May is one of the most beautiful months to visit the Loire Valley in central France. Spring flowers and blossoming fruit trees paint the landscapes in the most vibrant colours, while the historic towns in the region, such as Nantes, Amboise and Tours, make for wonderful destinations to explore in the spring sunshine.
What's The Weather Like In Loire Valley In May
Temperature
The average temperature this month is a comfortable 14°C, a full four degrees more than the previous month of April. This makes it the fifth warmest month of the year, after the four following summer months of June, July, August and September.
At night, the low temperature averages 8°C, which will require visitors to wear jackets if they want to head out for an evening stroll. Afternoons, however, get pleasant with average highs around 19°C. Both these low and high temperatures tend to increase noticeably as the month progresses, by about 3 and 4 degrees respectively.
Sunshine Hours
Something else that increases is the length of the days. 1st May is the shortest day of the month with its 14.27 daylight hours, while 31st May is the longest day with 15.39 hours of daylight. This is a day-to-day increase of 2.3 minutes.
The sky tends to be clearing throughout the month as cloud cover drops from 69% in the beginning to 65% at the end of the month. This means that the sky is partly cloudy for most of the days.
This increase in day length and slight drop in cloud cover are the two main reasons for the one-hour increase in sunshine hours per day since the previous month. In May, there are 7 hours of sunshine per day on average, the same as in September. Only the three mid-summer months are sunnier.
Rain
May is the wettest month of the year, but that statistic needs to be taken with a grain of salt. While the total amount of rainfall is 64mm, it is good to know that rainfall doesn't vary a great deal throughout the whole year. Most months' rainfall totals range around 54-56mm, which isn't significantly lower than 64mm.
On a daily basis, there is no difference to speak of, really. Moderate rain is the main type of rainfall, occurring on 63% of the days with rainfall. Other possible types are light rain and thunderstorms, which occur on 16% and 14% of those days respectively.
Loire Valley Hotels In May
Le Manoir Les Minimes
A typical country residence dating from the 18th century, the four-star Le Manoir Les Minimes is a dream of a hotel, the absolute perfect place to stay in May in this region of historic châteaux and wineries. The hotel lies near the Loire River and Château Royal and offers its guests a comfortable stay. Amenities feature free Wi-Fi, a library, a sophisticated bar and lounge, private parking and gorgeous gardens.
Château de Rochecotte
Boasting 37 lavishly decorated rooms, the Château de Rochecotte is a four-star hotel housed in a historic castle. It is situated in the very heart of the Valley of the Kings between Tours and Saumur. This imposing accommodation has a gourmet restaurant, expansive landscaped gardens and parks, several meeting rooms, an outdoor pool and a library.
Auberge du Cheval Blanc
A bit more affordable than a manor or château, yet still quite charming and elegant, is the three-star Auberge du Cheval Blanc. This atmospheric country inn has 15 rooms and offers its guests a retreat in one of France's most stunning regions. Facilities include a restaurant and bar, car park and free Wi-Fi.
Bars And Restaurants
Hôtel de France
Hôtel de France in Loches has a nicely decorated restaurant that offers its guests the opportunity to sample regional specialties and seasonal specials in an inviting and warm atmosphere.
Fleur de Sel
Situated a few kilometres from the old city of Orléans, Fleur de Sel has two beautiful terraces where you can enjoy great food outside. Its menu tends to change every two to three days according to the availability of the necessary ingredients, which shows the dedication of the chef to fresh ingredients.
Hôtel Restaurant de la Gloire
The restaurant in Hôtel Restaurant de la Gloire in Montargis is an exquisite restaurantt has one Michelin starerving subtle and innovative dishes and has a rather large wine list featuring many regional brands. It is open for lunch and dinner.
Things To Do In Loire Valley In May
Loire River
May has comfortable temperatures and enough sunshine to allow you to spend most of your days outside during your spring holiday. The Loire River offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities, from cycling and hiking along its banks to boating past imposing châteaux. This particular section of the Loire River is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, incidentally the largest of such sites in France. Known as the "Valley of the Kings" because it used to the preferred holiday destination among the Kings of France, this culturally significant area comprises massively impressive châteaux, gorgeous wineries and beautiful historic gardens.
Many kilometres of hiking trails crisscross the countryside, run past vineyards and follow the course of the Loire River. If you like walking, this is a spectacularly scenic area to explore on foot.
Wineries
Talking about wineries, this is a good time of year to visit one (or two, or three). Many well-known brands of wine are based in this sunny, hilly, scenic region. Wineries are found all over the region, from small family-owned vineyards to large wineries belonging to some of the massive châteaux. Wine lovers will be in heaven in the Loire Valleyhat's for sure.
