A Taste of the Loire: Chateaux, Gardens & Gastronomy

Fly into Paris, either Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (Ory) airport. If you're flying overnight to get to Paris, consider arriving a day early so you have time to rest, relax, and adjust to the local time. You can purchase an Arrive 1 Day Early option in the add-ons section of this webpage.

Grab a taxi or Uber at the airport - they're safe, clean, and plentiful (and accept credit cards) - and head to your lovely 4-star hotel, the Le Grand Hotel Cayre in the heart of St. Germain.

Hotel check-in usually begins around 3 pm. If your flight arrives earlier, you can leave your luggage at the hotel and start exploring. The neighborhood offers many options: you could visit the Rodin Museum, walk through the Luxembourg Gardens, enjoy a pastry at Hugo & Victor, or browse the newest fashion at the Bon Marche.

We'll meet around 5:30 for a welcome drink at our hotel's speakeasy bar, followed by a lovely dinner at the Annette Brasserie, conveniently located in our hotel. 

We'll depart after breakfast on the 9:57 am train to the Loire Valley (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps). It's only an hour's ride from Paris. 

Once we arrive, we'll be met at the train station by our driver and head to the lovely village of Azay-le-Rideau. We'll visit the storybook-style chateau, an architectural jewel Balzac described as “a faceted diamond,” followed by lunch at the gastronomic bistro l’Epine.

After a leisurely meal, we'll continue exploring the grounds of Villandry's magnificent chateau and famed terraced gardens, framed by kilometers of pollarded linden trees, yew, and boxwood borders. We’ll marvel at the clipped topiaries, ornamental Renaissance flower gardens, and incomparable potager. It’s truly magical.

Next, we'll travel to Tours, a UNESCO World Heritage city known as “Le Petit Paris.” There, we'll check into our 5-star luxury boutique hotel, Les Trésorières, located in the historic center.

After free time to unwind or stroll the charming old quarter, we’ll convene for dinner at La Maison des Halles, where we'll enjoy refined néobistrot cuisine.

Let's explore the picturesque royal town of Amboise, where the French Renaissance blossomed. It was the childhood home of Francois I, and it's where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years as “the King’s first painter, architect, and engineer.” We’ll tour the royal chateau and gardens perched above the Loire Valley, then savor the historic charm of its pedestrian quarter.

Lunch is a feast of market-fresh regional fare at l’Ecluse, tucked in a verdant garden.

Next, we'll cross the Loire and enjoy panoramic views of the chateau en route to the Vourvray wine estate of Chateau de Valmer. Winemaker Jean de Saint Venant represents the 5th generation to manage this award-winning winery. The Chenin Blanc grape is the secret of Vouvray’s versatile range of styles - from sparkling through classic dry, tender, and sweet. 

Following our winery tour and tasting, we can visit Valmer’s recognized “remarkable” garden and potager, featuring edible plants, which were restored by Alix de Saint Venant, a renowned dendrologist and garden designer.

Back in Tours, you’ll have late afternoon and evening to shop, wander, and dine at one of the many restaurants near our hotel. We'll offer recommendations, including ethnic cuisine options.

Our day begins with a relaxed walking tour of the city with a knowledgeable local guide to introduce us to the city’s finest monuments. Highlights include Saint Gatien Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that has watched over the city for a thousand years, and the famed Place Plumereau, lined with picturesque timbered houses.

Next, we'll retire to a wine-growing village to dine with a couple of epicureans, Hervé and Patricia Chardonneau, at their delightful gastro-bistro Le Berlot, a Michelin-recommended spot. 

The Loire’s hottest cultural ticket is our destination for the afternoon. We'll start our exploration of the Domaine de Chaumont Arts and Nature Center with the majestic furnished Renaissance chateau and stable complex, which integrates creations by prominent international contemporary artists into its period interiors.

Continuing on, we’ll explore the festival gardens and sculpture park, where innovative landscape designs and contemporary art installations transform the château’s grounds each year. This renowned exhibition celebrates the harmony between art and nature, offering a beautiful and thought-provoking stroll through creativity in full bloom.

