Hot Air Balloons – Centre-Val de Loire
The châteaux of the Loire, from a balloon
Centre-Val de Loire is château country, and a balloon is the one way to take in a whole valley of them at once, at sunrise or sunset.
A land of rivers and châteaux
The Loire and the rivers that join it, among them the Vienne, the Cher and the Indre, run past royal fortresses, Renaissance châteaux, vineyards and forests. From a balloon you see how they fit together, a whole landscape at once. Where you drift depends on the wind on the day.
When
Sunrise or sunset
The calmest air of the day
In the air
About an hour
The whole outing takes longer
Landing
Wherever the wind takes you
The crew follows and brings you back
Weather
Only in safe conditions
If it can’t fly, the flight is moved
Your flight, step by step
Inflation
The envelope fills with air, then the burner’s flame lifts it upright
Up, up and away
The valley opens out below: the river, the vineyards and the châteaux along its banks
Landing
Down in a field, then a toast to the flight
Where you can fly
Choose a town below to see its flights. Each is run by a local, approved balloon company, and the take-off field is chosen on the day, from the wind.
Choose where to fly fromAmboise Chenonceaux Chinon