No Car Needed to Explore French Castles via Train

Visiting French Castles via train helps avoid what we termed “châteaux overload”. We definitely experienced this overload the first time we visited the Loire Valley. If you go by car it is so easy to try to “do too much” so pace yourself.

Visiting one or possibly two châteaux (their interiors and grounds) per day allows you to enjoy and absorb all that you see! Traveling by train, you don’t have the expense of renting a car. A more leisurely pace means you can enjoy the beautiful French countryside as you ride along.

If this is your first time visiting the Loire Valley, I hope that this guide will help you experience some of my favorite French castles via train.

French Castles via Train, Route 1

Departing from CDG

Arriving in Paris at the CDG airport, follow the blue signs for the train station and take the TGV train to Tours, France.

You can buy these tickets before you arrive via the SCNF website and avoid the lines at the ticket counter. Or you can use my favorite website (which also comes as an app) trainline.com

It is usually cheaper if you book in advance, regardless of the site you use and you can either keep the ticket on your phone or print a hard copy. During the pandemic, Trainline was extremely easy to get a refund on our journeys that we could not use.

Departing from Paris City Center

If you are traveling from Paris city center, access the TGV at the Montparnasse station (just southwest of Luxembourg Gardens) in the sixth arrondissement . Tickets for any of the departure points that we discuss here can be purchased at one of the sites listed above or at the train station.

French Castles via Train, Route 1

This first route takes you from Tours ,southwest to Azay-le-Rideau and Chinon. Then we head back to Tours and on north-east to Amboise, Blois and Orléans. Last stop is Paris.

French Castles via Train, Route 2

The second route also begins in Tours and includes the same jaunt to Azay le Rideau and Chinon. The route then goes east with stops in Chenonceau, St-Aignan and Bourges. Although Bourges has no castle, it has a lovely cathedral that is well worth the visit.

French Castles via Train, Route 2

From Bourges you will return to Vierzon and go north to Orléans, ending in Paris.

Both of these French castles via train routes take you to Orléans before returning to Paris. Although there is no château here, there are several sites that make this a town not to be missed.

Don’t miss the cathedral of Saint Croix. It has one of the oldest foundations in France, dating from the 4th century. The foundations can be seen in the crypt of St. Aignan. Maison de Jean d’Arc depicts the history of Joan of Arc, presenting scenes and artifacts from her life. Place du Martroi has a statue of Joan of Arc giving thanks to God.