2-day guided trip to the Loire Valley Castles from Paris
Discover the finest Châteaux of the Loire Valley in 2 days with an expert guide! Your first day brings you to the Château d'Amboise, the Château du Clos-Lucé, the gardens of Villandry and the city of Tours. The second day of the tour will be dedicated to the castles of Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord.
DAY 1 | Châteaux d'Amboise, Clos-Lucé and Villandry Gardens in the Loire Valley
You will leave from our agency at 7.15am to head to the Loire Valley region. After a 1.5-hour ride you'll reach your first stop, Amboise and take a guided tour of the Château d'Amboise, a UNESCO world heritage site. Discover the daily, private life of sovereigns and go behind the scenes of the Court. You will have free time to admire the castle's superb gardens, which offer a remarkable panoramic view of the Loire Valley.
Enjoy lunch in the gardens or in one of the snack bars located near the castle before heading to the Château du Clos-Lucé located just a 10-minute walk away. Discover the residence of Leonardo da Vinci and find out more about this genius who lived there for the last three years of his life.
A 45-minute drive will bring you to the Château de Villandry. You'll discover the magnificent avenues of linden trees dividing the gardens into several different levels and plantations.
The day continues with a guided visit of Tours (30 minutes from Villandry). Discover the charm of this historic neighborhood lined with enchanting half-timbered houses. You'll sleep in Tours (Hôtel Mercure Tours Nord or similar) and have dinner with the group.
DAY 2 | Loire Valley Châteaux of Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord
After breakfast, you will head to the Château de Chenonceau (35km ride) built and embellished by several female French figures such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici.
The next stop is Cheverny (45 minutes), a 17th century seigneurial property, with its apartments conveying the French art de vivre. Enjoy an overview of the Château's superb park before eating lunch at the Saint Hubert restaurant in Cour-Cheverny.
~~~ MENU (drinks not included) ~~~
Home-made salmon terrine with lemon sauce or Hard-boiled egg and Mixed vegetables-mayonnaise
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Roast turkey, green beans and tomatoes Provençal, sautéed potatoes
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Frozen nougat and red-fruit coulis
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After lunch, you will head to the Château de Chambord to unveil its fascinating, complex heritage built by François I in the 16th century. See its extraordinary architecture, its double-helix staircase and the former lodgings of the king.
You will leave Chambord at around 4.30pm, reaching our agency in Paris at around 7.00pm.
