This post was inspired by a chat with reader Jenna, who gave me breakfast just before she and Tara, her French Bulldog, left Paris for the Loire Valley. A tremendous researcher, she had created a Google map of all the dog-friendly Paris locations she’d learned about; and, separately, she’d made some notes from a post of mine about reader Christie’s experiences at several châteaux. Why not combine the two concepts, I thought, and create a map of Loire Valley châteaux where you can at least visit the gardens with your dog?

So here’s a map showing the châteaux that open their door, or at least their garden gate, to pet dogs. It’s followed by a list of all the châteaux with visiting hours (that is, excluding châteaux that are now ruins, museums, hotels, or private homes) in Wikipedia’s entry for Loire Valley châteaux, and includes pet policy details where they’re available. The name of each château is a link to its website.

Please note that this is the kind of info that tends to change without notice, so be sure to follow up yourselves before committing to nearby hotel reservations, etc. And please send me updates, edits and additions — that’ll help keep the map current and useful.

Châteaux on the Loire river:

• Amboise — Dogs in carriers allowed in the château; leashed dogs allowed in the park; dogs not allowed in the underground passageways
• Bastie d’Urfé — Probably not allowed, since the property makes a point of saying that service dogs are allowed on the domaine
• Beauregard — Not stated
• Blois — Dogs not allowed
• Boumois — Dogs allowed (throughout? unclear; site says “Animaux acceptés (gratuit)”)
• Bouthéon — Dogs not allowed
• Brissac — Not stated
• Chambord — Dogs not allowed
• Cheverny — Site says that “Dogs are generally not allowed,” which bewilders me as much as it does you. I suggest giving them a call.
• Château de Chaumont — Dogs not allowed
• Château de la Ferté — Dogs are allowed in the park, but not in the buildings
• Clos-Lucé — Dogs in carriers allowed in the château; leashed dogs allowed in the park
• Gien — Closed through the end of 2014
• Gizeux — Dogs not allowed
• La Bussière — Not stated
• La Verrerie (near Aubigny-sur-Nère) — Dogs not allowed
• Langeais — Leashed dogs allowed (throughout? unclear; site says “Les animaux sont acceptés en laisse”)
• Lavoûte-Polignac — Not stated
• Meung-sur-Loire — Dogs in carriers allowed in the château; leashed dogs allowed in the park
• Montgeoffroy — Dogs not allowed
• Montreuil-Bellay — Dogs not allowed, per 11/21/13 message from reader CreationCMignon (the château has two pet dogs in residence)
• Montsoreau — Not stated
• Palais ducal de Nevers — Not stated
• Plessis-Bourré — Not stated
• Pontchevron — Not stated
• Saint-Brisson — Dogs in carriers allowed in the château; leashed dogs allowed in the park
• Saumur — Dogs not allowed, per 11/21/13 message from reader CreationCMignon
• Sully-sur-Loire — Not stated
• Talcy — Not stated
• Troussay — Not stated
• Villesavin — Not stated

On the Maine river:

• Château d’Angers — Not stated [in a comment, below, reader Margaret reports that Angers is not dog-friendly]

On the Cher:

• Chenonceau — Dogs in carriers allowed in the château; leashed dogs allowed in the park
• Gué-Péan — Not stated
• Selles-sur-Cher — Not stated
• Valençay — Leashed dogs allowed in the park
• Villandry — Dogs in carriers allowed in the château; leashed dogs allowed in the park

On the Indres:

• Azay-le-Rideau — Not stated
• Candé — Leashed dogs allowed in the park
• Ussé — Not stated
• Villegongis — Not stated (please note that only the park is open to visitors)

On the Vienne:

• Château de Bazouges sur le Loir — Not stated
• Château du Petit Thouars — The current owners left a comment on Dog Jaunt saying “Dogs are very welcome to accompany their owners to wine tastings at our château and vineyard”
• Chinon — Not stated
• Lude — Not stated
• Rivau — Leashed dogs allowed (throughout? unclear; site says “Chiens tenus en laisse bienvenus”)

As you’ll see, I’ve identified 13 properties that are dog-friendly to some extent. At least six properties (including the mighty Amboise and Chenonceau) allow small dogs in carriers inside the château; at three more locations (Boumois, Langeais, and Rivau), dogs may be allowed inside, but are certainly allowed (leashed) in the park. Three properties (Château de la Ferté, Valençay, and Candé) only allow (leashed) dogs in their parks. In a category of its own, the Château du Petit Thouars is now a vineyard, and welcomes canine visitors.