Traveling through the Loire Valley

Day Program:

• Chambord Château
• Blois

Description:

Arrive in Paris on a morning flight. Meet your driver-guide. Depart Paris and transfer to the Loire Valley.
Your exploration of the Loire Valley châteaux begins with a tour of Chambord Château and Blois.
Charles de Gaulle Airport – Chambord – 208 km, approximately 2 hours 20 minutes.
The hunting lodge of Chambord is considered one of the finest Renaissance châteaux.
It is the largest château in the Loire Valley.
Transfer to Blois. Chambord – Blois – 15 km, approximately 25 minutes.
From the 13th to the 17th centuries, the Château des Counts de Blois was a favorite retreat for French kings.
Lunch in Blois.
After visiting Blois, transfer to the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Blois – Chaumont – 20 km, approximately 25 minutes by car.
This castle was Catherine de Medici's favorite. Chaumont is interesting for its interiors and history, and the castle park hosts an annual garden festival.
End of the first day's excursion, transfer to the hotel. Check-in and dinner.

Day Program:

• Amboise
• Chenonceau

Description:

Continuation of the excursion program to the Loire Valley châteaux. Transfer to Amboise. Hotel - Amboise – 20 km, approximately 25 minutes drive.
Visit to Amboise and the Château d'Amboise. The Royal Château d'Amboise is a marvel of Renaissance and Gothic architecture. It is considered the most majestic of all the châteaux in the Loire.
Visit to the Clos Lucé (500 m from Amboise). Here Leonardo da Vinci lived the last three years of his life; models built from his designs can be seen in the museum.
Lunch in Amboise.
After lunch, transfer to Chenonceau, the most visited château in the Loire Valley.
Amboise - Chenonceau – 17 km, approximately 20 minutes drive.
The fate of this château is linked with two great women: Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici. The castle contains a collection of masterpieces. Exploring it in its entirety requires considerable time.
Dinner at a gourmet restaurant located in the former troglodyte dwellings.
Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day Program:

• Tour
• Villandry Castle
• Azay-Le-Rideau Castle
• Langeais Castle*

Description:

Pick up from your hotel and drive to the western part of the Loire Valley.
Along the way, you can visit the town of Tours.
Hotel – Tours – 48 km, approximately 40 minutes.
Tours is one of the most ancient cities in France. It boasts medieval squares, Renaissance mansions, and the remains of Roman buildings.
Lunch in Tours. Alternatively, you can visit the Chateau de Valmer.
Then drive to Villandry. Tours – Villandry – 18 km, approximately 25 minutes.
Visit Villandry Castle, which is of interest to those interested in landscape architecture. Transfer to the Château de Azay-le-Rideau. Villandry Château – Azay-le-Rideau Château – 12 km, approximately 15 minutes.

You can also optionally visit Langeais Château on this day. Azay-le-Rideau – Langeais – 11 km, approximately 15 minutes.

The castle was founded in the late 10th century. The ruins of the central tower, preserved in the park, are the oldest keep in France.
Transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Dinner.

Day Program:

• Angers Castle
• Fontevraud-l'Abbaye Abbey

Description

Trip to Angers, visit to the town and castle of Angers. Hotel - Angers – 86 km, approximately 1 hour drive. On the way to Angers, you can arrange a visit to a goat cheese farm – Chevrerie Ory – La Ferme de la Picotière.
In Angers Castle, be sure to see the famous tapestry on the theme of the Apocalypse – the oldest and largest tapestry in France.
Lunch in Angers.
Transfer to Fontevraud-l'Abbaye Abbey. Angers - Fontevraud – 76 km, approximately 1 hour drive.
The Fontevraud monastery complex is the final resting place of Richard the Lionheart, his father Henry Plantagenet, and his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Check out of the hotel and transfer to Paris.
Hotel – Charles de Gaulle Airport – 301 km, approximately 3 hours.
Departure.