Tours, France

Tours

Come to the tourist office and meet your guide. Then, hop into a van for a drive through the countryside. After that, arrive at Château de Chambord, which is the largest castle in the Loire Valley. Marvel at the famous French Renaissance architecture and the moat which surrounds it. Enter the castle for a guided tour and admire the double helix staircase and ornate roof. Afterward, drive to Château de Chenonceau, a castle that forms a unique bridge over the River Cher. See the river water flowing under the arches of this castle, which was built on an old mill. Go on a guided tour of this castle, which is situated in the village of Chenonceaux. Learn fascinating stories about the history of this castle and its magnificent gardens. Finally, sit back and relax on a journey back to Tours. Get out of the van at the starting point to finish the tour.

Get picked up in the morning before driving to the Loire Valley and start your day touring the Château de Chenonceau. The Chateau des Dames bridge built across the Cher is famous for the great heroines who lived there (Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis) and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens. Next, head to the Royal City of Amboise for a lunch in the city center. Discover this charming town, built along the River Loire, considered as the Old Capital of the Loire Vally and where Da Vinci spent his last three years. Continue to Chambord for a guided tour of the chateau built by François 1st. Admire the fine details of the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, including a double helix staircase by Da Vinci. End your day by being dropped off in Tours at 6 PM or in Amboise at 6:30 PM.

Meet your guide in front of the Tourist Office of Tours at 9:30 AM and board the minivan for an amazing day in the Loire Valley. You will start with a visit to the Château d'Azay le Rideau, absolute prowess of Renaissance architecture. The perfection of the facade and its reflect on the Indre finish setting one of the most beautiful chateau of the Loire Valley. Your passionate guide will accompany you on all the visits and will share with you the stories of the estate. Then, arrival at the Château de Villandry to visit the gardens, a jewel of French heritage built during the Renaissance, by Jean Le Breton and inhabitated by the familly Carvallo for over a century. They put a true amount of work to give us the gardens of Villandry, a perfect replica of what the gardens looked like in the 16th century. An experience you will never forget. Arrive back in Tours around 1:30 PM.

Travel back to the days of the French Renaissance on a full-day tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley. Enjoy a lunch in a privately owned and still-occupied castle. Start with a visit of the Château de Chenonceau, upon arrival, 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 women who once lived there. Take time to appreciate the refined architecture, beautiful antiques, and lovely arrangements of fresh flowers. Discover glorious works of art and architecture as your guide selects the most emblematic rooms to visit. On your way to lunch at the Chateau of Villesavin, admire authentic French villages and the countryside. Eat a traditional French lunch with local products and local wine. Arrive at Chambord and discover the apartments of Francis I. View the double helix staircase, an emblem of Chambord. Hear memorable anecdotes and see hidden details. Get breathtaking views of the castle during a coffee break in Chambord Park. Enjoy the most striking view of Château de Chambord, before ending your tour in the evening and pass the must-see castles of the French “Valley of the Kings,” including Chaumont, Amboise, and Blois..

Meet your guide at the tourist office in Tours and drive in a minivan to Vouvray. Discover this beautiful wine area full of passionate winegrowers. Meet a French winemaker in a local winery . See the vines and visit the traditional vat room and the cellars. During this visit, you will improve your knowledge regarding wine-making and of course wine tasting. Elegant sparkling wines and white wines are produced in this area. During this visit, explore the famous underground cave that were dug during the 10th century in order to extract stones and today used by a famous Loire Valley wine house for producing and storing wines. Throughout the afternoon, your guide will share his knowledge with you, to help you understand the diversity of Loire wines and their specific terroir. You will learn the different steps of wine tasting and train your nose to identify many wine aromas. Benefit from your guide's tips and tricks and learn to taste like a professional. Afterward, you will be driven back to Tours, where your tour will end. 

Explore the Bourgueil wine region famous for its Renaissance castles and wines. Tour around local wineries, and savor regional wines on this day trip from Tours. Begin by traveling to a traditional winery with your guide and learn about wine production from the grape to the bottle. See the vineyards and learn about the area's soil diversity that gives the wine a delicate and fruity taste. After that, arrive in Chinon, a charming small town surrounded by vineyards. Explore the picturesque town featuring preserved medieval half-timbered and Renaissance townhouses. Have time to stroll the streets, do a spot of shopping, or try some local Chinon specialties such as pork rillettes. After a break, enjoy a wine-tasting session in the famous Chinon wine region. Entice your palate with fine red wines produced in the area and hear how to detect different notes in the wine

