WHAT TO SEE & DO
Overview Table
| Name | Appeal | Type | Visit | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chenonceau Castle | ✦✦✦✦✦ | Castle & Gardens | Either | Paid € |
| 2 | River Cruise | ✦✦✧✧✧ | River Cruise | Tour | Paid € |
| 3 | Self-drive River Boat | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Self-drive River Boat | Rental | Paid € |
| 4 | River Kayak | ✦✦✧✧✧ | River Kayak | Rental | Paid € |
| 6 | Pivoine Garden | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Garden | Self | Free |
| 5 | St. Jean-Baptiste Church | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Church | Self | Free |
| 7 | River Viewpoint | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Panorama | Self | Free |
1. Chenonceau Castle & Gardens
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✦
Type Castle & Gardens
Visit Self-guided or Guided Tour
Cost Paid
French Name
Château de Chenonceau
Château de Chenonceau, a Renaissance-style castle from the 16th century, famously spans the River Cher and is known as the “Ladies’ Castle” due to its history of influential female owners. It also includes elegant galleries over the river.
The beautifully designed French-style gardens are also a major attraction at the site.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
2. River Cruise
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type River Cruise
Visit Tour
Cost Paid
It’s possible to take a cruise or a meal cruise on the Cher River that goes on both sides of the castle, as it is possible to pass under the arches.
Provider
La Bélandre
(same company than self-drive boat below)
3. Self-drive River Boat
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Self-drive River Boat
Visit Rental
Cost Paid
You can rent a small or medium-sized electric boat without a license to explore the Cher River on both sides of the castle, as it is possible to pass under the arches.
Provider
La Bélandre
(same company than river cruise above)
Electric Boat
⚙️ Hours & Prices (Official Website)
Picnic Boat
⚙️ Hours & Prices (Official Website)
4. River Kayak
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type River Kayak
Visit Rental
Cost Paid
You can rent a kayak to explore the Cher River on both sides of the castle, as it is possible to pass under the arches.
Provider
Kayak Family
⚙️ Hours & Prices (Official Website – Fr)
Provider
Canoë Company
5. Pivoine Garden
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Garden
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Parc aux Pivoines
A small garden dedicated to peony flowers.
There is also a small pottery shop located there.
6. St. Jean-Baptiste Church
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste
A small and simple church from the 12th century.
7. River Viewpoint
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Panorama
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
A panorama of the Château de Chenonceau from the other side of the river. You will need to go around by car or on foot to cross the river.
It’s the same type of panorama but from the opposite side that you can see from the edge of the Diane de Poitiers Garden within the Chenonceau estate.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN LOIRE VALLEY
Things to Do in Azay-le-Rideau Village
Things to Do in Candes-Saint-Martin Village
Things to Do in Chenonceaux Village
Things to Do in Cheverny Village
Things to Do in Fontevraud-l’Abbaye Village
Things to Do in Montrésor Village
Things to Do in Montreuil-Bellay Town
Things to Do in Montsoreau Village
