantes. So many interesting cities along the way. The cathedral in Tours is fabulous. SNCF rents six-speed bicycles for cheap daily rates. The main roads along the Loire are crowded with traffic, but only one kilometer inland are country roads that run parallel to the Loire, with hardly any traffic for easy riding in the peaceful countryside.
Hey! I stayed in Amboise in the cave home you took video of! It was amazing. My favorite airbnb of the trip.
Pretty. I hope to go one day. Thanks for the informative video.
+Prayer Warrior 777 you are very welcome
As well as visiting the 'château de Langeais' which is more a mediaval type of castle, you can also visit the 'Château du Rivau' where you can sleep and eat and has very beautiful garden and romantic too. If you are a dreamer/poet, this place will be for you. You can also cross the bridge in Langeais comparable to the one in London! And as some people mentioned already, you can go to the 'puy du fou' with many attractions related to medieval times. They also have a show at night with lights on the castle. It's absolutely beautiful! Richelieu is also a beautiful fortress little village. You won't find any castle there as it was destroyed but it's pretty little town with beautiful park. Enjoy your stay!
I've been addicted to your channel since July. I just watch everything you upload. You guys inspire me so much to do as much traveling as I can. Thank you! Love from Laura from Poland xx (Am I correct that you've never been to Wrocław? You HAVE TO come, I'd love to see you here!)
One of my favorite childhood books was about a little girl in the Loire valley, so this has an especial resonance for me.
Leslie Moise what is the name of the book? I love to read and we enjoy reading to the boys, adding a book or two with places they've been or are going to, is always beneficial.
It is The Giant Scissors, written by Annie Fellows Johnston. It is sort of in the Little Colonel series of books. The main character, Joyce, later has a key role in The Little Colonel's House Party. The book series are the books that the Shirley Temple Little Colonel movie/s were based on. Don't know if they are still in print, so buying expensive historic books may be the only way to get your hands on a copy. :( My mother had the series from when she was a girl, and I loved the old covers and yellowed paper and old timey smell almost as much as the story.
And the second main character in The Giant Scissors is a little French boy, so there's a boy character to keep your boys' interest. He is a little orphan being treated as a servant and semi-starved, and Joyce helps him.
Most of the Little Colonel books take place in Peewee Valley outside Louisville, Ky, where I live. My mother used to drive us by the Little Colonel's house where the stories are set.
Leslie Moise I just got the 1st book free for my kindle. Score ! Thanks so much for the info!
I'm so jelly. it's on the bucket list
I sadly did not get here when I was in France but it's definitely on the list for when I go back. You're making me want to go even more!
+OnTheGoWithCarson its well worth the visit. I hadn't gone and had visited so much of France. Kind of wish I would have gone sooner
Best french region :D Greetings from Strasbourg France
France is beautiful country.
Valuable information
The chateaux are special. Never thought there would be so many. Wish I studied the history/timeline of who build what and when before the trip.
LOve your enthusiasm Mark
+Bob Mob thanks Bob
I loved visiting amboise. And WINE country 🍷 and the caves!
Going in June! I swear this was made just for me! I have a big rental vehicle, going to 2 per day, taking my daughter... Thanks for all the tips!
RAD6150 how big is the rental? Big Blue Bertha was like driving an elephant on a bike lane. Take a paper map and make sure your co-pilot can read it well because backing up and turning around was awful for me. I think once I said forget it and skipped the one we passed. 😜
Jocelyn Wolters Not sure, but got a bigger vehicle for luggage, comfort, etc. When we go to Paris, I am dropping them off and returning the vehicle to CDG... do you think we should take the train to Loire THEN get the car instead of getting it when we land?
RAD6150 personally, I would get the car in Loire. It's just less hassle and no one needs to add stress on a trip. 😉 Happy Travels!
Wow -- I've lived in Paris for over 10 years, but I've never been to the Valley de la Loire. (Sounds crazy, I know, but once you settle into life in Paris, you stop doing 'touristy' things.) This great video has motivated me to go! Merci, Wolter!
