Loire Valley Castles Day Trip from Paris with Complementary Wine
Description
Step out of Paris and into the storybook landscapes of the Loire Valley, traveling in air-conditioned comfort through one of France’s most historic regions. Discover two iconic châteaux Chambord and Chenonceau with included entry, enjoy free time in the charming town of Blois, and savor a complimentary local wine experience at Chenonceau Castle. Along the way, your expert English-speaking tour leader brings the journey to life with stories of French royalty, Renaissance architecture, and the countryside that inspired them.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the Loire Valley at a relaxed, unhurried pace on this full day escape from Paris. Rather than rushing through multiple castles, this thoughtfully designed itinerary gives you more time to explore two of France's most iconic châteaux, Chambord and Chenonceau, while also enjoying free time in the charming town of Blois and a complimentary local wine experience.
From Paris, you’ll head first to Chambord Castle. Disney fans will find this castle’s turrets familiar; it was the inspiration for the castle in ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Though originally conceived as a royal hunting lodge, it was built to a scale that must be seen to be believed. You’ll learn all about the castle’s captivating history from your guide, before getting your own chance to explore. Climb a staircase supposedly designed by Da Vinci; enjoy spectacular turret-framed rooftop views; glimpse wild deer around the grounds; and work up an appetite for the next stop.
Arriving in Blois, pass by the impressive Château Royal de Blois, a former royal residence that showcases four distinct architectural styles. Your guide will point out its highlights and share insights into its role in French royal history.
Having worked up an appetite, we'll get back on the bus and on to our next stop - the quaint town of Blois, where you’ll get some free time to enjoy lunch in one of the restaurants located around the beautiful and vibrant Square Louis XII.
Last but not least is a visit to the elegant Chenonceau Castle. Your visit starts with a complementary wine tasting in the castle’s vaulted wine cellar. Then, carry on with a self-guided visit of the chapel, bedrooms and magnificent vaulted kitchens which are still furnished and decorated from times gone by, showing off the castle’s many sweeping stone carvings. Don’t miss the impressive main hall, which spans the river Cher, or the gardens cultivated by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici – two of the famous owners that earned Chenonceau the nickname ‘the Ladies’ Castle
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Clients traveling with young children whose security cannot be ensured by a seat belt shall bring their own child restraint system to ensure the safety of their child. Please note that our coaches aren’t equipped with ISOFIX anchor points and have limited availability for 3-point seat belts. By booking this tour, parents/guardians acknowledge these requirements and accept responsibility for ensuring their children are properly restrained.
- Infants and children, no matter how young, must have a tour purchased for them in order to join the visit.
Reviews(4,541)
Goran, the guide, is very kind and tells you all the interesting historical details. The Loira valley, with its castles, is simply wonderful. Recommended!
I’ve come to Paris many times, but I’ve always wanted to go into the Loire Valley and I thought this was good for the price for an all day trip to two beautiful castles and then a beautiful spot for lunch. My friends call me Belle because I’m an American living in a tiny village in the south of France. So today I wore my blue dress and visited Chambord, which is the inspiration for beauty and the beast.
It was great. Gorin was very knowledgeable and made the trip exciting with a history lesson for France and the places we were visiting
Great tour from Paris, very kind guide Goran
The castles and the town of Blois were all beautiful. A lovely day trip.
Bring good walking shoes and a good camera. Many places for womderful photos of landscapes/buildings and selfies.
Wonderful Loire Valley tour combining beautiful castles with a great wine tasting. John was incredibly knowledgeable, accurate, and engaging, bringing French royal history and its many scandals to life. Highly recommended!
A truly beautiful day in the Loire Valley. Our guide, John, was excellent. Very knowledgeable about French history and so many details about the 3 castles on the tour. I was not interested in the wine tasting and he gave us suggestion on how to enjoy the tour without wine tasting. Highly recommend this day trip !!
We had a great time in the Loire Valley. John was fun and insightful, making the history of the place feel personal. The trip overall was comfortable and well paced.
Fun day but at the same time so informative Love hearing the stories and history of Paris, the rivalry between the king and queens. The castles were beautiful. The wine tasting was the best way to end the day. John our guide made the tour. Highly recommend this tour with John.
