AIR: TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
The nearest airports are probably Paris, Bordeaux.
See the airport information in the city guides to these regions.
From Charles de Gaulle-Roissy Airport in Paris you can either take the train
to Tours at the Gare TGV contiguous to Airport 2 C-D or take the Air France bus
or a taxi to Paris-Gare Montparnasse, Montparnasse train station (highest frequency
of trains to Tours).
From Orly Airport take the Air France bus or a taxi to Paris-Gare Montparnasse,
Montparnasse Station and the train to Tours at Gare Montparnasse.
TRAIN
Blois
The train journey from Paris' Garde d'Austerlitz to Blois takes 1.5 hours. Bordeaux
is four hours (less if you change to a TGV at Saint Pierre des Corps near Tours).
Tours
Paris' Gare Montparnasse is 70 minutes away by TGV. A service also runs to Paris'
Gare d'Austerlitz, Bordeaux (2.5 hours) and Nantes (2 hours). The train station
is off Blvd Heurteloup at Place du Marèchal Leclerc.
Tours has 2 stations: -the Central Station, facing Le Vinci congress center and
-the Saint Pierre des Corps Station with a shuttle train on the same platform
leaving after the arrival of each TGV, joining Central Station within 5 minutes.
Amboise
Several trains a day run to Amboise from Tours and Blois. From Tours you can
also take CAT bus no. 10
Blois - Chaumont
To reach Chateau de Chaumont from Blois take the local train on the Orlèans-Tours
line and get off at Onzain which is a 2km walk across the river from the chateau.
Tours - Chenonceau
Local trains on the Tours-Vierzon line stop at Chisseaux, 2km from Chenonceau.
There may also be a few trains a day from Tours to Chenonceau station, 500m from
the chateau. See the section above for the bus trip to Chenonceau.
Tours - Azay-le-Rideau
SNCF has a year round service a few times a day from Tours to Azay by train (there
is also a bus, see above for details). The train is the fastest option. It returns
from Azay at about 6pm (8pm on Sunday).
Tours - Amboise
A few trains a day run on this route.
Blois - Amboise
A few trains a day run on this route.
BUS
Tours
Eurolines has an office next to the tourist office at 76 Rue Bernard Palissy
(closed on Sunday).
Blois - Chambord
During the school year TLC bus no. 2 travels three times daily return from Blois
to Chambord (for the Chateau de Chambord). In July and August there are only
TLC guided tours.
Blois - Cheverny
To get to Chateau de Cheverny from Blois TLC bus No 4 from Blois to Romorantin
stops at Cheverny. Buses leave Monday to Saturday at 6.45am and 12.15pm. They
depart from Cheverny at 6.50pm (Monday to Friday), 12.50pm (Saturday) or 8.15pm
(Sunday).
Tours - Chenonceau
CAT bus no 10 leaves Tours at 10am (Monday to Saturday) for Chenonceau. It returns
at 4.45pm. The journey is one hour. See the section below for trains to Chenonceau.
Tours - Azay-le-Rideau
SNCF has a year round service a few times a day from Tours to Azay by train or
bus. The bus goes direct to the chateau and returns at about 6pm (8pm on Sunday).
A train also goes to Azay, see the details below.
HITCHING
Farmers and rural folk make up much of the Loire Valley so hitching should not
be a problem. For more information on hitching in France see our hitch hiking
pages.
TICKETS
For all train journeys buy your ticket before boarding the train at the vending
machines or ticket windows and make sure you validate them on the station platform.
Tickets for local bus journeys can usually be purchased on the bus.
Go to http://www.sncf.com for train tickets.