+LauraMorland you will enjoy it :)
I love your videos. As an American living in Europe, I agree with all the tips you give tourists about how to 'behave' here. (I was kinda shocked that a few thousand (?) people gave a thumbs-down to your "What Not to Do In Europe" video, because I thought it was spot on. I'm just hoping that none of them has a passport!) P.S. I rent out our Paris apartment when we're not in it, and I remember one mother of an 18-year-old girl was shocked when I advised her and her daughter NOT to wear shorts in Paris. "Well, if you don't mind that everyone will instantly peg you as a tourist," I responded. ;-)
LauraMorland thank you for that! Having been expats, knowing what we do, it is sometimes frustrating for me when people hate on that advice. I shouldn't but, it's difficult not to take it personally sometimes. But when other expats like you confirm it, it helps. Thank you so much. 😊 Loire is a peaceful respite from Paris. Enjoy.
Btw, his name is Mark Wolters ... :-)
Oh, thank you for telling me that! (Vielen Dank!)
Hi 😊 good vid
Cycling is great. If not on bike paths, stick to roads marked white on a Michelin 1:200,000 map. They are almost traffic free.
Great!
Looking for permanent home thank you so much for your insights and experience!!!! ❤🎉
The Loire Valley in on my bucket list...at 81 y/o but I'm not ready for the junk pile yet!
I know a place where there are still more castles and palaces per square kilometer than over the Loire valley. In my town, I like that every day when I wake up, I see a castle.
Your little guys are SO darn cute!
Hi Mark, this video is super useful. Am planning a solo trip to France and definitely planning to visit Loire Valley. Are both Chambord and Chenonceau far apart? Am only planning to visit these two Chateaus and wonder if I'll still need to rent a car or a vehicle to travel between the two places.
Puy du fou is a historic theme park ranked no 6 in the world as per Tripadviser ranking, it is worth visiting
Hi, would like some advice. We are going to Loire(thank you as your video gave us the idea). However, when I look at the cost of winery tours and visiting a chateau on an all day tour the cost is extremely expensive. I’m talking $200-$250 per person. It does include 3 vineyards, lunch, and one chateau. I have been on tours in Italy, Spain, California and South Africa and none have been that expensive. Not even close.BTW that’s with us paying for the TGV down to Loire. Is this normal? Any suggestions? Thanks. I love your channel.
When did you visit Loire? We are thinking of going in March.
Bonjour, A suggestion: instead of going to the major thus overcrowded tourist attractions in the Eastern Loire Valley, try the Western Loire Valley: the area from Tours towards Angers. The region between Chinon and Saumur is really magnificent, authentic and not crowded! Plenty of castles, wineries, Fontevraud abbey and the majestic Loire river and lots of biking and hiking! Enjoy!
You should go to Bulgaria. In the summer or around spring
great video maybe brittany the next time!!
I have a question, I see trees are without leaves yet … you said you went in spring, but can you be more specific what date exactly was it please? We planning this coming spring but I want to see green trees at least around me …
If you're fed up of visiting château, come visit the Coast of Light and its islands (Yeu and Noirmoutier) in the Vendée (Loire Valley). We get the same amount of sunshine as the Côte d'Azure but less hot and we've got 140km of beach! Also come and visit le Puy du Fou, elected best theme park in the world in 2014! ☀️🐠🌻🏝🌅🎆
2000 h d'ensoleillement contre 2700h à Nice, pas vraiment la même météo ;)
You should do Michigan
Hey Mark! From your experience what is the less hospitable place for non-local-language-speaking tourists in Europe?
Are you still going to the Chicago travel show in February????
The Goat O'Brien we are thinking about it. 😊
Ah, Chenonceau: one of my few certifiable "must-sees" in France. I do have a couple of very specific questions about it: a) Is there bike parking of any kind? I don't drive, and I'm told that the Loire Valley is a great cycling destination. Could I park a bicycle there, that you know of? b) I her that the Menier chocolatiers own the place now: can you get any chocolate there? Hypotehtically, that would be a great day for me: bikes, castles, and chocolate.
Give the kids wine mixed with water. :-o
The two chateaux you need to visit according me are : Azay le Rideau and Chambord ( the roofs). Chenonceau of course, but no need to visit. The castle itself is a jewel to look outside. You can visit Blois , the royal chateau afterwards. Blois has a sinister reputation. So many murders were committed.
