Chateaux for teenagers

Every year I travel to France with a group of high school students. We spend about 23 days in Aix-en-Provence attending classes and touring Provence. Our last 10 days are in Paris. Each year we have taken a day trip from Paris to Chartres, then Chenonceau and Chambord by coach. We are having more and more difficulty returning to Paris in time for dinner at our dorm due to heavy traffic. I%26#39;m thinking of going to Chartres, then Chambord and Amboise for the chateau and the Clos Luce. Would 11-12 hours be long enough for this visit? Chambord is awesome to view from the outside, but the students always love Chenonceau, as do I. I visited Amboise years ago, but did not see the Clos Luce. Any opinions will be appreciated!

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Le Clos Luce itself is not as compelling a visit as is Chenonceau (even including chateau d%26#39;Amboise in my opinion). However, the exhibits and models of de Vinci%26#39;s inventions would certainly capture the imaginations of teenagers particularly in the context of his place of residence. They also might enjoy the curious tunnel from Le Clos Luce to the chateau (it is closed to the public but the entrance is visible). As the chateau d%26#39; Amboise was largely dismantled and much of its stone sold by a previous owner, I do not consider it to be as important a visit as some of the areas other architectural examples.

It is opinion you ask for, it is opinion I offer. Stick with the Chenonceau Chambord. In the interest of time you may consider the cathedral of Tours as a replacement for Chartres (not to compare them as architectural equals but simply to offer an alternative plan). This may allow you to spend less time on the road and return to Paris earlier.

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