No country like France is known for its beautiful castles. Experience the feast for the senses that is the Loire Valley with amazing castle landscapes, the smell of blossoming gardens and the taste of the valley’s rich wines. The Loire region is also known as the Garden of France, and with good reason. Take in the country’s greatest natural beauty and visit one of its most stunning castles while accompanied by an expert English-speaking guide.
You’ll leave Paris in a comfortable coach and head straight into Loire Valley towards your first stop: Château de Chambord. Built in 1519 by King Francis I, it was used originally as a hunting lodge. Its spectacular architecture is renown and it is full of astounding staircases, one of which may have been designed by the great Leonardo da Vinci himself. Chambord is also known as the castle that inspired Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Keep your eyes open for the beautiful natural surroundings, as it is common to spot wild boar and red deer prancing about in the castle’s 52 square kilometers of land.
Having worked up an appetite, you'll hop back on the bus and on to the next stop - an up-close and personal tour of a privately-owned and run castle where you’ll also be wined and dined. You’ll visit a charming Château, where family members, perhaps even the personable owner, will be waiting to proudly show you around the estate. You’ll enjoy a tasting composed of a range of white and red wines before sitting down to lunch, a hearty three-course meal of traditional rural French dishes served by our hosts. Please note that on some days, lunch might take place at a different location depending on venue availability.
Your third and final castle is the famous and spectacular Château de Chenonceau. A 16th century castle that will captivate you with sits smooth white stone and intricate painted wooden doors. Inside this castle (which itself is built in the middle of a river) are the well-maintained original stone carvings, immense tapestries, and an intimate chapel. Almost equal in beauty are the castle grounds with its many gardens and farm planted by the famous women who owned the Ladies’ Chateau and gave it its name.
This tour will end at Place Denfert Rochereau in Paris.
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