One of the favourite places in France that I’ve visited with my dog is Château de Chenonceau, a beautiful château in the Loire Valley. A wonderfully dog-friendly spot to visit, find out more about visiting Château de Chenonceau with a dog.
About Château de Chenonceau
The Loire Valley, one of my favourite regions of France, is home to many gorgeous châteaux, constructed over the centuries and now open to the public. One of the most beautiful and also the most distinctive is Château de Chenonceau.
Originally constructed in the early 16th century, part of Château de Chenonceau is now built across the River Cher, the river running under its archways. Originally just a bridge adjacent to the château, when Catherine de Medici needed to add a ballroom for her legendary parties, it was built above the river – naturally!
Visiting Château de Chenonceau
Château de Chenonceau is located in the Loire Valley in the village of Chenonceau, 34km east of the city of Tours. It’s possible to drive to the château or take a train to the station of Chenonceau, a short walk away.
Unlike some other château in the Loire Valley, such as Château de Chambord, it’s not possible to drive up to the château or even glimpse it from the carpark – you need to pay the entry fee. View the latest ticket prices for 2026.
The château is open year round, with the opening hours varying throughout the year. The most popular time to visit are the summer months, when it can be very busy, like during our visit.
Rules for Visiting Château de Chenonceau with a Dog
Dogs are welcome to join you on a visit to Château de Chenonceau, with no entry fee charged for dogs – they enter for free. Dogs of all sizes can wander around the gardens of the château and view the impressive building from the outside, as long as they are leashed.
When we visited, there were plenty of signs in the carpark imploring visitors not to leave their dogs in their cars during hot weather, stating that it’s pet-friendly in both French and English. That’s one way to ensure dogs aren’t left in hot cars!
Even better at Château de Chenonceau, if your dog is small enough to be carried in your arms or in a bag, it can join you inside the château. It was treat to admire the château’s interiors while carrying my dog, Schnitzel, although we spent most of our visit outside.
The château can get very crowded inside during the summer months and on sunny weekends when there’s a lot of visitors, so it makes sense for only dogs being carried to be admitted inside.
Water bowls for dogs are provided in the grounds of the château, essential for summer time visits. At the time of our visit, one bowl was as the entrance to the château, while a second was at the cafe where we sat down for ice creams.
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About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.