With the Summer Olympics in Paris this year, now is an ideal time to explore France. The Loire Valley, with its rich history, scenic landscapes and renewed hospitality scene, offers fresh reasons to visit in 2024.
Le Lab Hotel © David-Emmanuel Cohen
New and soon-to-open hotels are adding contemporary comfort to the region. Le Lab Hotel, which opened in February in Tours, features 41 guestrooms and suites designed for modern travelers. Maison Rabelais in Amboise debuts this month with 32 rooms and apartments, plus a spa and pool—an appealing base for exploring the surrounding châteaux. Also scheduled for summer opening, Le Domaine de la Tremblère in Arthon occupies a restored 19th-century building and promises a blend of heritage and hospitality.
Château du Clos Lucé © L. de Serres
Cultural events and site reopenings are highlights this season. Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire is presenting its International Garden Festival through Nov. 3; this year’s theme is the Life-Source Garden, showcasing inventive landscape design and contemporary horticulture. In celebration of its 150th anniversary, the Château de Sancerre estate has opened to the public for the first time—visitors can tour the property through Sept. 22 before it closes for renovations ahead of a 2025 reopening as a hotel.
© Erwan Fiquet
The Saint-Hubert Chapel at Château Royal d’Amboise reopened to visitors on June 1 after an extensive 2.5-year restoration. The chapel is the resting place of Leonardo da Vinci and, through Sept. 22, the château hosts a special exhibition of works related to the master. Da Vinci enthusiasts can also visit Château du Clos-Lucé for a dedicated exhibition, “Leonardo da Vinci and the Perfumes of the Renaissance,” on display through Sept. 15.
For sports fans attending the Olympics, Châteauroux will host the shooting competitions at the Châteauroux Shooting Center, offering another reason to include the Loire Valley on an Olympic itinerary.