The Château de Chenonceau spans the River Cher in the Loire Valley. Built in the 16th century, it is known as the Ladies' Château because women shaped its history, including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici. Its gallery stretches across the river on arches. It is surrounded by formal gardens and is one of the most visited châteaux in France.

The Château d'Amboise stands on a hill above the Loire. It was a royal residence in the 15th and 16th centuries, and King Charles VIII and Francis I lived here. Leonardo da Vinci, invited by Francis I, is buried in the château's Chapel of Saint-Hubert. His last home, Clos Lucé, is nearby. The terraces give views over the river.

The Château de Villandry in the Loire Valley is famous for its Renaissance gardens. Restored in the early 20th century, they include an ornamental vegetable garden laid out in geometric patterns, an ornamental garden of clipped box hedges shaped like hearts, a water garden and a sun garden. The château itself was completed in 1536.

The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is a Renaissance château built in the early 16th century on an island in the Indre River. Its white walls and turrets reflect in the water around it, and it has been called a diamond set in the Indre. It has a fine straight staircase and rooms with period furniture and tapestries.

The Château de Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley, built from 1519 for King Francis I. Its roof is a forest of towers, chimneys and lanterns. At its centre is a famous double helix staircase, possibly inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, where two people can climb without meeting. It stands in a huge walled forest park.