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Things to do in the Loire Valley

Throughout the years, the Loire Valley has been home to some of the area's richest and most powerful families. Many royals chose this area as the location of their most impressive homes and palaces, making it a fascinating destination to visit.

Although the architecture certainly deserves your appreciation, you will find plenty of other great things to do in the Loire Valley, no matter how you like to spend your time on holiday.

It takes around 5 hours to drive from Calais to the Loire Valley, and if you want to break up your journey, there are plenty of interesting places to stop by, such as Le Mans.

Do you want more freedom and peace of mind when traveling with your car? Then why not upgrade to one of our Flexi tickets? Allowing you to take the scenic route home, our Standard Flexi and Fully Flexi tickets give you greater flexibility on your departure time when getting our Ferries to and from France!

So why not book your Dover to Calais ferry today and discover all the things to do in the Loire Valley!

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Morning	01:55	04:25	06:50	09:15
Midday	11:40
Afternoon	14:05	16:40
Evening	18:55	20:50	23:40

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Parks and Gardens
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Explore famous Chateaux
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ZooParc
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See the troglodytes

Things to do in the Loire Valley

Places to visit in the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is often referred to as the ‘Garden of France’ due to its impressive number of parks, gardens, and estates, so if you are looking for green spaces during your break, you will be spoilt for choice.

One of the best places to visit in the Loire Valley is the La Brenne Regional Nature Park, where you will find over 2000 lakes and ponds, offering the perfect space to enjoy some fresh air and relax away from the towns and cities. This park is home to around 2,300 different animal species, including turtles, herons, ducks, and dragonflies, and 1,200 types of plants, so if you love wildlife, this really is the place to be.

When you visit the Loire Valley, you will also have the chance to see the largest Japanese garden in Europe, the Parc Oriental de Maulévrier. With a design mostly centered around water, this park has a pond that is home to two islands, plus natural and mythical landscape designs that are sure to enchant you. There are plenty of Japanese symbols to discover as you wander around the park. You can also take a guided tour if you like, which can be a perfect family thing to do in the Loire Valley.

Top things to do in the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is popular because it is home to over 300 castles boasting a variety of amazing styles and designs. If you love wandering around stunning buildings, you really won’t be disappointed.

One of the most famous places to visit in the Loire Valley is the Chateau de Chambord, which was initially created to be a hunting lodge for Francois I. It now has over 400 rooms inside and stables for around 1,200 horses! The grounds are extensive and beautiful, and you can choose to walk, cycle, or horse ride to see them for yourself. As one of the region's most visited and photographed chateaus, it really should be an attraction at the top of your list.

With Renaissance furniture, tapestries, and various artwork to admire as you walk around, you’re also sure to love the small chapel and its stained glass windows that replaced the originals damaged in World War II, visiting the Chateau de Chambord is one of the best things to do in the Loire Valley.

Things to do in the Loire Valley with kids

The Loire Valley is also popular because there are plenty of family-friendly things to do. Recognized as one of the most beautiful zoos in the world, the ZooParc de Beauval is one of the best things to do in the Loire Valley with kids. It is home to around 8,000 residents from 600 different species, including white tigers, pandas, and koalas.

As one of the top things to do in the Loire Valley beyond visiting châteaux, ZooParc de Beauval offers an unforgettable experience. Part of the zoo is designed to resemble an African plain, where you can spot zebras, giraffes, rhinos, antelope, and more in a naturalistic setting. Don’t miss the impressive amphitheatre shows featuring sea lions and birds of prey. The hippo enclosure is also a highlight. It has its own beach and waterfall, and it’s perfect for animal lovers of all ages.

Best Places to visit in the Loire Valley

Another different thing to do in the Loire Valley is spot the troglodytes, which are dwellings carved into the slopes and rock faces. Those who lived there wanted to make the most of the landscape. These residences are made from tufa stone, which is very easy to work with. The material taken from the landscapes during the carving process was then sold on.

If you are interested in the troglodytes, head to the Troglodyte Village of Rochemenier, where people lived until the 1930s. You can see farms, houses, and even an underground chapel!

With so many things to do in the Loire Valley, add a trip to your travel wish list and discover all it has to offer for yourself. Book your Dover to Calais ferry crossing today and start planning your perfect break!

The Loire Valley is often referred to as the ‘Garden of France’ due to its impressive number of parks, gardens, and estates

Häufig gestellte Fragen: Minikreuzfahrt & Kurztrip

Wie viel kostet eine Minikreuzfahrt?

Unsere Kurztrips mit der Fähre sind schon ab 65 £ pro Person erhältlich. Der Preis richtet sich danach, wie viele Passagiere die Buchung enthält, welcher Kabinentyp und welcher Buchungszeitraum ausgewählt wird und ob Extras hinzukommen, etwa im Voraus gebuchte Mahlzeiten oder eine Extranacht im Anschluss.

Kann ich auf einer P&O-Minikreuzfahrt mein Fahrzeug mit an Bord bringen?

Leider können wir auf unseren Minikreuzfahrten keine Fahrzeuge transportieren. Sie haben jedoch die Möglichkeit, mit unserer Fähre von Hull nach Rotterdam eine direkte Fährverbindung zu buchen.

Wie lange ist man auf einer P&O-Minikreuzfahrt unterwegs?

Auf unseren Minikreuzfahrten von England nach Holland verbringen Sie zwei Nächte an Bord und einen Tag in einer niederländischen Stadt Ihrer Wahl. Sie haben bei der Buchung auch die Möglichkeit, Ihr Kurzabenteuer mit P&O Ferries mit einer Extranacht zu verlängern!

Was muss ich für eine Minikreuzfahrt mit P&O Ferries einpacken?

Für einen Kurztrip mit der Fähre mit P&O Ferries können Sie alles einpacken, was Sie möchten – bei uns gibt es keine Gepäckbegrenzung. Unsere Fährkabinen bieten sämtliche Annehmlichkeiten für eine entspannte Auszeit an Bord, wie Bettzeug, Handtücher, ein eigenes Bad und Toilettenartikel. Bei einem Upgrade Ihrer Kabine auf eine Club-Kabine, eine Club-Suite oder eine State-Room-Kabine kommen Sie in den Genuss luxuriöser Pflegeprodukte von The White Company.

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