Things to do in

Saint-Pierre-des-Corps

Enjoy access to Chenonceau site and its wonderful gardens. This unusual castle was built on a bridge across the Cher River. To learn more about castle history, audio guides are available in 16 languages. The castle is located near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Indre-et-Loire department. Chenonceau castle, also known as the Chateau des Dames, is famous for the great heroines who lived there, such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis, and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens. Chenonceau castle was also used as a military hospital during the First World War. Discover the rich history of this incredible fortress.

Travel back to the days of the French Renaissance on a full-day tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley. Enjoy a relaxed lunch in a family-owned, and still occupied, chateau. Meet your guide in Amboise and travel to Chateau de Chenonceau. Stroll through the manicured gardens named after Catherine de Médicis and Diane de Poitiers, the chateau's former residents. Appreciate the refined architecture and feminine influence in each room and see precious antiques and flower arrangements. For lunch, after a short drive, enjoy a meal served at an off-the-beaten-path private castle, hosted by the French Countess who lives there. Taste local food in one of the smallest of all the Loire Valley castles. Then, continue to Chateau de Chambord. Discover a glorious work of art and architecture as your guide selects the most emblematic rooms to visit. Hear memorable anecdotes as they point out hidden details. Get breathtaking views of the castle during a coffee break in Chambord Park before returning to Amboise in the evening.

Travel back to the days of the French Renaissance on a full-day tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley, and enjoy a relaxing lunch. Meet your guide at the Tourist Office of the city of Tours at 09:30 and transfer by minivan to Chenonceau. At the castle, passing through lovely typical villages and admiring the landscapes of the area. Upon arrival at the Château de Chenonceau (the most visited private historical monument in France), admire the unusual castle built on a bridge across the Cher River. Stroll through the manicured gardens named after Catherine de Médicis and Diane de Poitiers, the famous ladies who lived there. Take time to appreciate the refined architecture and feminine influence that prevails in each room and see beautiful antiques and divine arrangements of fresh flowers. After this first visit, you will need a small break. Your guide will drive you to Château de Chambord and you will have free time to enjoy your lunch. You can bring your own food or buy a sandwich or a salad at a French Boulangerie on the road or around the Château de Chenonceau or Chambord. After your lunch, discover glorious works of art and architecture as your guide selects the most emblematic rooms to visit. Hear memorable anecdotes and discover hidden details. Get breathtaking views of the castle from Chambord Park. Your guide will then take you back to Tours for at 5.30pm arrival.

The day begins with pickup from your accommodation in Tours at 9.00 AM or Amboise. Greet your guide, then set off into the sprawling countryside of Loire Valley. Stop at the Château de Blois, notable for its unique mix of Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Classical architecture. The former home of kings Louis XII and François I, its history is steeped in tragedy and is notable as the place where Joan of Arc went to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing with her army to drive the English from Orléans. Free time for lunch. Our guide will recommend a nice place. Pause for a wine tasting and sample some of the organic wines of Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny. The Cheverny appellation produces elegant reds from the pinot noir and gamay grapes, as well as fruity whites from the chardonnay and sauvignon grapes. Sample a stunning organic white wine made from the romorantin grape, imported into the Loire Valley by King François I. Take a guided tour of the Château de Cheverny, owned by the same family since the days of Louis XIII. See some of the most beautiful furniture in the Loire Valley, and learn the château's rich history, such as its connection to Tintin comic books and the impressive hunts on horseback that used to take place with a pack of 100 dogs. You may even get to see the spectacular daily event of “the dogs’ soup!” Move on to the Château de Chambord, one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world for its distinctive French Renaissance architecture. Discover the vast national game reserve of the largest château in the Loire Valley, and learn the monument's fascinating history, including the unverified tale of Leonardo da Vinci's involvement in its construction. Return to your accommodation at 6.00 PM.

Overlooking the Loire, the Château d'Amboise in the heart of Touraine was home to kings Louis XI, Charles VIII (who died there), Louis XII, and François 1er. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, it became part of the French crown in 1431. The chapel of St. Hubert houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci, who lived at Le Clos Lucé, 2 steps from the château. At the invitation of François 1er, Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life at the Château du Clos Lucé, a Renaissance marvel. Le Clos Lucé allows visitors to experience the genius of da Vinci through furnishings, decorations, inventions, and models. The park has been transformed into a play area, inviting visitors to handle da Vinci's inventions.