Car Travel

The Loire Valley is an easy drive from Paris. A10 runs from the capital to Orléans—a distance of around 125 km (78 miles)—and on to Tours, with exits at Meung, Blois, and Amboise. After Tours, A10 veers south toward Poitiers and Bordeaux. A11 links Paris to Angers and Saumur via Le Mans. Slower but more scenic routes run from the Channel ports down through Normandy into the Loire region. Once here, driving is also the most time-efficient way to see the Loire châteaux—and you won’t have to sacrifice scenic views; D952, which hugs the riverbank, is excellent for sightseeing. Just note that road signs can be few and far between once you get off the main road, and many a traveler has stories about a 15-minute trip lasting two hours. You can rent a car in Paris, in all the large towns in the region, or at train stations in Orléans, Blois, Tours, and Angers.