Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire

Amazing visit! I went twice in a day to see as much as possible but it was not enough still. 32ha park divided into different areas, with art exhibitions all across: - the medieval style castle! Beautiful castle nicely decorated with original furnitures and stunning views of the Loire - the village with the different castle’s dependencies including the stables (a must see), the vegetable garden or the tropical greenhouse - the historical garden perfect for a long walk with lots of pieces of art - the festival garden! Another must see! Small gardens decorated around a specific topic each year. The main topic this year was ‘once upon a time’. Really magical. You can even visit that part at night with lights. - enchanting tales walk. A small nice walk in the middle of the forest with fun attractions on the way. Ideal for kids. You can also go and visit a mini waterfall and walk under an old wooden bridge. - Goualoup meadow: another very nice walk with small hidden gardens playing with nature and plants surrounded by meadows.

I visit Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire every year, and it never fails to surprise. The ever-evolving garden exhibitions are the real draw—each year brings a fresh theme or landscape that stimulates both imagination and tranquility. The stately exhibitions indoors are also top-notch, blending art, architecture, and nature in that signature Loire Valley style. Plan to stay the whole day. My advice: arrive early—especially in summer—to enjoy the gardens before the heat peaks. You can linger over lunch at one of the on-site restaurants, or bring a picnic and enjoy it in the designated picnic area just outside the castle grounds near the parking lot. It’s a quiet, shaded spot perfect for refuelling without breaking the serene mood. Whether you’re a lifelong garden buff or just looking for a peaceful, creative escape, this place rewards repeat visits—even after years of going back, there’s always something new to uncover.

I loved the Garden Festival - so many garden “rooms” unified by a theme - this year is fairytales, and they are charming. The chateau is also beautiful and interesting, but definitely go if you want to see beautiful and creative grounds.

The castle has a beautiful position and the rooms have furniture that reflect how life was for those living in it. But the international garden festival was the reason for choosing this Domaine among other beautiful places, when visiting the region for such a short time. It was so diverse and beautiful. I highly recommend it.

This chateau here is one of the most beautiful in the Loire Valley. Really picture perfect example of a fairytale castle. Easy to access with parking closeby. Public restrooms, restaurants, many exhibitions, a wonderful park with valley views and amazing gardens. Well worth the entrance fee of 20 Euros. There's lots to see and do. The castle was built as it is today in the late 15th / early 16th Century. But was originally founded in the 10th century. Protected as a monument historique since 1840, the château was given into state ownership in 1938 and is now open to the public. It belonged to the Amboise family for five centuries. Pierre d'Amboise unsuccessfully rebelled against King Louis XI and his property was confiscated, and the castle was dismantled on royal order in 1465. It was later rebuilt by Charles I d'Amboise from 1465 to 1475 and then finished by his son, Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont. The chateau itself is such a wonderful sight. And despite many visitors it's easy possible to get some great views and pictures of it. The grounds are very big, so it never feels crowded. It's just a beautiful piece of art and history. Besides the chateau there is a wonderful park area with picnic spots, many options to sit down and rest to enjoy the views of the castle and the valley. Makes a lovely circular walk through the park. Then there are the gardens. An amazing place - with its many paths and ways it feels like a maze at times. Nice to just wander around and to get lost a bit. Wonderful trees, bushes, flowers and more. Some greenhouses as well. It's a lovely place to be and to walk around. This Chateau and grounds are really impressive. One of the best castle experiences we've had yet. You can spend easily a whole day here. Always something new to explore. And: Dogs are welcome as well here. Our Bulldog enjoyed. And so did we. Highly recommended.

Visited the garden festival. Busy but we got to see plenty. Some of the planting is looking a bit tired but generally very interesting. Lots of birds and butterflies.

Gorgeous château with superb gardens. Lots of spots to eat and drink on-site. It was quieter than the other châteaus we visited in the area.

Very beautiful castle, surrounded by beautiful gardens and parks. Located along the Loire river. I recommend it. The entrance fee is 20euros for an adult. It takes at least 4 hours to visit the castle and it's park and gardens.