For a spa weekend in the Loire Valley, settle into Candes-Saint-Martin: between Saumur (20 minutes) and Chinon (25 minutes), you'll sleep next to a troglodytic spa and just a few kilometres from Fontevraud Abbey. Here's a two-day programme that alternates sightseeing in the morning with wellness in the afternoon, so you return home relaxed rather than exhausted.
Why choose Candes-Saint-Martin for a spa weekend
A good spa weekend comes down to a few things: sleeping on site, having hot water even in winter and plenty to see around you. Candes-Saint-Martin ticks these boxes. The village, listed among France's Most Beautiful Villages, overlooks the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers. Saumur is 20 minutes away, Chinon 25, Tours and Angers an hour. Fontevraud Abbey is 5 km away, and Montsoreau castle can be reached on foot in just a few minutes.
At the Château de Candes Art & Spa, a 4-star establishment, everything is on site: 26 rooms, a spa, a troglodytic restaurant and a street art park. For our guests, two hours of Zen Garden spa are complimentary per night of stay, and access to the Street Art Parc is unlimited. For a two-night weekend, that's four hours of spa included, to be booked by time slot.
The spa: what you'll find there
The castle's spa brings together four spaces, three of which are perfect for a relaxing weekend.
Zen Garden is the main space, open year-round. You move from one pool to another through a Mediterranean-style garden:
- an indoor heated pool, open year-round;
- a Finnish sauna with dry heat;
- a troglodytic hammam, carved into the tuffeau stone;
- an outdoor heated Nordic bath, sheltered by a wooden structure;
- an outdoor heated swimming pool, from 1 May to 30 September.
Côté Loire Spa occupies a vaulted cellar of the château: a heated 10-metre swimming corridor lit by candlelight, and a Nordic bath on the terrace overlooking the Loire. It's an hour-long experience, available as an add-on and by reservation, for one person, two people, or as a private session.
Massages are offered in two troglodytic cabins, one for a single guest and one for two, from 10 am to 7 pm, using La Sultane de Saba products. According to the rates displayed on our website at the time of writing, the 20-minute express massage is €53, the one-hour solo massage is €115, and the one-hour couples massage is €230 for two.
Good to know for peace and quiet: from 1st October to 30th April, a maximum of eight people are admitted to Zen Garden at any one time; twenty from May to September. In winter, the spa is therefore particularly peaceful.
Day 1: Fontevraud in the morning, spa in the afternoon, candlelit dinner
Arrival. Rooms are available from 3 pm. If you're arriving by train, get off at Port-Boulet station (10 minutes from the château) or Saumur station (20 minutes). A car will be useful for sightseeing, but not essential for everything.
Morning: Fontevraud Royal Abbey. It's one of Europe's largest monastic cities, founded in 1101. The abbey church contains the recumbent figures of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II Plantagenet and Richard the Lionheart. The abbey also houses a modern art museum, installed in the Fannery since 2021. Allow between 2 and 3 hours for your visit; tickets are listed from €6 to €15 on the Visits page of our website, but it's best to check current rates on fontevraud.fr.
Afternoon: the spa. Book your two-hour slot at Zen Garden in advance; the spa is open to our guests every day from 8 am to 10 pm. To extend your stay, an additional hour at the spa costs €20 per person, subject to availability.
Evening: dinner at Le Pressoir. Le Pressoir du Château is a troglodytic restaurant housed in a 17th-century press, with 20 to 30 covers and candlelit dining. It's open Thursday to Sunday, from 7 pm to 10.30 pm. The three-course menu is €59, the four-course menu is €69. A vegetarian option is available for each course.
Day 2: Montsoreau on foot, brunch, then Chinon or Saumur
Morning: Montsoreau. From Candes, Montsoreau castle is within a five-minute walk. The only Loire castle built in the river itself, it now houses a contemporary art museum. On the second Sunday of each month, the quays host the Montsoreau Flea Market.
Midday: Sunday brunch. On Sundays, Le Pressoir serves its Sunday lunch as a brunch from 11 am to 2 pm, at €49 per person including drinks (€25 for children aged 3 to 11).
Afternoon: Chinon or Saumur, as you wish. Chinon and its royal fortress can be visited in one to two hours; Saumur and its castle are best discovered at your own pace. Both are less than half an hour's drive away.
Another option for art lovers: the Street Art Parc, five hectares and over sixty monumental works along the Loire, with free access for our guests. The park is open from April to the end of December, from 9 am to 7 pm.
When to visit for a spa weekend in the Loire Valley
Zen Garden welcomes its visitors year-round: heated indoor pool, hammam, sauna and Nordic bath are not dependent on the season. Winter has its charm: the Nordic bath, heated all year round, is all the more invigorating in the open air. From spring to summer, a heated outdoor pool is added, from 1 May to 30 September.
Castle rooms can be booked by the night from 29 July 2026. To book your weekend, use the booking engine: the exact price is displayed for your dates, and the tourist tax (€1.30 per adult per night) is added. A 30% deposit is required at booking; the balance is due 3 days before arrival.
Practical information
- Where: Château de Candes Art & Spa, 11 rue Trochet, Candes-Saint-Martin (Indre-et-Loire), between Saumur and Chinon.
- Recommended duration: 2 days, 2 nights (two hours at Zen Garden spa included per night).
- For whom: couples, friends, parents on a weekend break; children aged 3 to 11 can access the spa during family time slots, accompanied by an adult.
- Access: approximately 2 hours by train from Paris to Saumur or Port-Boulet, or 3 hours by car; Tours and Angers are 1 hour away.
- Parking: free public car park at the top of rue Trochet, about a hundred metres away.
- Book: accommodation · treatments and spa access · telephone +33 (0)2 47 93 69 16.
Your questions
How long should you allow for a spa weekend in the Loire Valley?
Two days and two nights are all you need: a morning exploring the area, an afternoon at the spa and dinner each evening. At Château de Candes, each night includes two hours at Zen Garden spa, making four hours for a weekend.
Can I enjoy the spa without staying at the château?
Yes. Zen Garden spa welcomes day visitors every day from 10 am to 7 pm, by online booking subject to availability. On Friday and Saturday from 4 pm onwards, priority is given to hotel guests. Access is via 11 rue Trochet.
Is the spa open in winter?
Yes, Zen Garden is open year-round. The indoor pool is heated, and the outdoor Nordic bath is heated throughout the year; only the outdoor swimming pool is open from 1 May to 30 September.
Can I travel by train from Paris for a weekend?
Yes. Allow approximately 2 hours by train from Paris to Saumur or Port-Boulet station, then 10 to 20 minutes by car. The journey from the station to the château is completed by car: do remember to book a taxi before you arrive.
