Cost: 1,190 euro per person

 

Includes:

• Visits as indicated
  
• Pick up airport, train, station or hotel in Paris
• Chauffeur-guide services for 3 days
• Diners, nights and breakfasts in a 2-star hotel on days 1 and 2 (price based on Dbl Occ, single supplement : 75 €)
• Lunches on day 1, 2 and 3
• Transport in air-conditioned minibus
• Drop off in Paris

Itinerary

DAY1: Chambord-Beauregard-Chaumont sur Loire

Our guide will take you from Paris to Chambord. You'll discover the park from a horse and carriage. The grounds were used as a vast hunting area to kings of France and covering 5500 hectares

In 1518, François I orders the destruction of the small castle built by the Counts of Blois, who were keen hunters. He built the present château of Chambord, which is thought to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. It's gigantic size symbolizes the strength of French monarchy.

Lunch at the restaurant situated in the Castle between the Carriage room and the Communs d’Orléans.

Château and gardens of Beauregard. The "Galerie des Illustres" is unique and quite astounding : 327 famous portraits from 1328 to 1643, kings, queens and great French and foreign names. The gardens, designed by Gilles Clément are just as gripping.

Time for a break : the delicious smell of "coffee"

The Park at Chaumont
Designed in the 19th century by Henri Duchêne, the park lies at the foot of a feudal style castle, and offers a delightful view over the Loire valley. Walk round cedars of Lebanon, sequoias and lime-trees until dusk.

Dinner / Night at Amboise. Restaurant L'Epicerie : a colourful and warm atmosphere with traditional cuisine. Hotel Le Blasonin in the old city centre (or equivalent) : smart country hotel deep in royal château country. A superb building from the 15th and 18th centuries, le Blason combines charm and comfort.

DAY2: Amboise, Tours, Le Rivau

House and Park of Clos Luce

Here you will discover Leonardo da Vinci's fabulous machines, his sketches and paintings.

Tours - Prieuré St Come. A beautiful fragrant and tranquil garden where the poet Ronsard rests amongst 200 varieties of roses and irises  

Lunch in the countryside at the Auberge du Val de Vienne.

The Gardens of Le Rivau

The Château used to belong to Gargantua's captain. The building is imposing and well-balanced, announcing the Renaissance.

Fairy tale gardens and secret gardens filled with Gallic and climbing roses, amazing vegetables, irises, sweet peas, creative hedges and many other fragrances and colours…

Then a visit to the fragrant the "Champignonnière" (mushroom bed) of the Saut Du Loup.

Dinner and overnight in Chinon, by the romantic ruins of the castle at the foot of the Vienne river…
Restaurant L'Océanique (or equivalent) : fresh, welcoming, generous and delicious food.

Hotel le Diderot (or equivalent) : ... the charm of an authentic dwelling-place built in the fifteen century, that was reshuffled in the eighteenth century

DAY3: Villandry,Chamerolles

The Gardens at Villandry

At the beginning of the 20th century, Joachim de Carvallo purchased the estate which is one of the later castles built on the Loire at the time of the Renaissance. According to his will, the park kept its original aspect and includes three parts : the lake, the ornamental Love gardens, Du Cerceau's vegetable garden.

Lunch at Chilleurs au Bois.

Visit of the château of Chamerolles and the "fragrance promenade"

Lancelot Ist settled here during the 15th century. The fortifications surround a pleasant livable atmosphere inside; the spirit of the Renaissance under François I prevails. The visit inside starts with a stroll through time from 16th century to the present day, to the rhythm of perfumes : Guerlain, Lancôme, Roget & Gallet, Chanel. Then, it's the Renaissance garden in all its glory. Aromatic plants used for making perfume, vegetables, spices, herbs and fruit trees are grown there…

Return to Paris