Most people know that July and August is peak period in the Loire Valley, with the well known chateaux crowded with visitors from all over the world. So when would the best time to come be? May, June and September offer many advantages -- nice long days, gardens at their peak, and the French themselves not yet on holiday. The only thing you have to watch out for is the series of long weekends and public holidays in May and June. It's always best not to clash with them as they can end up being even busier than the summer if the weather is good.
April can be a very rewarding time to come, with early spring flowers providing colour but the trees still bare and allowing otherwise hidden views to appear. The weather is often not optimal, and Easter sometimes tricky to negotiate, but overall, we would highly recommend visiting in April if you like a quiet and atmospheric visit to a chateau.
To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.