The Loire Valley for a Week

This week-long route traces the Loire from Orléans to Tours, linking four historic towns and some of France's most celebrated châteaux. It begins in Orléans, where the Gothic cathedral Sainte-Croix and Joan of Arc's House set the tone, then detours south to Bourges for its UNESCO-listed cathedral and the merchant palace of Jacques Cœur. In Blois, the Royal Castle displays four centuries of architecture in a single courtyard, and a day trip reaches Chambord — 440 rooms, a double-helix staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci — and the elegantly furnished Cheverny. Amboise pairs its clifftop Royal Castle with Clos Lucé, the manor where Leonardo spent his final years, while Tours rounds out the week with the flamboyant Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the half-timbered lanes of Place Plumereau. A final excursion leads to Chenonceau, the arched château spanning the River Cher. Most châteaux reduce hours or close certain rooms from November to March, so a spring or early-autumn visit offers the fullest experience.