Pray Chateau, Charge
Hide away in this château in the woods
Nestled in five hectares of parkland, this 16th century château with its two towers and lovely gardens is an attractive stop. Its 19 rooms are decorated in a rich and traditional style and its outdoor pool, whilst small, is a bonus.
Most of the rooms are located in the Castle, except 4 duplex rooms which are in the Pavillion Renaissance opposite. Inside the rooms, guests will find 4 poster beds or canopies, including a pleasant view of the grounds and the Loire valley.
The michelin-starred restaurant is in a large room carved into the rock face with high ceilings. Natural light enters by the two large windows on the main courtyard. The food is made using fresh and seasonal ingredients, to create an imaginative and tasty cuisine.
Sights nearby
Sights in La Loire
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Maison de Jeanne d'Arc
Understandably for a city whose history was changed by one 17 year old Jean of Arc, known locally as the "Maid of Orléans", there is a museum dedicated to the short time she spent in Orléans as well as to her wider life. Apparently Jean of Arc in fact stayed in a building located on the site of the museum.
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Train Touristique de la Vallee du Loir
This train dating from 1950s travels from Thoré to Trôo taking in troglodyte dwellings, Saint-Rimay tunnel, the town of Montoire and Varennes and more.
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Chateau de La Bourdaisiere, Montlouis-sur-Loire
Dating back to the 14th century, this Renaissance château was home to many royal mistresses. Nowadays it is visited more for its beautiful grounds which include a vegetable garden with a massive 650 varieties of tomato, the contemporary and colourful Dalhia garden and a medicinal garden. It is possible to stay in the château and take cookery classes there.
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Chateau de Chenonceau, Chenonceau
Built on the river Cher, the Château de Chenonceau is the epitome of beauty. Château des Dames, as it is recorded in the French history books, owes a large part of its charm to women.
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Chateau du Grand-Pressigny, Grand-Pressigny
This war fortress was built in the late 11th century and became one of the most impressive residential châteaux in the Loire Valley during the Renaissance. Dismantled during the French Revolution, the château turned into a village district and, in the 1950s, the gallery became a museum to the history of Grand-Pressigny. The museum charts history from the 6th to the 21st century, noting key archaeological features including the use of the regional flint stone.
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Galerie des Machines de l'Ile
On the Ile de Nantes, which has been transformed in recent years, this gallery in the old shipbuilding area features the mechanical designs of François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice whose imaginations were inspired by the works of Jules Verne. The huge moving urban sculptures, such as the Great Elephant and the Branch of the Heron Tree, are open for the public to experience, though bookings are required as they are extremely popular.
