Tours in July

April through June brings perfect château weather. Gardens bloom, crowds stay manageable, and you can bike between castles without sweating through your shirt. May hits the sweet spot - warm days, cool evenings, everything open. September and October deliver stunning colors along the Loire. Harvest season means wine tastings everywhere, plus you'll catch the last warm days before winter. Hotel prices drop after school starts. Summer gets packed and hot. Château parking lots turn into furnaces, and you'll wait 45 minutes to tour Chambord. But longer days mean more time for cycling, and every restaurant terrace stays open late. Winter closes many châteaux completely. Skip December through March unless you're here for Christmas markets in the old town.