Bonjour, Mark, Do you think that seeing Chenonceaux and Clos Lucé in a day is feasible?
hey,its a15 min trip by car, but both castle are great with nice towns, so yeah perfecty feasable
Ps, Also is it practical to have a base in Paris and still visit the Loire Valley?
Bucky Barnes being an architecture lover you'll want a few days to savor Loire. So fly into Paris, stay a few days, go to Loire for a few and continue back to Paris or elsewhere.
Loved the Loire valley. It was better than Paris because it was so beautiful 🙂
They may be pleasant to you but a lot of them don't like us Brits, it's an historical thing! I'm going to Loire in May as it's been a few years since I crossed the channel but I'll be surprised if I don't experience some attitude along the way.
Do a shock episode on Texas please
+Azerd just started the script :)
I find that many places in Europe that the imported beverages that are not native to the country, such as Coca Cola and Red Bull is way more expencive than the local beers. I think it has something to do with taxation on imported products to protect the businesses of the country from international competition.
This guy has great hair x
I do??? Oh, on the sides ;)
Clisson Rock City
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
What is the name of the chateau behind you please?
+nw24153ns Chenonceau
The R in Loire is not silent, fyi.
+Robert MLB merci
Hello, Loire is 1 syllable and is pronounced is "lwaʁ" and not "Low-Arr" or "Lo-Warr" Otherwise, very helpful video.
How comes you've never made a video about Egypt?
+Mike92 it's only a matter of time :)
Maybe do a place in Michigan Wolters World?
Muskegon? Detroit?
The Linthicums just anywhere in michigan, Traverse City or Mackinac Island
i think Americans should make Detroit to be post-apocalyptic abandoned city. Millions of tourist would go visit it
Slashpite Detroit is too important :/
ZachFromMichigan I have wanted to see Henry Ford's Fair Lane since I was a child. Maybe we will swing by on our next road trip?!
Have a shot every time you hear the word chateau.
Conway79 you do like being quite inebriated, no? 😆
A shot of wine?
For all you english speaking tourists; the 'hotel de ville' isn't a hotel.
Hahaha my Spanish husband thought it was a hotel 🤣😂
Hi Mark From Woltersworld! My Family And Friends Is From The Loire Valley In Tours. My Mom Is American And My Dad Is French And They Speak Perfect English, Even My Little Brother! Come To Tours So That We Can Do A Video Together (10 Things That Will Shock You About The Loire Valley) Because I'm A KZheadr From The Loire Valley!
Avoid too when visit our country to drink coca- cola , and eat your hamburger ... Eat , and drink local ...!
Sat navs don't work well here
hard cheese I'd kind of forgotten that but, you're right, they are spotty.
An American complaining that he has to drive instead of using public transport? Next thing you know you'll be telling us that you don't wear cowboy hats. ;) (Not saying another about the Australian leather outfit, though.)
When will you visit less popular countries? Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia. They are all beautiful and safe.
+Slashplite Bulgaria is June 2019
Cool! Visit Ohrid in Macedonia. It's beautiful safe and cheap.
Wolter Wolter Wolter, I have watched several of your videos. Thank you. Please do everyone a favor and SLOW it down. Your delivery makes me anxious.
Mark, Sounds like you were reaching to come up with five things you hate about the Loire Valley.
+h lynn keith yep. It's hard sometimes. That's why I don't do these as often anymore
May I suggest you instead do "8 things to love about the Loire Valley and 2 things, not so much"?
h lynn keith lol!
American tourists. Love, or hate?
Mark - I want to party with you
Behave
Rick Steves :(
If you visit different places in FRANCE, you , american tourists at least try to speak french, even two or tree words, first by politness, courtesy , education for us FRENCH PEOPLE , instead to impose your english . this kind of behavior is not appreciate in FRANCE. MERCI BEAUCOUP !
+Gil 75 as I've mentioned in almost all of my 100 videos on visiting and promoting France;)
Gil 75 je ne pas par francais. Je suis idiot. I learned this, svp, merci and a few other polite words. It makes people laugh. Mark speaks much more than I. But we agree with you, for Every person visiting Any country, it is just polite to try. ☺