On our final evening in Tours, we will dine at Verjus, a seasonally focused restaurant with kind and attentive service. 

Indulge in one more breakfast in Tours before we check out of our hotel and head to the fabled and enchanting Château of Chenonceau. Its history was deeply shaped by a series of remarkable women, such as the legendary rivals Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers. The chateau boasts exceptional furnishings, a fine painting collection, and stunning gardens. 

We’ll begin with a flower-arranging demonstration by Jean-Francois Boucher, who has been honored as a meilleur ouvrier de France (the best in his field) and is responsible for the château’s magnificent floral installations. 

Our tour of the romantic chateau will focus on its exceptionally restored interiors filled with period furnishings and a masterpiece painting collection. This exclusive walk through the remarkable Renaissance gardens will be led by Nick Tomlan, who designed the plantings and recently landscaped the contemporary Russell Page-inspired walled garden. This is the ultimate insider's tour of this grand chateau. 

Next, we'll enjoy a special Loire wine-and-cheese tasting lunch at La Marmittière, a private country Manor on a former wine estate dating back to 1669. The tasting is led by Geoffrey Nivard, a young cheese monger and sommelier. Until recently, Geoffrey was employed at a renowned London cheese shop that supplied French cheese to Buckingham Palace. His passion for his native region makes his tastings both engaging and educational.

Mid-afternoon, we'll travel east to check into our chic 4-star home base for the next three nights: Le Relais de Chambord. It sits overlooking the Chambord Castle – the Loire’s largest chateau that lies within a walled park the size of the city of Paris!

Take the rest of the evening to pamper yourself at the spa, bike across the park, stroll along the Cossan river, or relax over a tea or cocktail on the hotel terrace with its magnificent view of the Chateau.

Tonight’s casual dinner will be at Bar Du Relais, a relaxed, cozy bar with a lovely selection of cocktails and delicious plates. 

We'll set off early for a highlight experience at the Grange aux Savoir Faire cooking school. Here, we'll prepare a healthy lunch of savory and sweet in-season cuisine made with fresh organic produce from their marvelous kitchen garden. 

We’ll return briefly to our hotel before exploring the crown jewel of the Loire: the imposing Château de Chambord. This monumental castle was a pet project of François I and was intended to awe rival monarchs with its sheer scale and the originality of its architectural features. The influence of Leonardo da Vinci’s architectural studies is evident in the unique double-helix central staircase and a Greek cross footprint. We’ll also visit the chateau’s recently installed formal garden.

You’ll have time to relax before dinner at Domus, located in the heart of the nearby village of Mont-près-Chambord. Domus is Latin for "home," and you'll feel warmly welcomed here at this Michelin-recommended hot spot. Autumn is the prime season to experience the wonders of their two head chefs, a true dream team. 

This morning, we’ll have a later start to the day so you can sleep in, take a stroll or jog in the park, or enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Mid-morning, we'll cross the Loire River to Blois, starting our visit to this quaint hillside city at the Chateau of Blois, a historic residence that once hosted seven kings and ten queens. The castle features a striking blend of architectural styles, such as Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical. We'll also learn about its important role in French history.

The afternoon is free for you to lunch at one of many restaurants in Blois' charming historic center, shop its chic boutiques for Loire mementos and original gifts, and explore the scenic side streets lined with timbered and stone buildings dating back over 500 years.

Back at the Relais, we’ll have time to enjoy the spa and pack before a celebratory farewell dinner at the hotel’s delightful restaurant, Le Grand Saint-Michel, where we’ll toast the experiences and laughs we’ve shared and lasting friendships made.

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll sadly have to say au revoir to the Loire Valley. A chauffeur will drive the group back to Paris, where you can take a taxi from here to your next destination or the airport. 

If you are flying out today, please ensure your flight home or to your next destination is after 5:00 p.m.

Au revoir, France!