History & Gastronomy

THE BEST OF THE LOIRE VALLEY…

8 days

Day 1 : YOUR REGION – NANTES / PARIS – TOURS
Arrival at NANTES (or PARIS) airport or train station and pick-up by our driver and guide. Coach transfer to the hotel in TOURS, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2 : CHAMBORD – BLOIS
Breakfast. Departure in the direction of CHAMBORD for the guided visit of the Château of Francois Ier, emblematic palace of the first French Renaissance, with its astounding harmony of proportions and imaginative architecture. Continuation to BLOIS, lunch, guided tour of the city in horse-drawn carriage and on foot through its picturesque streets. Free time at the end of the afternoon. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3 : AMBOISE – CHENONCEAUX
Breakfast. Departure in the direction of AMBOISE, royal city and land of welcome to Leonardo da Vinci. Free visit (with brochure) of the Château du Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life, painting and working at his thousand passions until 2nd May 1519, the day when he died in this house. We carry on with a lunch-cruise to the Château de Chenonceau. Free visit (with brochure) of this marvelous castle straddling the Cher in a magnificent natural setting. It is nicknamed the “Château des Dames” (Château of Ladies) as nearly all its owners were women, and some of the most beautiful women of France. Return to TOURS, free time, dinner and overnight stay.

Alternative :  Flight in helicopter and visit of the Château d’Amboise
Lunch in a restaurant in Amboise. We carry on with an outstanding excursion. You will take place in a helicopter to discover the Loire Valley and its castles: Amboise, La Pagode de Chanteloup, Chenonceau… (flight of 15 minutes). The group will be divided in small groups that will be free to visit the Château d’Amboise before or after their flight.

Day 4 : VILLANDRY – SAUMUR
Breakfast. Departure in the direction of VILLANDRY for a guided visit of the magnificent English-style gardens of the Château, which was the last of the large castles built in the Loire Valley during the Renaissance. Continuation to SAUMUR, guided visit of the Cave aux Moines and its mushrooms culture. You will discover a “troglodyte” house, a breeding of snails and several varieties of mushrooms. Lunch in the galleries of the cellar where you will taste some «fouées» (regional specialties). We carry on with the guided visit of the National Riding School whose teachers are none other than the famous écuyers of the Cadre Noir of Saumur. More than 400 horses, one of the largest stables in Europe, the saddle room… You will end the day with the guided visit of the Distillerie Combier, founded in 1834, followed by a tasting session. Transfer to your hotel in SAUMUR, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5 : ANGERS
Breakfast. Departure in the direction of ANGERS and guided tour of the city whose medieval heritage is particularly rich. Continuation to CHEMILLÉ for a cooking demonstration by the Chef himself followed by a lunch to taste the prepared dishes served with wine. You will appreciate the setting and the conviviality of this cooking school. We carry on with the guided visit of two wine exploitations of the region followed by the tasting of several wines, such as the famous Savennières and Coteaux du Layon. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6 : RETRO-TOURISM IN ANJOU
Breakfast. Departure in the direction of YZERNAY, a village close to CHOLET, for an extraordinary excursion. Climb into old cars dating from 1920 to 1935 and a coach from 1952 with bodywork from before the war. Then set off on a magnificent tour: the Forêt de Vezins, the Château de Villefort, the Cimetière des Martyrs, Péronne Lake..., stop. Reception at the Château du Bois de Saint-Louis and welcome drink with the castellans. Tour through the rooms of the castle. Continuation by coach to MAULÉVRIER for a gourmet lunch at the Château Colbert. Return to SAUMUR for a cruise on the Loire river which will take you to the cellars of Bouvet-Ladubay. Reception, guided visit followed by a welcome drink and by a dinner with candles in the cellar. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Alternative :  Day at the Puy du Fou
Departure to the PUY DE FOU. Whole day at the Puy du Fou Park (open from April to September). This unique theme park takes you on a journey through history: explore the villages of times gone by and see astonishing shows and displays. Lunch in the middle of the park, then carry on with the visit. Dinner in a farm-inn close to the park followed by “La Cinéscénie” (from June to September, Fridays and Saturdays only): an open-air show with the largest stage in the world and extraordinary special effects. Experience history alongside 1100 actors through a revolutionary “cinema” and relive the glory days of the Puy du Fou from the Middle Ages to the Second World War as if you were really there.

Day 7 : NANTES
Breakfast. Departure in the direction of NANTES and guided tour of the city to discover some inescapable sites, such as the Cathedral Saint-Pierre. Lunch. In the beginning of the afternoon, guided visit of the Château des ducs de Bretagne. After 15 years of renovation and 3 years of complete closure, the Château of Nantes reopened its doors at the beginning of 2007. You will find this completely transformed site right in the heart of the town. Guided visit of the museum dedicated to the history of the castle, Nantes and the surroundings. With a highly contemporary museography, the tour passes through 32 rooms displaying a collection of more than 800 works. Free time in the city center. Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8 : NANTES / PARIS – YOUR REGION
Breakfast. Coach transfer to NANTES (or PARIS) airport or train station.

End of our services.

Extensions :  
- PARIS (1 day / 2 nights in Paris)
Breakfast. Guided tour of the city: the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Concorde, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral... Lunch, cruise on the Seine river and free time in the capital. Dinner and overnight stay.

- LE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL (1 day)
Breakfast. Departure from NANTES in the direction of the MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, guided tour of the medieval city, the Parish church and the abbey. Lunch, free time and return to NANTES. Dinner and overnight stay.

- BELLE-ÎLE-EN-MER (1 day)
Breakfast. Departure from NANTES in the direction of QUIBERON, transfer by boat to BELLE-ÎLE-EN-MER, Breton lunch with “galettes” and “crêpes”, guided tour of the island and free time. Return to NANTES, dinner and overnight stay.

- LA ROCHELLE – ROCHEFORT (1 day)
Breakfast. Departure from NANTES in the direction of LA ROCHELLE, guided tour of the city, lunch. Continuation to ROCHEFORT for the guided visit of the Corderie Royale and the Hermione. Return to NANTES, dinner and overnight stay.

INCLUDED :
- Tour in a luxury long-distance coach from Nantes
- 3* hotel accommodation(1) in a double room
- Full board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8 and drinks with meals
- Tours and visits mentioned in the program
- Guided tours and visits with local guides
- Presence of a guide during the whole trip.


NOT INCLUDED :
- Single room supplement
- Extensions and alternatives offered in the program – Ask us for details
- Porterage in hotels
- Transport by coach from Paris
- Cancellation and assistance insurance.

(1) Accommodation in 4* Château-Hotel on request – Ask us for details