Skip the bustling French metropolises like Paris and Nice and head to the Loire Valley in central France to discover elegant châteaux, expansive vineyards and meticulously tended gardens. This storied region is gearing up for an eventful year with several new hotel openings, exhibitions and notable anniversaries across its towns and estates.
Openings
Le Bois de Chambres, the first hotel on the grounds of Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, is scheduled to open later this spring. Designed by Patrick Bourchain, the property will offer 39 individually themed rooms and suites distributed between a restored farmhouse and a new wing. Guests can expect original artworks throughout the estate, a gourmet on-site restaurant and interiors inspired by the surrounding natural landscapes.
© La Maison d’à Côté
Opening June 13, Fleur de Loire joins the Relais & Châteaux collection as a new five-star hotel with a gastronomic restaurant. Housed in a 17th-century building attributed to the brother of King Louis XIII, the hotel emphasizes sustainable travel and regional authenticity. Fleur de Loire will feature 44 rooms including 11 suites, a signature restaurant led by two-Michelin-star chef Christophe Hay, a bistro, outdoor pool, a Sisley spa and a pastry kiosk. The restaurant will showcase local produce and Cheverny wines, reflecting the Loire Valley’s culinary traditions.
This summer also sees the opening of Villa Monin in Bourges, a museum and experience center dedicated to Monin’s flavored syrups. Villa Monin presents cabinets of curiosities that showcase the brand’s history of flavors and aromas, alongside immersive tours of syrup production, cooking classes, workshops and a tasting bar. Local chocolatier Daniel Mercier contributes a chocolate-focused experience within the space.
© Vanessa Treney – CRT Centre-Val de Loire
Exhibitions and Anniversaries
Several cultural sites across the Loire Valley are hosting exhibitions and commemorations this year. The Royal City of Loches presents Agnès Sorel, l’influenceuse, an exhibition honoring the 600th anniversary of Agnès Sorel’s birth. Open through November 6, the exhibit examines Sorel’s role and influence within the court of King Charles VII and her impact on politics and society.
The Château Royal de Blois highlights La Renaissance des Femmes through July 10, a show dedicated to three influential women connected to the château: Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers and Marguerite de Valois. The exhibition explores their power, influence and roles within the royal court at a residence once home to seven kings and ten queens.
© Eric Sander
The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire is marking the 30th anniversary of its International Garden Festival from April 21 to November 6. This year’s theme, centered on the “ideal garden,” invites reflection on humanity’s relationship with nature amid the challenges of climate change and urban development.
From May 21 to November 6, Forteresse Royal de Chinon hosts Rois et reines en armes, entre réels et fiction(s), an exhibition that examines kings and queens both historical and fictional. Alongside armor and historical artifacts, the show features props and costume pieces from well-known films and television series, offering a blend of heritage and pop culture.
Whether you come for refined cuisine, fresh hospitality, immersive cultural programming or the region’s scenic estates and vineyards, the Loire Valley offers a quieter, richly layered alternative to France’s larger cities this year.