Itinerary
Meet your English speaking driver guide at 9.00am at Tours Tourism Office and start your full day small group tour to Chateaux of Blois, Cheverny & Chambord with a wine tasting session in Cheverny.
First stop is at Chateau of Blois for a guided tour. The chateau of Blois is unique by its combination of 4 styles: Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Classical. Home of Kings Louis XII and François I, it keeps the memory of a tragic historical event.
Then, proceed to a wine tasting at a local winery. 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 François I into the Loire Valley.
Free time for Lunch (own expenses).
After lunch, continue with a guided tour of the Chateau of Cheverny. It has been owned by the same family since the XIIIth century. Thanks to one of the most beautiful furniture in the Loire Valley, The Marquis Hurault de Vibraye, thas 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 Château de Chambord 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. After the visit, your guide will drive you back to Tours to drop you off and that will be the end of services.
Overnight stay in Amboise at the Hotel Le Choiseul.
After breakfast, around 8.50 am meet your English speaking driver guide at your hotel and start your full day small group tour to Chateaux of Chenonceau, Amboise & Clos Luce, Wine tasting.
Arriving in the Loire Valley, you’ll start your day tour touring the Château de Chenonceau. The “Chateau des Dames”, bridge built across the Cher is famous for the prominent women who lived in it (Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medicis…) and for the beauty of its Renaissance Gardens. Enjoy a tour and Wine Tasting in a Cellar Cave from the XVIth Century, three generations of connoisseurs carefully selected and aged local wines for long periods, aiming to give a true expression of the Terroir. Situated in front of the Loire River, picturesque site is in the middle of the Loire By Bike route.
Lunch at leisure in Amboise (own expenses).
After lunch, you will tour the Royal Castle of Amboise, residence of Charles the 8th and young François d’Angoulème, (the future Francois the 1st). Here you will discover perfect examples of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance styling, as well as the Saint Hubert Chapel which shelters the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci.
The tour would not be complete without taking you to meet The Genius in his Chateau du Clos Lucé, only a few short steps away from the Royal Castle. This is where da Vinci spent the last three years of his life and passed there in 1519. After touring his bedroom, office, reception room and kitchen, stand in awe at the Invention Room, where models of Leonardo's most spectacular machines are on display.
Return to your hotel at 5:40pm. Dinner at leisure (own expenses).
Overnight stay in Amboise at the Hotel Le Choiseul.
After breakfast, meet your English speaking driver guide at your hotel and start your full day small group to Chateaux of Azay Le Rideau, Langeais & Villandry, Organic Wine tasting.
Your fist stop of your Loire Valley day tour: Castle of Azay le Rideau. There, you will have the opportunity to visit the iconic castle, built on an island on the Indre river. The castle was built in the 16th century under the patronage of King François I, who loved to come spend time in the Loire Valley. With day tour of the Loire Valley, you will visit the inside of the castle as well as the gardens, including the famous water mirror.
Enjoy a memorable wine tasting. The vast majority of the Bourgueil or Chinon wines produced are red, and only a couple percents of the grapes end up in rosé and white. The vines of this estate are ideally spread out over the entire "terroir" covered by the appellation, from the gravel shores along the Loire River to the clay, limestone and sandy soils of the hills overlooking the valley. The red and rosé wines produced in the domain are presented under the appellation "Bourgueil" AOC. They stem 100% from the " Cabernet Franc" grape introduced by the monks of the Abbey in the 11th century.
Free time for lunch (own expenses).
After lunch, your Loire Valley tour will take you to Château de Langeais. Imposing medieval fortress of the 15th century which boasts towers, ramparts, rampart walk and a drawbridge, the Château de Langeais also possesses a beautiful Renaissance facade on the garden side. Remarkable, the inside of the Château de Langeais is richly and splendidly decorated. This is where King Charles VIII and Queen Anne of Brittany’s sumptuous wedding took place in December 1491. This marriage marked the beginning of the incorporation of the duchy of Brittany into the French kingdom.
Last stop is to visit one of the most spectacular gardens of Touraine: Villandry. The landmark there is a small country castle built during the Renaissance times and modified during the 18th century. However, the most interesting thing in Villandry is certainly the castle’s huge gardens. In the early 20th century, the new owner of the castle, Joachim Carvallo, decided to recreate the Renaissance garden to give the Villandry its grandeur back. If you are lucky enough to have a sunny day on your visit, you will love strolling along the flowerbeds and around the lake.
By its diversity and originality (Love Garden, Kitchen Garden, Aromatic and Medicine Plant Garden, Water Garden and the brand new Sun Garden) and by its sheer size (15 acres, 1150 linden trees), Villandry is the Loire Valley garden not to be missed.
At the end of the visit, your English Speaking Driver Guide will drop you off at Tours Tourist Office at 5.30pm.
End of the service.
Hotel options
Amboise
Located at the edge of the Loire and at the foot of the Royal Castle of Amboise, homeland of Leonardo da Vinci, the hotel Le Choiseul is a charming house typically from Tours built in 18th century. The hotel enjoys an exceptional location in the heart of the Valley of Loire castles. Le Choiseul has 30 rooms of 5 different categories, from the most elegant apartment to the most delightful room. They offer pleasant views over the Italian garden, the Loire and the Château d'Amboise.
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