ZooParc de Beauval is in the heart of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are coming from the UK, it is the perfect chance to combine the zoo and the châteaux in a single trip. Here is our selection.
Start by booking your zoo day
Dated online ticket from €39 per adult, cheaper than at the gate.
Contents
🏰 The Loire châteaux within reach of Beauval
Beauval is surrounded by some of the most famous châteaux in France. All of them are within an hour's drive of the ZooParc. Driving times calculated from the ZooParc on 8 October 2026, without traffic:
| Château | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Chenonceau | about 29 km | about 35 min |
| Cheverny | about 28 km | about 35 to 40 min |
| Amboise (and Le Clos Lucé) | about 38 km | about 45 min |
| Blois | about 41 km | about 50 min |
| Chambord | about 46 km | about 55 min |
Château de Chenonceau
The "ladies' château", which spans the River Cher on a two-storey gallery. One of the most visited châteaux in France, with beautiful formal gardens. The closest of the big names to Beauval.
Château de Cheverny
The most "lived-in" of the Loire châteaux: it has belonged to the same family for centuries. It inspired Marlinspike Hall in the Tintin books, and children love its pack of hunting hounds.
Château d'Amboise and Le Clos Lucé
Perched above the Loire, the Château d'Amboise has a sweeping view over the valley. Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life here: his tomb is in the château's chapel, and Le Clos Lucé, his last home, is close by.
Château de Blois
In the centre of Blois, this château is a summary of French history, with wings from several periods around a single courtyard. Easy to visit, ideal for half a day.
Château de Chambord
The largest château in the Loire Valley, a French Renaissance masterpiece commissioned by François I. Its double-helix staircase, often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, is reason enough to stop. Allow at least 2 hours, more if you visit the grounds.
Saint-Aignan: the zoo's home town
The zoo is just outside Saint-Aignan, a charming medieval town with cobbled streets, a château and the banks of the Cher. It makes a good base for the evening after the zoo: a few restaurants, a relaxed atmosphere and the river close by.
Several Beauval hotels are in Saint-Aignan itself: Les Rivages, Le Grand Hôtel and Beauvilliers.
Nature, food and wine
- Loire Valley wines: the Touraine and Cheverny appellations, among others, with estates offering visits and tastings
- Local specialities: tarte Tatin (born in Lamotte-Beuvron, in the Loir-et-Cher), rillettes from Tours, goat's cheeses from Selles-sur-Cher and Valençay
- La Loire à Vélo: a long-distance cycle route along the Loire, with flat, family-friendly sections
- The Sologne: to the north, a land of forests, heaths and ponds for family walks
A base for the zoo and the châteaux
Les Hameaux de Beauval: apartments for up to 8, with a kitchen, for a few nights.
Our Beauval + Loire itineraries
A long weekend from the UK (3 nights)
- Day 1: crossing and drive down, evening in Saint-Aignan
- Day 2: a full day at ZooParc de Beauval
- Day 3: a second morning at the ZooParc with the two-day ticket, then Chenonceau in the afternoon
- Day 4: Amboise or Blois on the way back north
A week in the Loire Valley
- 2 days at the ZooParc
- 3 days of châteaux: Chenonceau, Amboise and Le Clos Lucé, Chambord and Cheverny
- 1 day by bike on La Loire à Vélo, or relaxing in Saint-Aignan
Zoo + châteaux: book your stay
Beauval packages combine the hotel, breakfast and ZooParc entry.
To plan your trip: where to stay near Beauval | getting to Beauval | tickets and prices | coming via Paris | our tips for visiting Beauval