Loire Valley Chateaux Visit
Loire Valley Tour Highlights :
Famous Chateaux
Azay le Rideau
Archetypal early Renaissance Chateau with a magnificent staircase. The setting is one of the most romantic in the Loire Valley, between two branches of the Indre river. 'A diamond with two facets, set in the Indre, mounted on a flower-covered support', Balzac: from 'Le lys dans la vallee'.
Amboise
One of the first royal defensive medieval castle overlooking the Loire and its charming city; a combination Gothic and Renaissance. Interesting furniture.
Blois
A large royal Chateau illustrating the development of French architecture from the 13th to the 17th century. Facade of the Loges, Louis XII wing, Francois I wing, Gaston d'Orleans wing, the apartments of Francois I, musee des Beaux-Arts.
Cheverny
Cheverny is the perfect example of a Louis XIII Chateau, elegant and of unusually unified style with a magnificent decor. The staircase and furniture (King's Room) are exceptional; interesting Musee de la Venerie (Hunting Museum). Herge (the
author of Tintin) used it as a model to draw Moulinsart.
Chambord
The largest of the Chateaux of the Loire built as hunting grounds for Francois Ist. Impressive and majestic, it has architecturally innovative terraces with the famous "double revolution" staircase attributed to Leonardo da Vinci: 'an abridged version of human industry', as Charles V said.
Chaumont:
Elegant Gothic and Renaissance Chateau castle flanked by spectacular and numerous towers on a dominating site. The park was designed by contemporary landscape gardens. 'Black trees surround this ancient manor house on a sides and, from afar, resemble the feathers on King Henry's hat'.
Chenonceau
A stunning fairytale bridge castle stretching across the River Cher with Renaissance and Classic architecture of rare elegance.
Chinon
Impressive medieval ensemble consisting of three Chateaux on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Loire. Here Joan of Arc met the future Charles VII
de Villandry
A remarkable reconstruction of the 16th c. gardens divided in three terraces. The last of the great Chateaux of the Loire, it reflects a combination of influences from the Loire Valley (Renaissance) and Ile-de-France (Classicism).
Loire Culture
Stay longer and discover some of the marvels of the loire valley. Image visitng a castle under a castle or staying in an elegant hotel built into man made caves.
Tours of the Chateaux and Vineyards of the Loire Valley
Only 2 hours from Paris and you are in the magnificent Loire Valley where you can tour the magical chateaux and gardens. During the summer some of the Chateaux hold concerts. If you would like a private tour or hotel in the area for a self-drive tour just email us for a recommendation.
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Chateaux Tours
Scheduled & Semi Private
This excursion will give you an idea of "castle life" and the essence of royal lifestyle since the Renaissance.
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150€ pp
Tours By Coach
Cheverny Castle. Chambord Castle Chenonceau Castle.
150€pp
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Chambord Castle: The largest of the Loire Castles. You will admire the great work of Francois 1st. This castle was built as hunting grounds for him. You walk up to the terraces with the famous "double revolution" staircase attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci.
Cheverny Castle: A private property which has kept its beautiful 17th century furniture. You will be stunned by its genuine charm and magnificent decorum.
Chenonceau Castle: Known as the "Chateau des Dames" ("Ladies Castle") in the History of France; it was built over the river Cher in pure traditional renaissance style in 1513 by Catherine Briconnet, then embellished by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis, and later Madame Dupin managed to save it from the rigours of the Revolution. Indeed, Chenonceau owes part of its charm to women.
Lunch in a typical regional restaurant included. Entrance tickets included.
Tours By MiniVan
209€pp
Please use the inquiry form
Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays
Pick up at 6:30am
After having been picked-up from your downtown accommodation in Paris, you will be chauffeured by our driver-guide to the famous castles and gardens of the Loire Valley.
You will be amazed by chateau Chambord, a marvelous chateau with the largest wooded park in Europe over 13,000 acres. It is believed that Leonardo da Vinci, then living at the Clos Lucé, made several plans & models used for the construction of the chateau. While visiting Chambord, you will also discover one of Europe's finest parks.
