These days, castles aren’t just for royalty. France’s Loire Valley has some truly magnificent châteaus, many of which have been lovingly restored and transformed into some of the country’s finest hotels. If you’ve ever wanted to stay in a château hotel in the Loire, this is an opportunity to learn about some of the region’s most opulent hotels and decide which one is your dream getaway. From lavish furnishings that combine the best of the old world and the modern to immersive activities that allow you to experience the very best Loire has to offer, you’ll find it all at these incredible Loire Valley château hotels.
Castles to Stay in the Loire Valley
Château de la Barre
The Château de la Barre is easily one of the best castle hotels to stay in Loire Valley. This is a highly exclusive hotel, with only eight guestrooms — each furnished with the highest-quality luxury accents like paintings, marble fireplaces, and parquet flooring. There are two self-catering cottages on-site at a minimum rental of one week. The property is owned by the Count and Countess of Vanssay, as it has been for six centuries.
Twice a week, the Count and Countess host the Grand Siècle Dinner, an immersive meal experience that starts with a champagne cocktail and progresses to a French cuisine experience unlike any other, all the while learning about the castle’s history from the owners. The château also offers cooking classes, wine tastings, and hot air balloon rides (for the best view of the region you could ever want).
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Château des Briottières
A beautiful 18th century château surrounded by 120 acres of centuries-old green parkland, the Château des Briottières makes for a beautiful Loire Valley getaway. The hotel’s ten bedrooms are located on the first floor of the castle and offer views of the gardens, parklands, and pond. Room decor is styled to honor the castle’s history, with antique furnishings and rich linens. While there’s no on-site restaurant, there is a ‘table d’hôte’ with a fixed price menu.
The huge acreage is perfect for walking or cycling. There is a tennis court and indoor billiards tables, and on warmer days you can spend time by the outdoor pool. The cities of Tours and Nantes are only an hour and a half’s drive east and west, respectively. On a broader scale, the Anjou region has many treasures to explore – botanical gardens, abbeys, and picturesque villages.
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Château de la Bourdaisière
This 19th century castle is a recognized historical monument in France. Its foundations date back to the 15th century when it was a medieval fortress. The castle is set on 135 acres of land, with beautiful gardens, terraces, an outdoor pool, and tennis courts. The 25 rooms and four suites, with decor that showcases both the castle’s history (original wood beam ceilings, wall tapestries, and antique furniture) and modern comforts that are a sign of the times (free Wi-Fi, TVs, and elevator access).
The hotel is a wonderful countryside escape, but it’s located within close proximity to some must-see sites such as other historical Loire castles (including the Château du Clos Lucé, where Da Vinci spent his final days). The Château de la Bourdaisière is a seasonal castle hotel, open for bookings from March to November.
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Hôtel-Château de Verrières
This upscale, five-star boutique hotel is just a short walk from the Loire River, located inside a 19th century chateau on a five-acres estate. There are only 10 rooms, adding a sense of exclusivity, each decorated with fabric-lined walls, plush beds, and a mix of period and modern furniture. The castle is ideally-located in a residential area of Saumur — you couldn’t ask for something more central.
Alongside the heated outdoor pool, the hotel is known for its luxury spa, located in the mansion’s ancient vault room with sloping stone ceilings and walls. After a day of exploring the sights of Saumur, return to the hotel bar for a glass of regional wine.
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Château de Perreux
Backed by a lush green hillside, this 18th century castle has a beautifully detailed outer facade flanked by two outer turrets. The grounds are surrounded by a beautiful park and located within the Loire Valley UNESCO heritage zone. The eleven rooms are decorated in a style that combines modern minimalism with historic accents, all with views of the park. The property has many remnant troglodyte caves to explore, cave-like houses carved out of the limestone hillsides that served as homes for less wealthy inhabitants.
Guests of the Château have access to the surrounding park, swimming pool, and sun terraces. The hotel’s seasonal restaurant (serving hotel guests only, April through November) uses locally-grown ingredients combined with top chef skills for a luxurious farm-to-table experience. The city of Tours is only half an hour’s drive west, where you can spend the day exploring the city sights.
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Château des Arpentis
This stunning and stately château hotel, the Château des Arpentis, is located in a 70-acre park. The estate is surrounded by a 17th century moat, which really gives the castle an old-world feel. The 12 rooms are all decorated a little differently, with varying levels of historic elements like grandiose beds and wall tapestries. Luxury rooms have fireplaces, clawfoot bathtubs, and exposed stone walls.
The castle is ideally located to be far from crowded areas, but close enough to Amboise for an easy day trip to explore the town. While there, don’t miss the plethora of castles and churches, as well as the Château de Clos Lucé, Da Vinci’s last home before his death.
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Château d’Artigny
The Château d’Artigny is a 19th-century castle estate that includes converted barns. Originally built to be the home of French perfumer François Coty, it has been carefully restored with particular attention to preserving style elements from the 1800s. Bedrooms are decorated with period accents to give you the sense of going back in time, and all offer views of the Indre Valley, the estate gardens, or the 60-acre surrounding park. There are two two-floor apartment suites available for rental.
The hotel’s à la carte menu offers a set menu of local and regional cuisine. The hotel bar, which sits inside the hotel library, is run by an award-winning bartender and boasts a flavorful variety of signature cocktails. The hotel spa is open daily, and it gives endless treatment options for ultimate relaxation – Balinese, Swedish, or Indian massages; body scrubs and wraps; and beauty treatments like manicures and pedicures.
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Domaine de La Tortinière – Château Hôtel Vallée de la Loire
This bright white, turreted castle looks like something out of a storybook. The Domaine de La Tortinière hotel is a four-star hotel located in the commune of Veigné, just 20 minutes south of Tours. It is a third-generation, family-owned hotel, with 30 upscale guestrooms all decorated in a pleasant mix of modern and antique. The castle is surrounded by a forested area for added privacy.
The hotel spa can take care of all your pampering needs. The hotel restaurant serves regional and local dishes with ingredients sourced from the Touraine region (truffles, goat cheese, and even pigeon), and you can enjoy your delectable meal under the restaurant’s glass atrium, or outside on the sun-baked terrace. In the summer months, spend a day lounging by the outdoor pool. For any sightseeing you wish to do, the hotel is ideally located close to other castles, churches, and historical sights.
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