 | Château de Chambord, sans scaffolding | | | Wineries, chateaux, charming villages, shops and restaurants. I drove through the Loire Valley in France last May, and I can still feel it in my bones and see it when I close my eyes. We stayed at the magnificently-situated Relais de Chambord but sadly, the Château de Chambord was undergoing restoration. This meant our view included scaffolding, so this is a reminder to call ahead and check that everything you want to see is, like, visible. Despite that sole disappointment, the property is magnificent. There’s a theory that Leonardo da Vinci may have had a hand in its design, evidenced by the trippy staircase inside the château. Then there’s its lavish landscaping and acres of parkland bustling with nature and wildlife – pure magic. While the dining options can be e a bit ornate, there are plenty of quaint restaurants a short drive away, and a teeny, tiny grocery store, where we bought bread and cheese and sunglasses, as you do. To find out the latest goings-on in the region and to get a local travel expert’s perspective, I spoke with Lonely Planet contributor Sixtine Lerouge, who grew up in the Loire Valley. A frequent traveler, lover of trains, writer and photographer, Sixtine shares her insider recommendations. Read on for her stellar insights and advice. | | | | | Senior Director of Content | | | | | | | Dreamy Loire Valley road trips | Experience all of the Loire’s fairy-tale offerings by road. Castles, quaint villages, parks and vineyards compose a landscape like no other. | | | All the info needed to plan an unforgettable trip to the Loire Valley with recommendations by writer and local expert Sixtine Lerouge. | | | | | Look out for guinguettes, the temporary restaurants that pop up along the Loire river bank when the weather warms, and sample unique, local delicacies along the river. | | | | | Visit Le Clos Lucé, the last mansion of Leonardo da Vinci, located in Amboise, a city marked by the Renaissance period. Tour the château to see da Vinci's sketches and model machines. | | | | | Vineyards are part of the Loire Valley’s landscape. One particular cepage (grape variety) is associated with the location: the Chenin blanc, also called the cepage royal. | | | | | Thousands of châteaux are peppered throughout the region, including the 1000-year-old Royal Fortress, where Joan of Arc met Charles VII during the Hundred Years' War. | | | Best places to go in June | Check out some more fabulous locales to visit this month, such as Byron Bay, Australia, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. | | | | Born and raised in the Loire Valley, Sixtine Lerouge is one of LP’s local experts filing regular dispatches and updates from France. | | | Tell me a bit about your background and what you do. | I grew up in Angers. I always wanted to be an author from when I was little. I studied journalism, and I've been doing it for about three years. The travel part is very new to me, writing the new France guidebook for Lonely Planet is my first experience. I’ve spent the last few weeks in and around the Loire Valley researching and writing. | | | Have you stayed anywhere you'd recommend? | One hotel I loved during the trip was Château La Marquise in Saumur. It's a mansion with super comfortable and well-decorated rooms filled with old furniture. And in Angers, L'Oisellerie is a well-located 16th-century half-timbered house that's now an extremely modern bed and breakfast. | | | Any suggestions for where and what to eat? | | | The Loire used to be a big fishing area, and there is still some of that, so people should try the freshwater fish. Restaurants known for their fish include Au Martin Bleu in Tours, La Route du Sel in Le Thoureil and La Cabane à Matelot in Bréhémont. | | | | | “July and August have beautiful sunshine, but are too crowded... May, June and September are better options.” – Sixtine Lerouge | | | Are there any under-the-radar activities you’d suggest? | I took a yoga class at the Château de Montsoreau Museum of Contemporary Art – most castles just focus on what life was like during medieval times. Doing yoga in a castle surrounded by contemporary art, it’s like nothing else. | | | What should people get up to when they visit? | Rent a kayak and just go on the Loire. Spend the day into the evening going from village to village. Visit a winery in Saumur to see their massive underground cellar galleries. The most renowned are Bouvet-Ladubay, Ackerman and Gratien & Meyer, but smaller ones such as Louis de Grenelle as impressive too. | | | And when is the best time to visit Val de Loire? | July and August have beautiful sunshine, but are too crowded. There are people everywhereand the lines are long. May, June and September are better options. | | |  | Love travel inspiration in your inbox? | | | Share with a fellow travel lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you? Subscribe by clicking here. | | | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
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