The Châteaux of the Loire to visit with your dog
Yes, you read correctly ! Visiting certain Loire castles with your dog is possible! So if you dream of an excursion to the Loire castles region with your dog, we help you prepare your visits! Great discoveries!
Summary
The Loire castles are true French jewels. Centre-Val-de-Loire is full of gems, each more imposing than the last. Do you like history or architecture and want to learn more while sharing it with your dog? It's the perfect destination! Many Loire châteaux are accessible with a dog.
Especially since castles are not the only wonders to discover. Their parks and gardens, as well as the surrounding forests, are also splendid.
I dream of visiting the castles of the Loire with my dog. I'm sure we'd be amazed! Wandering through these places steeped in French history and going behind the scenes with Musher could be great. The Château de Blois, Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord, Chenonceau, Clos Lucé, Villandry, Chinon… so many castle names that make you dream! When I was little, I had the chance to visit a few with the school but I would really like to go back with my family. My memories are a bit dated so I interviewed two Wouafer's who recently explored the Loire castles region with their dogs.
Océane and Tristan discovered the region with their two dogs and had a great time. They visited several castles in the Loire, with and without a dog. Océane reveals to us the castles of the Loire accessible to dogs, then gives us her best advice for peaceful visits. Océane, I’ll leave your hand to you!
The Loire castles to visit with a dog
The majority of Loire castles are accessible with a dog. Some only allow them in gardens and parks, while others accept them provided they are carried in your arms or in a bag, and still others allow them everywhere.
🚙 How to get there? Some castles are near train stations and therefore accessible by train . However, the most convenient way is to go by car, which is more comfortable for dogs and for us. If you don't have a car, you can rent one here for the occasion.
Here is the list of Loire castles that we visited:
- Castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire : dogs on a leash allowed in the gardens and park, but prohibited in the castle and stables.
- Chenonceau Castle : dogs on a leash allowed in the gardens and park, and allowed inside if they are in a bag or in arms.
- Royal Castle of Amboise : dogs on a leash allowed in gardens, and allowed inside if they are in a bag or in arms, and prohibited in underground spaces.
- Montpoupon Castle : dogs on a leash allowed everywhere, in the castle, the chapel, the kitchens, the stables and in the park.
- Montresor Castle : dogs on a leash allowed in gardens, and allowed inside if they are in a bag or in arms.
- Villandry Castle : dogs on a leash allowed in gardens, and allowed inside if they are in a bag or in arms.
- Chambord Castle : dogs on a leash allowed throughout the park, but prohibited in the castle, the stables and the French gardens.
- Nitray Castle : dogs on a leash allowed everywhere.
- Chateau Gaillard : dogs on a leash allowed throughout the park and gardens, but prohibited in the castle.
- Château du Clos Lucé : dogs on a leash allowed throughout the park and gardens, dogs allowed inside if they are in a bag or in arms.
- Château de Valmer : the castle cannot be visited, but dogs are allowed in the garden and vegetable patch.
- Chanteloup Pagoda : dogs on a leash allowed in the park, but prohibited in the pagoda.
- Goupillières Troglodyte Valley : dogs on a leash allowed throughout the park.
This last visit is not considered a castle, however, I find it essential to understand the history of the castles of France. Please note, even if dogs are accepted, they must be kept on a leash due to the presence of farm animals.
Musher and Sophie : – “To help you find your way around, here is a complete list of the Loire Valley castles and their dog-friendly access requirements. This information was updated in 2025, so be sure to check by phone or on each castle's website before you go… The rules can change. ”
Where to stay to visit the Loire Valley castles?
Planning a trip to the Loire Valley castles with your dog? Here's a selection of the best dog-friendly accommodations. They're all QUALIDOG certified, guaranteeing you and your furry friend a warm welcome! The hardest part will be choosing! 😜
Hostellerie de l'Ecu de Bretagne
Dog-friendly accommodation on the banks of the Loire
Hotel Residence of the Vignole
Dogs welcome everywhere 🐶
Onlycamp Camping in Montlouis-sur-Loire ***
With access to the Loire 💦
The Gites of the Orée Perchoise
Enclosed garden and dog pool 💦
The Domain of Moresville
With a Doggy Park!
Les Hauts de Bruyères ski area – Center Parcs
Current promotional offers!
Océane's favorite castles
We loved all the Loire castles we visited, but I must admit, we each have our favorites!
Personally, I fell in love with the Château de Villandry and its colorful, flower-filled gardens . I adored the way the trees, flowers, and other plants were pruned and arranged. Even the château itself and its interior were beautiful. Audio guides are available for the tour, but we preferred reading the informational posters in each room.
