Loire Valley Castles (3 Days)

DAY 1

After one and a half hour, you will leave the highway for your first destination: CHAMBORD, the largest chateau in the Loire valley, that is one of the jewels of the French Renaissance architecture and that blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Italian structures.

Built by King Francois 1er during over 20 years (he spent only 42 days living there), Chambord houses an architectural highlight: the spectacular double-helix open staircase, designed by Leonardo da Vinci and illuminated by a sort of lighthouse at the highest point of the chateau in its center.

You guide will take you for a private visit of the chateau ( ground floor apartment, Royal apartment of the Sun King, Queen’s chamber, King Francois 1st apartment, the Royal chapel, the amazing top terrace and the surroundings.

After leaving Chambord, on the way, you will stop at a small local wine producer to have a tasting of some of the renowned wines of the Loire ( white, red and sparkling) before reaching your second “highlight” of the day: the château de BLOIS located in the center of the city.

Built from the 13th to the 17th century (different styles and influences) around the main courtyard, the château was the residence of several French Kings over different centuries. It was also the place where Joan of Arc was blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing with her army to deliver Orleans from the English.

Before having a private guided visit of the chateau, your guide will take you for a very nice lunch in a small local restaurant in the old town to enjoy some of the specialties of the region.

After the visit of the chateau, you will drive for an hour along the Loire River towards AMBOISE a fascinating medieval town with its timbered 500 year old houses, its narrow streets and local shops where you will enjoy walking along , admiring the Royal chateau , built on a promontory overlooking the Loire , that became the favorite residence of the French Kings in the 16th century.

After the discovery of the old town, you will finish your day with the private guided visit of LE CLOS LUCE, the mansion where genius Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked as a guest of King Francois 1er, the three last years of his life ( visit of the mansion, Leonardo’s bedroom, study, chapel, living room, kitchen.. and marvelous garden and park with a display of some of the most impressive inventions of the master ..).

After the visit, your guide will leave you at your hotel for the night.

DAY 2

After breakfast your guide will drive you to TOURS, the largest city in the Loire valley , located between the 2 Rivers, Loire and Cher. You will have a visit of the old , medieval town, the flamboyant Gothic St Catherine’s cathedral built between 1170 and 1527, elaborately decorated in the West towers with 13^th C stain glass, you will stroll through the ancient cobble stone streets with its half -timbered buildings, stop at the charming place Plumereau and have a closer look at the gardens of the former Archbishop’s Palace with the huge cedar tree planted by Napoleon , before driving to your next destination: VILLANDRY, the last of the great Renaissance castles to be built on the banks of the Loire. It owes uncontestably its fame to its exceptional gardens laid out on 3 levels m in a happy marriage of beauty, diversity and harmony.

The decorative kitchen gardens house a profusion of colorful flowers and vegetable plants in a chequerboard plan, the effect of the seasonal variation is an ever-changing 3 dimensional picture.

The ornamental garden in box hedges, form musical symbols, but pride of place is going to hearts, scrolls, butterflies, allegories of love: tender, passionate, fickle and tragic.

The water -garden, very tranquil and peaceful, ideal for relaxing and dreaming.

The site is completed by a herb garden with medicinal and culinary plants and a maze called ” the Innocent’s Garden”.

After this feast for your eyes, your guide will take you to a small local restaurant for a feast of your palate.

You will then head to your third cultural exploration of the day: the FONTEVRAUD ABBEY,

built between 1110 and 1190 . Founded by an itinerant preacher named Robert of Arbrissel, Fontevraud was a double monastery (both nuns and monks lived at the same site) that became famous and prosperous ( the order established several Fontevrist abbeys in England).

Robert of Arbrissel declared that the head of the order should always be a woman. This position attracted many rich and noble women that became abbesses of Fontevraud such as Mathilda of Anjou 9the aunt of King Henry II of England, Louise de Bourbon, Isabella of Anjou and Eleonor of Aquitaine the queen of England that retired there as a nun after her husband’s death.

Your guide will take you for a private guided visit of the chapter house, the cloister galleries, the 3 monastery buildings and the abbey church where you will see the graves of King Henry II of England, his wife Eleonor of Aquitaine, their son Richard Ist ( Lionheart) and their daughter Joan.

After your visit, to round up your day, you will have a wine tasting at a small local wine producer before your guide leaves you at your hotel for the night.

DAY 3

After breakfast, you will start your day with the discovery of the most renowned and visited chateau in the Loire valley: CHENONCEAUX that spans over the River Cher and that you will approach by a striking tree lined avenue .

Chenonceaux’s history is entwined with that of 9 women that left their marks there ( it is known as the Chateau of the Dames): Catherine Briconnet, the initial builder, Diane de Poitiers, King Henri II’s mistress, Catherine of Medicis, the “black” queen, Mary, Queen of Scots, Gabrielle d’Estrees, King Henry IV’ s favorite, Louise de Lorraine, the mourning widow, Mme Dupin, Voltaire’s and Rousseau’s friend and Mme Pelouze that restored the chateau to its 16C glory.

Your guide will take you for a private guided visit of the chateau ( the Guards Room, the chapel, Diane de Poitier’s bedroom, the Green study and library, the Grand Gallery, Francois Ier’s bedroom, the Sun King’s living room, Catherine’s and Louise’s bedrooms and the vaulted kitchens) and the gardens.

It is time now for a break, so your guide will stop on the road at a small local wine producer for a TASTING of some of his products.

Then onto Cheverny where you will have a nice LUNCH in a small traditional restaurant of the region followed by a private guided visit of the second “highlight”: the château de CHEVERNY built between 1624 and 1630 and that recalls features of the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris. It is renowned for its magnificent interior and its marvellous collection of furniture, tapestries and art . The chateau is owned by the marquis de Vibraye , the direct descendant of Henri Hurault , the military treasurer of King Louis XI , that built it.

After leaving Cheverny, you will reach the highway that will lead you to the private, guided visit of your last marvel: the cathedral of CHARTRES built in 1193 and that is according to many, the supreme monument of High Gothic Art and Architecture. The 176 stain glass windows that make its worldwide reputation are filled with equally dense stain glass creating with their unearthly radiance , particularly the glow of the “Chartres blue”, an atmosphere of awe and holiness that impresses even the most non-religious of visitors.

Chartres houses also since 876 the “Santa Camisa”, the tunic worn by the Virgin Mary on the birthday of Jesus.

After your visit , your guide will bring you back to your hotel or apartment in Paris.