Combined with historical accommodations at our friends’, Bernard and Christine’s, Second Empire Chateau and daily gourmet dining at our favorite Loire Valley hide-a-ways, guests enjoy a variety of interactive excursions to discover the Loire Valley Castles with our local friends, culinary and wine professionals. There are daily theme visits to the Loire Valley's treasures, the former castles & gardens of the French Kings, including the castles of Amboise, Clos Luce, Blois, Chambord, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, Langeais and Loches. "Grand and petit", originating from the Mediaeval and Renaissance periods, marvel in the architecture, art and sheer size of the King's creations.
In addition to our castle tours, participate in an exclusive, recreational, hands-on, cooking class at the private cooking workshop and home of our chefs, a husband and wife team, awarded top honors by Paul Bocusse and Joel Robuchon. During our Loire Valley cooking class, we'll prepare a traditional menu of regional specialties and partake in a gourmet feast for the palate of the recipes we prepare together. For our wine enthusiasts, our dining experiences unveil secrets of some of the Loire Valley's finest wines. And, enjoy an afternoon Touraine wine & cheese tasting following a visit with our local cheese maker at their "fromagerie" (cheese house). We top off our culturally enriching and interactive week in the Loire Valley with a walk through the vineyards of Montlouis, accompanied by a gourmet French picnic at the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere. This program is designed to dazzle our gourmet, history and wine lovers!
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Trip departure day, CHATEAU DE CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE - D
"Meet and greet" by your tour guide at your arrival at TOURS "St. Pierre des Corps" Rail station, followed by transfer to our historical 2nd Empire Chateau Hotel for our 7 days/6 nights stay in the heart of the LOIRE VALLEY. Enjoy a warm welcome from our hosts Bernard & Christine with a glass of Touraine wine or another refreshing beverage while settling into your room. Mid-afternoon, enjoy an extraordinary look at life during the medieval and pre-Renaissance periods and a glimpse of royal life, as a mistress of Henry II, at the Chateau de CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE. Enjoy time prior to dinner to relax with a stroll around the hotel property. DINNER: Our first taste of regional specialties with a dinner introduction to the Touraine to become acquainted with fellow travelers and learn more about the exciting activities scheduled for your stay in this magical region.
(D)
Day 2:
CHATEAU DE BLOIS, Historic Center & Gardens, CHATEAU DE CHAMBORD - B, D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: Guests are introduced to the historic town of Blois, its’ antiquities, Castle, Gardens and Cathedrals through a cultural walking tour. As the birthplace of Louis XII in 1462 and home of Henri II and Catherine de Medici, guests learn about the four important periods of Blois Castle, including two very important events at the castle, Joan of Arc's passage prior to the seige of Orleans and the assination of the Duc de Guise, the King's cousin. Lunch in Blois, plus time to shop in local artisan boutiques and enjoy the historic center. Afternoon: Chateau de Chambord, an architectural masterpiece initiated by Francois I which required more than 30 years to build. A king who believed that the crown could only exercise its' authority by showing itself to the people, Francois I, known as "the mobile king" spent most of his reign traveling the French countryside in order to be seen and therefore, confirm his authority as King of France. As result of his movements, he only ever spent approximately 42 days during his life at Chambord. Our visit will focus on the history behind the spectacular architecture of the exterior and the reasons for the lack of on the interior. DINNER: Gourmet discovery experience with our local friends, an eight course gourmet, tasting dinner of regional specialties, each course accompanied by a selected wine from our host's private cellar.
(B) (D)
Day 3:
Amboise Village, ROYAL CHATEAU D'AMBOISE, Clos Luce, Culinary Traditions of the Touraine - B,D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: AMBOISE, renowned for his luxurious tastes, it was Charles VIII's birthplace. Enjoy a morning cultural walk of the ROYAL CHATEAU OF AMBOISE & Chapelle St. Hubert, Clos Lucé, the village, cathedrals and surroundings. We'll learn about Leonardo da Vinci's final years in Amboise, as personal guest of Francois I. It's here that we also learn the darker side of the crown's activities during the Wars of Religion, and the importance of Henri IV. Evening and DINNER: Recreational, evening hands-on culinary class with two of France’s highest rated Chef’s, a husband and wife team, Christophe and Angelique, who are Professors de Cuisine in the Val de Loire region and who have received top awards from Paul Bocusse and Joel Robuchon. Following our cooking lesson, enjoy a gourmet dinner of the regional cuisine, "Gaulois" style (the recipes we prepared together) accompanied by Mesland Organic wines at our chef’s private workshop and residence.