As a small group of a maximum of 8 people, you'll explore two wine estates with your expert guide and have the opportunity to taste a variety of wines from the region. This tour provides a perfect introduction to Loire Valley wines! After leaving Tours, we'll head towards the Vouvray area, specifically to Domaine Le Capitaine. There, you'll visit the vineyards while your guide shares insights into the geography, 'terroir', and wine making process. You'll have the chance to visit an incredible wine cellar, carved directly into the tuffeau stone in the 11th century. During the visit, you'll taste a selection of typical Vouvray wines, including dry, semi-dry, and sparkling varieties, paired with local cheeses. Next, we'll proceed to the Cave de Vouvray. Your guide will lead you on a tour of the picturesque cave-dwelling winery, followed by an extensive tasting of Touraine regional wines, including sparkling, white and red wines, accompanied by local charcuterie. Throughout the transfers between locations, you'll have the opportunity to admire the beautiful Loire landscapes through the windows of our comfortable chauffeured Mercedes minivan. At around 12:30, your guide will return you to Tours.

As a small group of up to 8 people, you'll visit two wine estates in the Touraine "appellation" area with your local expert guide. You'll have the chance to taste a variety of wines (minimum of 10) from the region. After leaving Tours or Amboise, we'll proceed to our first vineyard. Your guide will take you on a tour of the estate, providing insights into the geography, terroir, and the art of wine making. You will then enjoy a wonderful tasting of local white, red and rosé wines from Touraine, made with many grape varieties (Chenin, Malbec, Cabernet, Gamay, Grolleau,…), paired with local charcuterie. We will then head toward a second Touraine wine estate, and delve deeper into understanding the wines of the region. There, you will get to taste another selection of local wines, paired with a cheese board. Throughout the transfers between locations, you'll have the opportunity to admire the beautiful Loire landscapes through the windows of our comfortable chauffeured Mercedes minivan. At around 5:30 pm, your guide will return you to Tours or Amboise.

Embark on a journey to explore the ancient Martinopole of Tours in the 13th century guided by Mahaut, the daughter of a militiaman who went on a crusade. Our unconventional guided tour will immerse you in the heart of this fascinating era, where Tours was divided into two distinct poles under the reign of the French king, Philip Augustus. The starting point of our adventure is located at Placis de la Lamproie, from where you will be transported back to the 13th century, to a city where the bishop reigns in the east with the cathedral still under construction, while in the west, Martinopole, a new religious and economic center, develops around the abbey that has become a basilica. The relics of Saint Martin attract numerous pilgrims as well as merchants seeking to benefit from this influx. During this immersive visit, we will challenge preconceptions about the role of women in medieval society. Mahaut, the daughter of a militiaman, grew up near the Abbey of Saint Martin in Tours, which earned her an extraordinary education, very useful for protecting the many pilgrims who came to pray at the relics of Saint Martin. She even took up arms in place of her father until his return, demonstrating that in times of need, no distinction is made between men and women. Throughout the tour, you will discover the intricacies of pilgrimage, the development of religious orders, the creation of a new currency, the economic and political rise of the district, the organization of urban militias, and even the crusades that mark this turbulent period of history. We will explore iconic places such as Jardin Saint Pierre le Puellier, Place Plumereau, Rue du Change, Rue de la Rôtisserie, Tour Charlemagne, Rue des Halles, and Tour de l'Horloge. These points of interest will unveil the multiple facets of Tours in the 13th century, where the population and relics needed protection in a kingdom at war and in the face of an envious bishop. This interactive tour, led in historical outfit, will offer you a unique experience to grasp the role and importance of Tours during this pivotal period. Mahaut will make you live this historical era with passion and authenticity, leaving you with unforgettable memories of this city with a rich and eventful past. A captivating adventure for all, immersed in the heart of the 13th century and the division of a pilgrimage land.

Visit the old medieval city of Tours over 5 or 6 stops starting at Le Vieux Murier, Place Plumereau. Visiting Local Producers, small shops, markets and award winning restaurants Local Pastries and Coffees in one of the oldest squares in Tours. Visit to the Markets to taste local cheese, charcuteries (air dried meats), local wines and seasonal specialties. Award winning restaurants. The tour would replace a lunch with our culinary walking tour of Tours Medieval City! Run by fully trained and passionate guides bringing you to try produce from Oysters to Cheese; Air Dried Meats to Nougat of Tours to Chocolate and regional wine tasting and everything in between. Tours famous food culture is explored over a morning and takes in some of the city’s best known and secret food haunts from The Halles market , bakeries, wine caves and restaurants taking you on a food journey that is simply delish!