The Châteaux of the Loire

Hardly any region has influenced French history as strongly – kings and queens, minstrels, court jesters, and mistresses brought the Loire Valley to life and ruled France. Often, there were around 15,000 people living in the shadow of a king. They follow in their footsteps and discover the greatest testimonies of this time – the stone ones, but also the culinary ones…

Day 1 | Arrival – Château Vaux-le-Vicomte

Departure in the morning and drive to Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, about 50 km from Paris and a gem of Île-de-France. Its beauty even inspired the Palace of Versailles and is an architectural masterpiece built for Nicolas Fouquet by architect Louis Le Vau, the king's first architect, painter Charles Le Brun, and landscape architect André Le Nôtre. Close to the château, you will spend the night at the Hôtel Novotel Fontainebleau Ury. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 | Orléans – the Home of Jeanne d’Arc

After breakfast, you will continue to Orléans, where a city tour awaits you. Discover the city on the Loire, its cathedral, and its historic old town. In the afternoon, you will continue to Blois. Château Blois is one of the most famous Loire châteaux because for almost a hundred years – from 1498 to 1589 – the heart of France beat here. Henry II, Catherine de Medici, and their three kings and children lived and ruled here. Afterward, drive to the Hôtel Mercure Blois Centre in Blois, your residence for the next five days. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 3 | Monastic Kitchen – Cave Kitchen

Today you will visit the much-praised garden land of Château Villandry. Artistically designed are vegetable beds and herb gardens. Next, you will go to the water-surrounded Château Azay-le-Rideau. This castle, built between 1518 and 1527 by Gilles Berthelot, is a wonder of grace and purity and is dominated by small towers. After that, you will visit the former Benedictine monastery Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived in the abbey, a role model for the emancipated French woman of today. For dinner, you will be expected at the cave restaurant “La Cave aux Fouées” in Amboise.

Day 4 | Tours – Château Chenonceau

In the morning, you will visit Tours. As a city of art and history, Tours has a variety of sights to offer. At lunchtime, you will be expected at the winemaker Père Auguste for a cellar tour with wine tasting and a hearty winemaker's snack. In the afternoon, you will dedicate yourself to visiting Château Chenonceau – the château of women. Whether lawful wife, queen, or mistress, they lived in the most beautiful water château for 400 years. Back in Blois, the evening is all yours. Perhaps you will take an evening stroll through the streets of the old town.

Day 5 | Château Chambord – Château and Park Cheverny

Today you will visit Château Chambord – a palace and hunting lodge of superlatives: 440 rooms, 365 chimneys, 13 main staircases, and 70 secondary staircases. The château is built after the model of medieval fortresses and is a symbol of the power of King François I. In the afternoon, you will visit Château and Park Cheverny. It is one of the first châteaux that opened to visitors in 1922. Discover this authentic and vibrant cultural heritage. Back in Blois, the evening is at your leisure.

Day 6 | Hello Leonardo

In Amboise, you will explore Leonardo da Vinci’s genius at Château Clos-Lucé/Parc Leonardo da Vinci and also the magnificent Château Amboise of Charles VIII, which is culturally one of the most important of the Loire châteaux. You will spend the afternoon in Blois. You have time for your own city views. The day ends with a delicious menu at the restaurant l'Oratoire in Blois.

Day 7 | Return Journey

• Travel by modern coach
• 1x overnight stay including breakfast buffet at the 4-star Hôtel Novotel Fontainebleau Ury in Ury (local category)
• 1x 3-course dinner at Hôtel Novotel Fontainebleau Ury including ¼ l wine, water, coffee or tea
• 5x overnight stay including breakfast at the
  4-star Hôtel Mercure Blois Centre in Blois (local category)
• 1x 3-course dinner at Hôtel Mercure Blois Centre in Blois (excluding drinks)
• 1x 4-course dinner at the restaurant “La Cave aux Fouées” in Amboise including aperitif, ¼ l wine and coffee
• 1x 4-course dinner at Brasserie l'Oratoire in Blois (excluding drinks)
• Admission and guided tour of Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
• Admissions: Château de Blois, Gardens of Château Villandry, Château Azay-le-Rideau, Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, Château Amboise
  including Histopad, Château Chambord, Château and Park Cheverny, Château Chenonceau, Château Clos Lucé/Parc Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise
• Visit to the wine cellar “Cave du Père
  Auguste” in Civray de Touraine including wine tasting and lunch snack
• Full-day tour guide on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and
  5th day
• Half-day tour guide on the 6th day
• Continuous BOHR travel accompaniment
• Audio guides for the entire duration of the trip
• Tourist tax

From the centrally located 4-Star Hôtel Mercure Blois Centre (local category), you can reach the royal castle, the Cathedral of Saint-Louis, and the Maison de la Magie within a few minutes' walk. The rooms are equipped with a bathtub or shower, toilet, hairdryer, TV, safe, and free Wi-Fi.