Interactive Loire Valley map

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Just 100m from Hôtel de Biencourt

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau was built on an island in the middle of the Indre river by King François I.
A subtle blend of French tradition and innovative design from Italy, it’s an icon of the Loire Valley’s sixteenth century buildings.

The landscaped park, designed in the second half of the nineteenth century, is a beautiful natural place to enjoy exploring.

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The Balzac Museum in Saché
Just 7km from Hôtel de Biencourt

Château de Saché was one of Honoré de Balzac’s - the famous French novelist and playwright - favourite sources of inspiration. From 1825 to 1848, he regularly visited Jean Margonne, the owner of the château at the time. Here, Balzac found the silence and austerity he craved, allowing him to work between twelve and sixteen hours a day in his small, private room they kept aside for him. Le Père Goriot, Louis Lambert, César Birotteau and even Illusions Perdues were all partly written here. Saché certainly served as an inspiration to Balzac, given he set his novel Le Lys dans la Vallée in this idyllic part of the Indre Valley.

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Langeais Fortress
Just 10km from Hôtel de Biencourt

Château de Langeais is one of the Loire Valley’s oldest châteaux, serving both as a fortress and a family residence, it has plenty of hidden treasures for you to uncover, including carved furniture, vast wall hangings and artistic objects that give visitors an insight into the lives of all the great lords and ladies of French history. A retelling of the secret marriage of King Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany, which marked the annexation of the duchy to France’s crown, along with the remains of the oldest stone keep found in the heart of the park will take you back to the Middle Ages in style. Entertainment for young and old alike is on offer all year round.

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Château d'ussé
Just 14km from Hôtel de Biencourt

Charles Perrault is thought to have written ‘Sleeping Beauty’ right here, a tale that springs to life in spectacular fashion with a guided tour through some of the château’s amazing state rooms. A number of other great characters have left their mark on this place over the years, including Le Nôtre who put his talent to work here. And if you want to admire all the beautiful designs of the amazing gardens, where could be better than Vauban’s inspired terraces. French writer Chateaubriand made his own contribution to the park, bringing Lebanese cedar trees back from the Holy Land while, inside, it was Mansart who designed the spectacular staircase. There are a number of unique and magical places to explore here, like the King’s chamber, which hosted King Louis XIV and, much later, Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia.

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Chinon Fortress
Just 21km from Hôtel de Biencourt

In the heart of the Loire Valley châteaux, the Royal Fortress of Chinon is testimony to the unique and medieval history of the Loire Valley! Bordered by the Vienne river and a number of vineyards, this vital place in France’s history (Joan of Arc met Charles VII here in 1429 before freeing Orléans) can offer a number of different visits, from self-guided tours with an interactive booklet to guided tours, iPad-led explorations and itineraries specially designed for children...
Dedicated entertainment for families is on offer during school holidays.

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The City of Tours
Just 23km from Hôtel de Biencourt

Pretty half-timbered homes at Place Plumereau, cobbled streets, trendy bars and boutiques and a very modern tram... the old town in Tours is beautiful, historic and full of life with great food and drink. In short, it’s packed with charm!

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Azay-le-Rideau Tourist Information

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Regional Tourist Office: Touraine Loire Valley

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