Loire Valley Chateaux

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Loire Valley Châteaux & Fromage Feast

Price: $4,300 per person (based on double occupancy)
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Location: Loire Valley, France
Inclusions: Accommodation in a Renaissance-era château, daily breakfast, select lunches and dinners, guided château and winery tours, goat cheese tastings, bread-making workshop, costumed history tours, all transfers, and expert-guided tours.
Group Size: Maximum 12 guests for an intimate experience

This 6-day tour immerses you in the regal beauty and culinary delights of France’s Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour iconic Renaissance châteaux, sip Chenin Blanc at boutique wineries, and savor artisanal goat cheeses at local dairies. Learn the art of French bread-making and step back in time with costumed history tours. Your home is a Renaissance-era château surrounded by a private moat, where the past comes alive with theatrical flair.

Detailed Itinerary & Activities

Day 1: Arrival & Château Welcome

Activity: Arrive in Tours and transfer to the Renaissance-era château in the Loire Valley, near Amboise. Settle in with a welcome aperitif of Crémant de Loire and a dinner of coq au vin and tarte Tatin, paired with a Vouvray.

Evening Entertainment: Enjoy a costumed history tour of the château, led by guides dressed as 16th-century courtiers, recounting tales of Renaissance royalty.

Highlight: Sip a glass of Sancerre by the moat, illuminated by torchlight, as the château’s turrets glow against the night sky.

Day 2: Château de Chenonceau & Wineries

Activity: Visit the iconic Château de Chenonceau, known as the “Ladies’ Château,” spanning the Cher River. Explore its Renaissance gardens and galleries, followed by a tour of a nearby boutique winery for tastings of crisp Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Lunch: Dine at the winery on rillettes de Tours, roasted duck, and local goat cheese, paired with a Touraine Sauvignon Blanc.

Evening Entertainment: Relax with a chamber music recital in the château’s grand hall, featuring Renaissance-era lute and harpsichord.

Day 3: Goat Cheese Tastings & Chinon

Activity: Tour a family-run dairy in Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, famous for its AOC-protected goat cheese. Learn about aging techniques and taste creamy Chèvre and ash-coated varieties, paired with local honeys and Sancerre.

Afternoon: Explore the medieval town of Chinon, visiting its fortress where Joan of Arc met Charles VII, and a second winery for Chinon reds.

Evening Entertainment: Participate in a costumed history tour of the château’s secret passages, with actors reenacting a Renaissance court intrigue.

Day 4: Bread-Making Workshop & Amboise

Activity: Join a bread-making workshop at the château, led by a local boulanger. Master the art of baking baguettes and fougasse, using traditional French techniques, and enjoy your creations for lunch with Loire cheeses and charcuterie.

Afternoon: Visit Amboise, touring the Château d’Amboise and Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s final home, with its Renaissance inventions.

Evening Entertainment: Attend a wine and cheese pairing session in the château’s cellar, guided by a sommelier, featuring Loire Valley wines.

Day 5: Château de Chambord & Farewell Feast

Activity: Explore the majestic Château de Chambord, a Renaissance masterpiece with its double-helix staircase and sprawling park. Continue to a boutique winery in Cheverny for tastings of Romorantin and sparkling wines.

Lunch: Dine at a countryside auberge, savoring Loire pike perch in beurre blanc and poached pears, paired with a Pouilly-Fumé.

Evening Entertainment: Celebrate with a farewell gala dinner in the château’s banquet hall, featuring a five-course menu and a final costumed history tour, complete with a mock Renaissance ball.

Day 6: Departure

Activity: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the château’s garden, overlooking the moat, before transferring to Tours for your departure.

Highlight: Receive a parting gift of a bottle of estate Chenin Blanc and a recipe booklet for French bread and cheese pairings.

Accommodation: The Renaissance-Era Château

Your home for the tour is a Renaissance-era château, located near Amboise in the heart of the Loire Valley. Built in the early 16th century for a French noble family, the château has been restored to preserve its regal splendor while offering modern comforts. Surrounded by a private moat and manicured gardens, it provides an enchanting base for exploring the Loire’s châteaux and culinary heritage.

Features

Architecture & Design: The château boasts pointed turrets, stained-glass windows, and intricately carved stonework, with grand salons featuring tapestries and gilt-framed portraits. Its banquet hall, used for gala dinners, is adorned with frescoes of Loire landscapes.

Guest Rooms: 12 luxurious en-suite rooms, each with four-poster beds, velvet drapes, and views of the moat or gardens. Modern amenities include plush linens, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and marble-clad bathrooms with soaking tubs.

Facilities: A private wine cellar with Loire Valley wines, a professional kitchen for bread-making workshops, and a library with Renaissance manuscripts. The château also offers a seasonal outdoor pool and a small oratory with period frescoes.

Gardens & Grounds: Formal gardens with boxwood parterres, rose arbors, and a moat teeming with koi fish. A vineyard produces estate wines, and a croquet lawn adds leisurely charm.

Ambiance: The château radiates Renaissance grandeur, with costumed tours, candlelit dinners, and staff in period attire. Its intimate size ensures personalized service and a deep connection to Loire history.

Unique Aspects

Historical Significance: The château hosted French royalty, including Francis I, and was a center for Renaissance art and culture. Its secret passages, explored during costumed tours, were used during political intrigues.

Sustainability: The château uses geothermal heating and maintains an organic herb garden, supplying ingredients for meals. Guests can join a garden tour to learn about Loire agriculture.

Cultural Immersion: Costumed history tours and chamber music recitals transport guests to the Renaissance, while the château’s vineyard and kitchen highlight the region’s culinary traditions.

Additional Notes

Accessibility: The château includes stairs and cobblestone paths; please inquire about accessibility accommodations.

Dietary Requirements: Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available with advance notice.

Weather: The Loire Valley enjoys mild springs and autumns, ideal for château tours and outdoor dining. Summer tours include shaded activities for comfort.

Booking: Contact the tour operator via the website for availability and single-occupancy rates.

This tour blends the Loire Valley’s regal châteaux, crisp wines, and artisanal cheeses with the theatrical charm of a Renaissance-era château, offering an unforgettable journey through French history and cuisine.

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