If a breathtaking chateau tickles your fancy, the Loire Valley is home to over 300 of them.

Each one has its own fascinating history, lavish gardens and impressive architecture to explore.

Try the Chateau de Blois, one of France’s most important Renaissance buildings where numerous kings and queens resided, or the magnificent Chateau de Chambord, a symbol of the Renaissance dreamed up by Francis I and Leonardo da Vinci. It also has a park as big as Paris (well, nearly), which more than satisfies our city-dwelling yearning for a garden.

Perhaps the most remarkable of all the castles is Chateau de Chenonceau, which dates back to the 12th century and sits on the Cher river.

Also known as the Chateau des Dames (or Ladies’ Castle), its construction, design, history and restoration has been heavily influenced by a succession of fascinating women.

If a day trip isn’t enough to satisfy your thirst for chateaux. why not treat yourself to a stay in the four-star Domaine des Hauts de Loire? The luxurious hotel is nestled in the forest close to Chateau Chaumont.

Or, if it’s a riverside stay in the grounds of Chateau Chambord you’re after, opt for the plush Relais de Chambord.

Why the Loire Valley is the go-to destination for cultured travellers