Châteaux de la Loire en Touraine

Relax at a quiet house in the country, cycle along quiet roads and tracks on the Loire à Vélo cycle route and visit the famous châteaux which nowadays have tours adapted for children and adults. Some châteaux, like Chinon and Amboise, even have escape games.

The region has lots of rivers, lakes and ponds for fishing plus vineyards and speciality foods like Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine goat’s cheese.

• Amboise : This royal château has an important place in the History of France. An absolute must to visit in Val de Loire, the château has a splendid collection of furniture, illustrating the artistic elegance of the first French Renaissance.
• Azay-le-Rideau : Built in the reign of François 1er, the château of Azay-le-Rideau is full of Renaissance charm. This masterpiece of 16th century architecture, surrounded by Romantic grounds laid out in the 19th century, stands on an island in the River Indre.
• Chenonceau : Its elegant arches span the River Cher. Adored by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, Chenonceau is the most visited château in France after Versailles.
• Chinon : With its history spanning a thousand years, the castle of Chinon is one of the rare fortresses from the Middle Ages in the Loire Valley.
• Château du Clos Lucé at Amboise : Discover fabulous models designed by Leonardo da Vinci, made using materials from the period. Then walk around the landscaped grounds where major inventions and creations of the Master are presented using life-size machines, sound effects and translucent canvasses.
• Langeais : a fortress and home of princes, Langeais has many treasures (carved furniture, rich wall hangings, objets d’art) recalling the life of its noble lords. In the grounds stands one of the oldest stone keeps in France, an excellent example of medieval military architecture.
• Cité Royale de Loches : Take a trip back in time and explore one of the finest fortified towns in France.
• Villandry Château and Gardens : A unique example of Renaissance architecture and six splendid gardens : vegetable garden, ornamental garden, water garden, herb garden, maze and ‘sun’ garden.