Loire Valley Castles: Chambord & Chenonceau Small-Group Tour from Paris

Explore the heart and soul of the French countryside on this Loire Valley Tour! Go directly from Paris into this stunning region to explore fairy-tale castles, sample local wines, and experience some of France’s most beautiful scenery. The day trip from Paris starts from a central location, from where you’ll board a comfortable, air-conditioned coach with your expert, English-speaking tour guide. Head out of the city and towards the first site – Château de Chambord, the largest castle in the valley. If you're a Disney fan, you will recognize this castle as the inspiration for ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Discover the strange history of this castle, once intended as a hunting lodge for a king, and climb the staircase that was supposedly designed by Leonardo da Vinci. After your guided tour, you’ll have some free time to explore the castle by yourself, climb to the roof for spectacular views among the turrets, or stroll in the grounds, home to a large colony of wild deer.

Having worked up an appetite, get back on the bus and continue to the next stop - the quaint town of Blois, where you can dine in one of the restaurants located around the beautiful and vibrant Square Louis XII. You could also grab a bite and visit the Royal Castle of Blois on your own, famous for its unique mix of Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical architecture. This Royal castle presents a tragic history as the place where Joan of Arc went to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing with her army to drive the English from Orléans.

In the last leg of your tour, you’ll visit the so-called “Ladies’ Château,” Château de Chenonceau. This elegant 16th-century castle has a detailed, painted wooden door and smooth stone exterior that are breathtaking. Inside, admire original stone carvings, large tapestries, and beautiful period features Visit the chapel and bedrooms, furnished as in times gone by. Downstairs, see the magnificent vaulted kitchens, including a pantry, a butcher’s room, and the staff dining room. There is even a landing platform for the servants to bring supplies up the river. Don’t miss out on seeing the spectacular bridge that spans the river, Cher. Originally used to hold balls and parties, it served as a hospital in WWI and was in use again in WWII, this time helping people escape from occupied France, crossing over the bridge and into free France on the other side.

The grounds, cultivated by the famous ladies who owned the home (hence its name), are just as beautiful as the Château itself. Spend your time walking through the gardens of both Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici, as well as the wonderful fruit and vegetable garden, planted to feed those living in the chateau. You now have a difficult but delightful choice: continue to tour the castle or indulge in a second wine tasting (three wines from the chateau’s vines) led by your guide in the Caves des Dômes, a lovely, vaulted cellar full of wine barrels.