(B) (D)
Day 4:
CASTLE & DUNGEONS OF LOCHES, CHATEAU DE CHENONCEAU, French Cheese Maker & Cheese Tasting - B, D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: Step back in time in the MEDIEVAL VILLAGE of LOCHES We'll embark on an active, cultural walking tour of this marvelously preserved Mediaeval village and its’ CHATEAU & DUNGEONS It’s here that Joan of Arc convinced Charles VII to render himself to Reims to be crowned King of France in 1429, and where Charles VIII lived with his wife, Anne of Brittany, and his mistress, Agnes Sorel. Our walk takes us through the historic walking streets of the village leading up to the castle. Here in Loches, we will also hear stories of Louis XI and his role in bringing order and peace to the country and his intellectual contributions to France, plus stories about the conversion of Loches into a state prison and the torture of non-Catholic prisoners. Lunch: in Loches, plus time to independently explore the historic village and artisan shops. Afternoon: A visit of the CHATEAU & GARDENS OF CHENONCEAU - a castle shaped by women for over 400 years, this castle represents the greatest accomplishment of royal women during the Renaissance period. As the former home of Anne de Bretagne, only woman to twice be crowned queen of France, Diane de Poitiers, mistress to Henri II [from Blois], and Catherine de Medicis, wife of Henri II, we will learn of the secrets of these women’s lives, their indiscretions and the jealousy that controlled their lives. Afternoon: We conclude our day with an invitation to visit our Cheese Maker to learn about French cheese and to visit their "fromagerie" where we’ll learn about the processes of goat cheese making, the varieties produced and the history of our farmer’s family farm. Afterwards, we make our selections from the fromagerie and return to our castle hotel for a wine & cheese tasting of some of the finest Touraine cheeses found in the Loire Valley (and in France). DINNER: A "Menu Terroir" at our favorite 18th century troglodyte (cave) restaurant along the Loire River.
(B) (D)
Day 5:
Castles & Villages of the Southern Touraine: CHATEAU DE LANGEAIS, CHATEAU DE VILLANDRY & CHATEAU D'AZAY-LE-RIDEAU - B, D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: Along the Vienne & Loire beginning from the Chateau de Villandry. The unique "Renaissance" gardens of Villandry are among the most fascinating gardens of France and of the World. VillandryÕs Ornamental Gardens, Water Garden, Herb Garden and kitchen Garden have an international fame. The chateau itself prefigures the French classical style, also known as the Henry IV Style. At Villandry we highly recommend several notable purchases, the jams and vegetable products, all preduced using veggies, fruits, herbs and spices from chateau gardens. Departing Villandry, we wind our way along the river to the feudal fortress, the Chateau de Langeais, with its' fine exhibit of period furniture. Langeais was built from 1465 to 1469 by king Louis XI and has remained untouched since. Afternoon: We top off our day with a visit in the southern Touraine at the Chateau de Azay-le-Rideau where we are treated to stories of the Plantagenets and Capetians who were ruthlessly fighting each other for the Crown of France and the Dauphin, future Charles VII, who had the castle besieged, the entire garrison hanged and the village as well as the castle burned down. DINNER: Gourmet extravaganza in Cande-sur-Beuvron.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 6:
Montlouis Vineyard Walk: CHATEAU DE LA BOURDAISIERE, Leisure Time - B, L, D
Buffet breakfast. Morning: Travelers embark on a morning cultural walk through the vineyards of the Montlouis Wine Producing region. This walk takes us through the regions finest chenin-blanc grape vineyards and to the domaine du Chateau de la Bourdaisiere. Travelers enjoy pauses for visiting. Prior to our walk, we’ll shop at the local morning market to select local delicacies for our gourmet picnic at noon. The walk is approximately 3.5 hours, and rated easy, flat terrain with a couple small inclines, GR & country paths through the vineyards and village of Montlouis. Picnic lunch at the chateau included. Afternoon: Open to leisure time. DINNER: A gourmet, tasting dinner of regional specialties to celebrate a spectacular week in the playground of the French Kings.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 7:
Trip concludes today with return to TOURS: St. Pierre des Corps TGV rail-station following a leisurely breakfast.
(B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
TRIP BEGINS: Tours, France: Noon-1 pm pick-up at St. Pierre des Corps Rail Station
TOUR CONCLUDES: Tours, France: 10 am drop-off at St. Pierre des Corps Rail Station
TOUR RATING: Easy to Moderate, a lot of walking throughout the program.
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