The Loire Valley is a typically French region, made up of orchards, vineyards and farmlands, châteaux and photogenic villages. In April, a quintessential spring month, the orchards' fruit trees burst out in colours when they begin to bloom. This is a magnificent time of year to visit this scenic region, to explore it on foot or on a bicycle. The weather is by no means at its warmest this month, but it is definitely pleasant enough to spend your vacation out of doors (most of the time).
If you're planning on visiting the Loire Valley, you're encouraged to take a look at our up-to-date weather forecast.
What's The Weather Like In Loire Valley In April
Rain
There are 14 days with some kind of precipitation in April and the total amount is 48mm, which isn't particularly high. These 48mm are spread out over the equivalent of two weeks, which means that rainfall generally happens as moderate rain showers. Moderate rain is the main rainfall type, occurring on 68% of the days with rainfall. Light rain may occasionally fall as well, but only on 16% of those wet days.
Thunderstorms happen on 8% of those days, drizzle on 6%. The chance that rainfall occurs is 52% this month and doesn't vary whatsoever throughout the month.
Temperature
Compared with the previous month of March, April sees a rather significant increase in temperatures. The average temperature is 10°C, four degrees higher than the month before. In the afternoon, the mercury now rises to an average high of 14°C, while at night, it drops to an average low of 5°C. These temperatures continue to rise in the course of the month, by about 2 to 3 degrees. The end of April is warmer than the beginning, in other words.
Sunshine Hours
April is also charaterised by increasing day length. The shortest day is April 1 with 12.51 daylight hours. April 30 has 14.24 hours of daylight and is the longest day. This means that any day in April is 3.1 minutes longer than the previous day.
Cloud cover ranges between 72% and 69% this month, with a slight drop toward the end of the month.
There are 6 sunshine hours per day in April, a one-hour increase since March. This makes it the sixth sunniest month of the year, after the following five months.
Loire Valley Hotels In April
Hôtel Campanile Nantes Est Saint Sébastien sur Loire
The three-star Hôtel Campanile Nantes Est Saint Sébastien sur Loire is a great place to stay during your April visit to this spectacular French region. It is perfectly located close to the city centre of Nantes and within striking distance from many of the region's largest attractions. Facilities are plentiful, including two conference rooms, room service and a large restaurant.
Alliance Hôtel Tours Centre
Also strongly recommended is the four-star Alliance Hôtel Tours Centre. This well-equipped and well-located hotel is a great place to stay, situated a short walk from the TGV station in Tours. There are numerous facilities and services, including a sports hall, restaurant, bar, bicycle rental service, free Wi-Fi, room service, TV lounge, sauna and bicycle storage.
Hôtel L'Aubinière
Hôtel L'Aubinière is another four-star hotel restaurant that's worth considering staying at. This impressive hotel in the heart of the Loire Valley boasts a full-service spa and a quality open-air restaurant. Additional amenities are a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, beautiful gardens and a car park.
Bars And Restaurants
L'Idée Restaurant
Located in Beaugency, a beautiful medieval town surrounded by châteaux, L'Idée Restaurant takes you on a culinary journey across the Loire Valley, serving its guests a mix of traditional and contemporary cuisine. Prices are definitely affordable for the gourmet food that you get.
Le Val Joli
A simple, yet stylish eating establishment in the town of Vouvray, Le Val Joli is an affordable place to go for a bite to eat. Its welcoming and charming interior makes everyone feel at home, while the menu features authentic local cuisine. This is a suggested place to go for lunch.
Les 2 Caves
In the heart of the troglodyte area you will find Les 2 Caves. This unique steakhouse is actually (partially) located in cavests wine cellar is dug out into the bedrock and the dining room features a vaulted ceiling of solid rock. This wonderful restaurant is definitely a recommended place, its menu featuring everything from salads and stuffed mushrooms to homemade sausages.
Things To Do In Loire Valley In April
Local Produce
The Loire Valley is all about local produce. The region's restaurants are dedicated to using the freshest seasonal ingredients and products grown on local farms. Typical products that you can sample include honey, cheeses and, of course, world-class wines. Fruit orchards are also abundant in the region. In April, with the weather warming up and sunshine increasing, those fruit trees begin blossoming, creating a colourful spectacle that's great fun to explore on foot or on a bicycle.
Château de la Verrerie
Also make sure to visit one of the brilliant châteaux in the area. Consider going to the Château de la Verrerie in Berry. It was constructed by the Stuarts of Scotland in the 1500s. This fascinating historic site is absolutely worth visiting during your spring vacation. Moreover, this château is also a hotel! You can stay in one of twelve beautifully decorated rooms. There is a restaurant and venue for celebrations as well. Hunting trips are organised during the hunting season.