As for Tristan, he absolutely loved Montpoupon Castle . Firstly, because Murphy and Pixel were able to follow us everywhere, but also because the tour is so well done! In each room, audio recordings of conversations between the different characters in the castle are played. We found the visit very fun and educational, accessible to everyone, even the youngest children.
But one Loire Valley château managed to win us over: the Château de Chenonceau. A true marvel, both inside and out, and it's incredibly pet-friendly. In fact, I have a little story to tell, which I heard from one of the château's caretakers: the current owners of the Château de Chenonceau are true animal lovers. So much so, that there's a veterinary center on the property to care for the animals (swans, ducks, donkeys, goats, rabbits, etc.), even the smallest ones like garden birds.
In addition, they make it a point of honor to open their doors to dogs and cats, so that they too can enjoy this exceptional setting. Moreover, at the entrance, you can see a small “pet-friendly” sign.
All the gardens and parks of the Loire Valley châteaux are easily accessible and dog-friendly. Some are larger than others and require a certain level of fitness to explore fully, as there are kilometers of corridors and gardens to discover. I'm thinking in particular of the gardens of the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, which are truly immense! And the park of the Château de Chambord is also very large, covering 1000 hectares in total, with several marked trails to explore. Ideal for cycling or hiking enthusiasts. But please note, dogs must be kept on a leash so as not to disturb the wildlife.
If you have an old dog with you , it will probably have trouble keeping up with you in Montpoupon Castle (lots of stairs).
Visiting the Loire castles with your dog: practical advice
If you'd like to explore many Loire Valley castles with your dog (we visited 11, plus the pagoda and the troglodytic valley of Les Goupillières), I highly recommend the Patrivia Heritage Pass, which grants free entry to over 600 monuments . A fee is required upon purchase, and then you simply book your tickets for the various castles. As a bonus, dogs are welcome at no extra charge ! Visiting just 5 Loire Valley castles for two people, the pass paid for itself.
Another tip: if you have a small dog, consider buying a dog backpack . It's much more practical for outings, because carrying them in your arms for an hour or more starts to get tiring. Plus, they'll be more comfortable in their portable home.
Musher and Sophie : – “Speaking of which, we’ve put together a special comparison of dog backpacks for you at EmmèneTonChien.com! To help you find the right one, I’ll give you my opinion on different models. Small or medium dogs, the dog’s position in the bag, durability, waterproofing… We’ll help you make the best choice for you and your dog! ”
And one last recommendation: if you have a large or medium-sized dog, try to go with a partner for visits that are inaccessible to dogs you can't carry . That way, while one person visits a Loire Valley château, the other can look after the dog. If you're alone, opt for winter visits so you don't have to leave your companion warm in the car. Parking lots are often monitored, and attendants don't hesitate to call the police if an animal is locked in a vehicle.
Before visiting the Loire Valley castles with your dog, it's important to know that certain times of year are not recommended. Weekends, public holidays, and school holidays are particularly bad . During these periods, it's very crowded, and some dogs might get stressed by all the hustle and bustle. We visited the Loire Valley castles in September, a perfect month to enjoy this beautiful region at a leisurely pace while avoiding the crowds.
If you can't help but go away during these periods, but you still want to be quiet, you should opt for the lesser-known Loire castles, such as Valmer, Montpoupon, etc.
It probably varies depending on the time of year, but we encountered very few dogs in the Loire Valley châteaux . Except for Chaumont-sur-Loire, but that was in early September.
To visit the castles of the Loire, we always took with us: the backpack for dog, one bottle of water, a foldable bowl, treats, the harness (more comfortable than collars for walking on a leash), leashes and our little one first aid kit who never leaves us.
Musher's seasonal advice
Visiting castles: what are the rules for my dog?
It is certain that a dog that barks, cries or becomes agitated during the visit will not be well seen by other visitors. So ideally, if you don't want to get glared at, it's best for your canine companion to behave.
Pixel only accompanied us inside Montpoupon Castle, but both inside and in the gardens, she was exemplary. As for Murphy, he visited all the castles from his backpack. Before visiting the Loire Valley castles, we got him used to the backpack , to staying calm inside it, and above all, to being on our backs. First while stationary, then while moving. He was adorable during all the visits.
Musher and Sophie : – “ It’s clear that having well-adjusted and calm dogs in all circumstances makes for a more enjoyable holiday. It’s even necessary when you want to organize this kind of visit, for everyone’s sake! I therefore recommend that you read our article on training your dog before going on holiday 😉 ”
Discover the Châteaux de la Loire region
Besides visiting the Loire Valley châteaux, we did a lot of exploring. The region is full of forests, each one as beautiful as the next. We also tasted some excellent wine (special mention to Château de Nitray) and went canicrossing along the banks of the Cher River. The town of Amboise is also very pleasant to visit.
