the castles stormed during the Ascension Bridge

“We’re going to move forward a little on the footbridge, that way we’ll have the impression that we’re really going to visit the castle! » A little humor, to overcome disappointment. Like this couple of thirty-somethings who came to cross the Ascension Bridge in Touraine, there were many of them, Thursday May 9, 2024, who were unable to obtain the precious ticket to visit the Château de Chenonceau. Open for reservations on this busy long weekend, the site was full for the day: only the gardens remained accessible to the – very numerous – last minute visitors. A peak in attendance that has become a ritual for the majority of the department’s castles, particularly marked for this site, one of the most visited in Indre-et-Loire.

“Yesterday we were in Amboise, at Clos Lucé; there was no gauge, but the visit was very complicated”testifies Cécile, a resident of Montlouis-sur-Loire who devotes this Ascension Bridge to cycling and heritage escapades with friends from Chartres (Eure-et-Loir). “In the park, there was space, but in the castle it was hellish, says this mother. You had to wait before entering each room, and you couldn’t see much… It spoiled the visit a little. » The group of cycle tourists broke their noses early this Thursday afternoon at the gates of the Chenonceau castle. “I’m a little disgusted, it really changes the vision of tourism: either it’s bursting at the seams, or you have to plan for everything,” regrets his friend Marie.

Avoid “overtourism” and ensure “visit comfort”

It is precisely to avoid “overtourism” and ensure “a comfortable visit” that the Château de Chenonceau has chosen to offer visiting slots for reservation on busy weekends. An option that satisfies those who were able to anticipate. “The gentleman who manages the motorhome area where we are going advised us to book, report Loïc and Blandine, a couple of motorhome drivers from Mayenne. Three weeks ago, there were still plenty of places left. » In front of the “full” sign placed at the entrance to the site, some try to connect live in search of the next open slot. “There it is tomorrow (Friday May 10) at 6:30 p.m. », note Clément and Gaëlle disappointed, going up the aisle with their two children. They simply gave up on the visit. “Paying entry just for the gardens is expensive”regret these Lyonnais who came for the first time on vacation in Touraine.

They are not the only ones turning around. By mid-afternoon, the line of cars to access the site’s parking lots stretched up to a kilometer. Already there, a few vehicles were leaving the procession of visitors. At the end of the alley, agents warned motorists one by one of the situation at the ticket office, pointing out those who preferred to leave the path to avoid the parking lots, which were also crowded.

An invitation to diversify the visits

There were also large crowds at the Château de Villandry, the royal fortress of Chinon and the royal city of Loches, which reached its peak this Thursday, like last year, with more than 700 visitors. estimated. A flow “dense but livable”according to Maryline and her friend, who came from Brittany for the weekend. “We were warned that it would be complicated for large sites like Chenonceau or Beauval, so we chose alternative routes”compares this couple who have already experienced some slowdowns at tolls on the road.

Avoiding traffic jams caused at key sites during these busy weekends has even become an argument for less busy sites, like the Château de Monpoupon, in Céré-la-Ronde, which broadcast on its Facebook page a message inviting visitors to take the side roads: “A few kilometers from Beauval and Chenonceaux, Montpoupon welcomes you every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., without reservation! »

The castles of Azay-le-Rideau and its neighbor L’Islette had also launched an invitation to “take advantage of this long weekend which promises to be sunny to come and discover or rediscover the castle” at the start of the week on their networks. So many calls to leave the motorway to discover all the diversity of castles that Touraine offers.