The region: in the heart of Loire Valley chateau country
Staying at Le Clos Amarante means settling right at the centre of the Loire Valley’s golden triangle. From Cour-Cheverny, the Chateau de Cheverny is a ten-minute walk away; Chambord and Blois are twenty minutes by car, the ZooParc de Beauval and Chaumont-sur-Loire thirty minutes, Chenonceau and Amboise forty-five minutes. Between visits, the village offers its shops, restaurants and vineyards, and the Sologne unfolds its ponds and forests just to the south.
Chateaux, zoo and gardens within the hour
From Cour-Cheverny, set out to discover the jewels of the Loire Valley.
Explore the chateaux around the house
Our favourite places around the house
Restaurants, winegrowers, local producers and everyday shops: each address has its own card on the map, with opening hours and travel time from the house.
RestaurantsFrom homely village cooking to Michelin-starred tables nearby.See on the map
WinegrowersTastings at the estate, a few minutes from the house.See on the map
Local produceFruit, vegetables and Sologne produce, straight from the farm.See on the map
ShopsBakery, grocer, butcher, pharmacy: all within walking distance.See on the map
Cour-Cheverny, a winegrowing village
Cour-Cheverny is a winegrowing village where everything is within walking distance: shops and restaurants are a few steps from the house, and the Chateau de Cheverny a ten-minute stroll. It is also singular wine country: the Cour-Cheverny appellation is devoted to Romorantin, a unique white grape grown nowhere else, while the AOC Cheverny offers reds, whites and rosés. Many estates nearby open their doors for tastings. Wander through the village, linger on a terrace, bring back a few bottles: between two chateaux, Cour-Cheverny is best savoured without a car. In the evening, you are back at Le Clos Amarante within minutes, on foot.
The Sologne, ponds and forests
South of Cour-Cheverny begins the Sologne, a vast mosaic of forests, ponds and heathland. It is the perfect place to catch your breath between chateau visits: walks and bike rides along forest paths, birdwatching by the ponds, picnics in the shade of pines and birches. In autumn the forest comes alive with a rare spectacle: the stags’ rutting call, which visitors come to hear at dusk. Keen cyclists can also pick up the Loire à Vélo routes close by, linking chateaux and villages along the river. A slower, more secret way to discover the Loire Valley.
Our recommended itineraries
To help you shape your stay, we share on the blog the itineraries we recommend to our guests: three days to see Chambord, Cheverny, Blois and Chenonceau without rushing, a day around Cheverny with children, or the Loire Valley by bike from the house – not forgetting a day at the ZooParc de Beauval, one of the most renowned animal parks in the world, or the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire, from April to November. Each article gives journey times from the house and our practical tips.
