Chateau de Langeais

Château de Langeais is one of the Loire Valley's most interactive castles. Far from being just a remnant of the past, the interior features faithful recreations of not only the furniture and art that were once found in the rooms, but also period-correct lighting, mannequins in period dress and guided tours that bring the past to life before visitors' eyes. 
In addition, the grounds include an accessible treehouse, a promenade with an observation deck, activities for kids and a nightly show that leads guests through the rooms and unlocks the “secrets” of the past. And those arriving early or leaving late can see the only remaining manual drawbridge in France open and close the grounds! Traveling families should add Château de Langeais to any Loire itinerary.

Practical Info

The Château de Langeais is reachable by foot from the Langeais train station; the trip is 2.5 hours from Paris and less than 30 minutes from Tours. The castle and grounds are open every day of the year; Christmas Day hours are 2 to 5 p.m., while the rest of the year opening and closing times vary by tourism season, with July and August hours maxing out at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. A full adult ticket is 9 euro, with reduced fares for kids and combined tickets for the castle and a show. Note that if your name is Anne, the show is free!