During your day in the French Countryside, you will also enjoy the visit of the cradle of the Renaissance, Chateau Amboise, one of the first truly royal residences of its kind.
You will have lunch at Au Gateau Breton. The restaurant offers a fixed menu that is subject to change. The sun terrace in back of this 2 century-old Breton-type inn, a short walk from the chateau, is a refreshing place. In cool months, meals are served in the rustic dining rooms.
After lunch you will visit the magical chateau Chenonceau one of the most popular in France.
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st: 6.45am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
& Sunday.
From Nov 1st to Mar 31st: 6.45am on Monday & Friday
Arriving in the Loire valley you begin your "Renaissance" day tour with a visit to the royal Chateau d'Amboise, the favourite residence of the French court in the 15th century, where you will see the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci.
Then you visit Clos Luce, the house given to the great artist by his patron King Francis I and which contains many models that illustrate his genius.
After lunch (drinks included), drive to Chenonceau to visit the château de Chenonceau and its gardens. This chateau, which straddles the river Cher, is also famous owing to the influential women who lived there, including Catherine da Medici and Diane de Poitiers.
Finally, drive to Chambord for a stop and a panoramic view of the royal chateau.
Entrance tickets included.
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Castle Tours
Full Day Private Tour
Take a private tour with our highly experienced bilingual licensed driver guide to the Loire and visit the famous chateaux, do a wine tasting or even a balloon adventure.
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Full Day from Paris 12 hrs
Sample Tours:
We then drive along the Loire towards Chenonceau for a guided visit of the "château of the Dames" followed by an optional wine tasting close to Amboise.
After lunch a guided visit of Clos Luce the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci and the gardens where the inventions of this genius are displayed. or a visit of Amboise Castle symbol of a new style of architecture: the French Renaissance.
On the way back to Chambord, François I's dream château (the largest château in France before the Palace of Versailles was built) to see Leonardo de Vinci's double spiral staircase and the exceptional top floor terrace.
Return to Paris (arrival around 19h00)
Other itineraries including wine tastings and a visit to a magnificent monastery and village or even a stop in Chartres to visit the stained glass windows on the way. Just ask!
Gourmet Lunch Itinerary
We begin with a guided visit of the of Clos Luce or Amboise Castle
At the end of the morning, you leave for Chenonceau where lunch (included) is served in the castle’s Orangerie (summer) or in the village (winter).
At the beginning of the afternoon, there is a visit of the Chenonceau Castle, called the “Château aux Dames” built on the Cher.
The last stop is Montrichard for a visit of Monmousseau Cellars –an important wine producer in the region– where you will taste 3 vintages.
Entrance tickets included.
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Wine Tours
Full Day Private Sommelier Tour
Touraine, is known as the "Garden of France", where kings and nobles competed to outdo the magnificence of each other's chateaux . Rabelais, the great epicurean writer, was born in Chinon and never tired of praising the local wines.
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Full Day from Paris 12 hrs
Sample Tours:
Pick up at 7:00am
First stop Vouvray: The the largest white wine appellation of the Anjou-Saumur-Touraine region and it produces splendid wines from dry and austere to the richest dessert wines, as well as excellent sparkling wines.
You take a 90 minute visit of the cellars and vineyard before a 6 wine tastings. Petillant, Sec: Dry wines, Sec-tendre: a style just leaning towards off-dry, Demi-sec: 'half-dry', Moelleux: Sweet Wines , Licquoreux, and Rose.
Close to Chenonceau we visit a small producer in Blere to taste a range of 3 Reds
including the famous Cabarnet Franc.
We end with a light tasting Lunch: Local terrine (paté) and bread, goat cheese ,and apple pie, with the wine tasting - Cost: 13€/pers and a tasting of 5 wines :
1 AOC Cheverny White 2009,
2 AOC Cour-Cheverny White "Cuvée Fleur de Lis 2005" and "Cuvée Salamandre 2006",
1 AOC Cheverny Red 2009 or 2007 and
1 AOC Cheverny Rosé 2009 or 2007.
If time we'll stop by the Chateux de Cheverny or we might do a quick morning visit in Chateau de Chenenceau.
Return to Paris at 4pm
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