And lastly, September is the perfect month to listen to and observe the stag's bellow . We were lucky enough to hear it during our visit to the Château de Chambord.
Musher and Sophie : – “ We also had the experience of listening to the deer rut with Musher. Both she and I were impressed by the power of these vocalizations! Musher was trying to figure out where the strange sound was coming from, a little worried. I didn't hesitate to reassure her, and she quickly understood that it wasn't dangerous and enjoyed the soundscape with us! ”
Châteaux de la Loire: QUALIDOG-certified accommodation
We had already been on the road for 8 months when the opportunity to visit the Centre-Val de Loire presented itself to us. Only staying in Airbnb at that time, Tristan was looking for that rare gem every day, without a clear idea of our next destination. And there, accommodation that accepts dogs less than 10 minutes from the Château de Chenonceau was free throughout the month of September! We didn't hesitate and booked immediately. Ideally positioned, this accommodation allowed us to visit a large number of the Loire castles in a maximum of 40 minutes by car.
Musher and Sophie : – “ Want to plan your holiday to visit the Loire Valley castles with your dog? We have listed many dog-friendly accommodations just waiting for you. Many are QUALIDOG W'ouf Course certified! ”
A tip? Book well in advance ! Pet-friendly accommodations get booked up very quickly! Also, don't hesitate to visit this region off-season . Or, try December, because every year, seven of the region's grandest castles celebrate "Christmas Magic in the Land of Castles." We went back to the area at the end of November and were able to experience the beginning of this magic at the Château de Chenonceau.
One last piece of advice: depending on the season you are visiting Touraine, consider equipping yourself (and your dog) with a high-visibility vest , as there is a lot of hunting, especially fox hunting.
Océane and her family
We are a small family of four which consists of two humans: Tristan & Océane, and two dogs: Murphy, an 8-year-old Miniature Pinscher cross and Pixel, a 4-year-old Border Collie.
Passionate about adventure, hiking and dogs, we decided to leave everything in December 2021 with one goal: to discover France while traveling, while continuing our freelance professional activities. This adventure lasted 18 months, in total, 14 departments visited, from Hérault to Finistère, via the Alps and Auvergne. Today, we are sedentary again, but that does not stop us from going on vacation and weekends and rediscovering the hikes in Occitania and its surroundings, while waiting for a new adventure project to materialize.
All of this makes us even more eager to visit the region with EmmèneTonChien.com! Thanks to Océane's detailed answers, I think it could be wonderful to visit the Loire Valley châteaux gardens by bike with Musher. She's starting to develop arthritis at the ripe old age of 10. While she needs to keep moving to stay healthy, traveling with a dog bike trailer will also allow her to rest.
A huge thank you to Océane and Tristan for agreeing to share all this information with our Wouafer's community! You can follow their adventures on their Instagram account @road2dogs and TikTok account @road2dogs_ as well as their Facebook page @Road2Dogs 😉
I hope this article will inspire you to discover the castles of the Loire with your dog. If you visit them, don't hesitate to tag us on your stories and publications with #emmenetonchien!
organize your holidays
Ready for the castles of the Loire? Has this article made you want to organize a trip to visit the Loire castles with your dog? Prepare your vacation with peace of mind by clicking on the following links:
Read also
- Top 10 castles to visit with your dog
- Holidays: 2 hours from Paris, Berry is ideal with your dog
- The checklist for going on vacation with your dog
How to get to the Loire castles region?
Book accommodation in Centre-Val-de-Loire
Book among the QUALIDOG-labeled accommodation for your holidays
Search for a hotel or accommodation “ok dog” on Booking- 🛖 Find unusual dog-friendly accommodation on Abracadaroom
- (I.e. Find an “ok dog” campsite for this stay
(By booking your tickets and stays via these links, you will be supporting the site since we will receive a small, very useful commission to finance the many pending projects!)
7 Reviews
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Well done, great article for preparing for your stay.
A huge THANK YOU! for your essential work! Many of our friends have dogs, and when they come to see us, it's always a problem finding activities like dog-friendly restaurants. That's why your site is a real gem! Thank you so much.
Great site for dog lovers! What you do is great. It allowed me to discover dog friendly holiday sites that allow us to guide our holidays with our doggie!
Thank you for all the good advice. Well done to the whole team ❤️
Thank you for all the information on your site which helps us have a great holiday with our dog!
Keep it up, great ideas, magical places to visit thanks to you, accommodation not yet tested but soon I hope. You're great, don't change anything. And again a big thank you.
A superb job which helps us to better prepare our visits! THANKS