Loire Tours
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).
Overnight Tours
If you are taking a tour from the city of Tours or Amboise - why not stay overnight and discover the medieval castles of the western part of the Loire.
Chateaux and Wine Tours departing from the City of Tours or Amboise
Save hours on the road and take the TGV to the city of Tours in just over an 1hr from Paris. The TGV is one of the best if not the best train system in the world. On time and comfortable. On arrival our guide will pick you up and show you the Chateaux and include a wine tasting or stay overnight and we'll arrange a tour the next day. Tours is the capital of Tourraine and the center of the Loire Valley. It was an important city even in Gallo-Roman times and is perfected located to start tours of the Loire Valley
Another option is to train to Amboise located on a strategic promontory over the River Loire and the site of Chateau d'Amboise created during the time the three French kings brought the Renaissance to France as well as Clos-Luce, the Renaissance house Francis gave to Leonardo da Vinci, where he spent his last days from 1516 until his death on 2 May 1519.
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Castle Tours
Private Tours
Arrive in Tours in about 1hr from Paris. Save hours on the road. The TGV is one of the best if not the best train system in the world. On time and comfortable. On arrival our guide will pick you up and guide you to the Chateaux of your choice.
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Arrive in Tours around 9am by TGV where your bilingual licensed driver/guide will meet you. Your itinerary will be as below. You will be returned to the station to catch the 5:55pm train back to Paris.
Chenonceau (visit)
Amboise (wine tasting or visit the chateau or Clos Luce)
Lunch in the old town
Chambord (visit)
Cheverny (visit if time)
Other itineraries possible based on your interests. Just ask!
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Castles & Wine Culture
Semi-Private Tours
These tours will allow you to experience the history, food and wine culture of the Loire Valley. They are days tours and you can either train in from Paris or stay overnight . Tours depart from Amboise and Tours
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148€ pp
All tours include: Entrance, Wine Tasting and Lunch
Departing Office of Tourism in Tours at 9:30am or Amboise at 9:00am
Private Option Available on Request
Route 1: CHENONCEAU / AMBOISE / CLOS LUCE
Departures Wednesday & Saturday :
Arriving in the Loire Valley, you'll start your day visiting the chateau de Chenonceau. The "Chateau des Dames", bridge built across the Cher, is famous for the great women who lived in it (Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medicis...) and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens.
Lunch at a wine specialist's in matured Loire Valley vintages. An Oeneologists, welcomes you to his caves, a former tuff stone quarries, for a tour followed by a tasting of Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines. To enrich your meal, you the wines will be paired with a selection of meats and and cheeses selected by Rodolphe le Meunier, 2007 cheese refiners' world champion.
After lunch, you will tour the Royal Castle of Amboise, residence of Charles VII and Francois I. You will discover in this wonderful castle, perfect example of transition from Gothic to Renaissance, the Saint Hubert Chapel which shelters today the grave of Leonardo da Vinci. In order to make your tour thorough, we take you to meet the Genius in his Manor du Clos Luce, a few yards away from the Royal Castle.
Route 2: BLOIS / CHAMBORD / CHEVERNY
Departures Tuesday & Friday :
The tour begins with the guided visit of Royal Castle of Blois. The four wings of the castle courtyard (Medieval, Flamboyant Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical) offer a great survey of the architecture in the Loire Valley.
Drive to Cheverny. Lunch at local wine producer's, on his wines, cheeses and charcuterie. The "Cheverny" appellation produces elegant red wines from pinot noir and gamay as well as fruity white wines from chardonnay and sauvignon. You will enjoy this moment to taste a wine for real connoisseurs: the "Cour Cheverny Appellation", a stunning white wine made from a grape called Romorantin, imported by King Francois I into the Loire Valley.
You'll take a guided tour of the chateau of Cheverny, which has been owned by the same family since the 13th century. The Marquis Hurault de Vibraye has succeeded in giving warmth and life to his chateau. The chateau, which led to the creation of Moulinsart in the famous comic book Tintin, is also famous for the tradition of the horse-back hunt and its impressive pack of 100 dogs. You may have a chance to witness the spectacular daily event of "the dogs' soup".
Drive to the Estate of Chambord, a national game reserve as large as the town of Paris. The chateau de Chambord (guided tour) is a unique monument by its architecture and proportions. Leonardo da Vinci probably took part in the conception of the project. With more than 400 rooms and its double spiral staircase, Chambord is a highlight of the Loire Valley.
Route 3: AZAY LE RIDEAU / CHINON / VILLANDRY
Departures Monday & Thursday
Start the day with guided tour of the chateau of Azay le Rideau, one of the purest gems of Renaissance architecture in the Loire Valley. Positioned on an island on the Indre river, it still shines today thanks to the lightness and balance of its mullioned, pepper pots, dormers and above all its graceful staircase. You will have time to stroll around the English style garden, a jewel case of greenness for what is considered today as one of the most beautiful in Touraine.
Lunch at a family estate's, in the vineyards. Cheeses, meats and organic wines. AOC Azay le Rideau.
Guided tour of medieval Chinon and castle, one of the most picturesque towns of the Loire Valley. You will meet Joan of Arc (you will walk where she she got off her horse in 1429 to meet King Charles VII) and Francois Rabelais (the greatest ambassador of Chinon wines and joie de vivre) and Richard the Lionheart.
Finally, a guided tour of one of the most spectacular medieval and Renaissance gardens of the Touraine, Villandry. Visit the Love Garden, Kitchen Garden, Aromatic and Medicine Plant Garden, Water Garden and the brand new Sun Garden). Its 15 acres and 1150 linden trees are not to be missed.
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