LOIRE VALLEY FRANCE CASTLE TOUR ITINERARY – a Quick Look
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LOIRE VALLEY FRANCE CASTLE TOUR ITINERARY – A Quick Look Loire Valley France Castle Tour Itinerary – A Quick Look at the Details Our Loire Valley France Castle Tour itinerary includes and features a selection of unparalleled hands-on experiences combined with guided tours of the Loire Valley’s culturally and historically rich castles. We’ve selected the best historically rich castles to tour during our small group Loire Valley Tour. Each castle included in our Loire Valley France Tour itinerary represents a different and monumental event that significantly contributed to shaping what we know today as modern day France. Our local friends and partners, all Michelin-star and “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (MOF) chefs, welcome our tour guests to their family homes and professional kitchens, as a group of friends, to try their hand at preparing local cuisine during private cooking classes. We complete this small group tour experience in the Loire Valley with a specialty ‘Tour de France” cheese and wine tasting with one of our friends, a Michelin-star chef. Our Loire Valley France Tour itinerary ensures guests a very personalized and exclusive, authentic France experience that non-France based and multi-destination tour companies cannot match. Tour Guest Testimonial — Would you recommend our Loire Valley Tour? “YES we will recommend the trip!! As we discussed, we most enjoyed the “insider’s” feel of this trip which I feel is thanks to the relationships you have with people in the Loire. Additionally, your knowledge of the region made the trip even more fabulous! Thank you Christy Destremau and thank you again for an amazing time….we knew we were going to have an amazing time in the Loire but had no idea that we would meet someone like you that we can hopefully call a friend for a long time to come…we look forward to keeping in touch…come visit us in Chicago…We truly had a wonderful time and look forward to our next trip with you!” —Aaron and Lisa Brooks, Chicago, Illinois – Loire Valley Tour — Click here to read more guest testimonials… Click here to download and print our Loire Valley France Tour itinerary page in easy to read format… Loire Valley France Castle Tour Itinerary — DAY 1: Group Meets, Hotel Check-in, Welcome Dinner Together – Dinner included “Meet and greet” by your tour guide(s) at St. Pierre des Corps (Tours) TGV Rail Station at 4:00 PM. Check-in at our 4-star Hotel – Pavillon des Lys in historic Amboise for the 6 day/5 night tour (NO HOTEL HOPPING). DINNER: Gourmet dinner together this evening prepared by one of the best loved Chefs of the region who has been rated and recommended by world renowned 3-star Michelin, French Chef Alain Ducasse, as well as our local Michelin-star Chefs. Highlights: Arrival to the tour, Michelin-star Welcome Dinner in a historic castle… Loire Valley France CASTLE Tour Itinerary — DAY 2: Morning: At Leisure, Late Morning: Tour and Tasting at our friend’s Artisan Chocolate Workshop, Chambord Castle Tour, Fun Cooking Class and Demonstration Accompanied by Wine & Cheese Tasting with Friend and Michelin Star Chef Damien G. – Breakfast and Dinner included BREAKFAST. Morning: Enjoy the early morning at leisure in Amboise. You may wish to walk up the street to Clos Luce to visit the former home of Leonardo da Vinci during. LATE MORNING: We depart to our friend’s Award Winning Artisan Chocolate Workshop where we’ll enjoy a tour of the facility and learn about French Artisan Chocolate Making followed by a tasting of his finest chocolate specialties. Afterwards, we continue on to Chambord Castle. There will be an introduction to the history of Chambord Castle – followed by an independent visit of the castle. We share stories about two of France’s most influential Kings, Francis I and Louis XIV, their royal lifestyles, and personal guests at the castle, as well as stories of Louis XIII’s brother, Gaston d’Orleans. LUNCH: Independently at Chambord. LATE AFTERNOON & DINNER: Hands-on cooking class and demonstration with friend, Michelin-star Chef Damien G. in his professional kitchen. Damien is a Michelin star chef with experience that has taken him on culinary adventures around the world. After having traveled extensively to places such as Cyprus and Moscow, he has returned to his native Loire Valley to share his culinary experience and knowledge at his family restaurant; adding a new and tasteful twist to regional recipes using local, seasonal ingredients. Cooking class is both hands-on and a demonstration of recipes. No Experience Necessary! Cultural Experience – A “Tour de France” French wine and cheese tasting wraps up our cooking class experience. Learn very important details about the history and production of cheese in France. We’ll taste a variety of cheeses accompanied by regional wines. Dinner: Following class, we toast the evening with a cocktail followed by a gourmet dinner together of recipes prepared and demonstrated in class. Highlights: Free Morning – Shop for Souvenirs in Town, Visit Clos Luce, Artisan Chocolate Tour & Tasting, Chambord Castle, Michelin-star Cooking Class, Cheese Tasting Discovery and Dinner… LOIRE VALLEY FRANCE CASTLE TOUR ITINERARY — DAY 3: Morning: Tour Azay-le-Rideau Castle, Explore and Shop in the Village, Afternoon: Discover Villandry Castle and Gardens in the southern Touraine – Breakfast included BREAKFAST. Morning: Our day begins at the fairy tale, moated castle of Azay-le-Rideau Castle, a spectacular masterpiece built during the early years of Francis I’s reign. The castle reflects all of the refinements of Renaissance architecture and embodies the qualities of a traditional French chateau with its high roofs, tall watch-turrets, long rows of windows and dormer-windows and majestic Italian structure. LUNCH: Independently in Azay-le-Rideau. Winding our way along the Vienne & Loire Rivers, our next stop of the day is at Villandry Castle and its Renaissance Gardens. The unique Renaissance gardens of Villandry are among the most fascinating gardens of France. LATE AFTERNOON: Return to our hotel in Amboise. DINNER: Independently in Amboise village. Stroll through the village, enjoy cocktails at sunset overlooking the Loire River and dinner at one of the many favorite places in the village. Highlights: Azay-le-Rideau Castle & Village, Villandry Castle & Renaissance Gardens… LOIRE VALLEY FRANCE CASTLE TOUR ITINERARY — DAY 4: Morning: Explore and Shop at the Amboise Market and in the Historic Village, Tour the Royal Castle of Amboise, Afternoon: Tour Chenonceau Castle and Castle Gardens – Breakfast included BREAKFAST. Morning: Prior to our visit at the royal castle of Amboise, there will be time to explore Amboise’s weekly artisan market. From local artisan products to French linens, fresh cut flowers, paintings, clothes, food, artwork and locally made jewelry, the market brings an unparalleled livelihood to Amboise. Free Time: Time to explore and shop independently at the market. AFTER THE MARKET: Enjoy a guided visit of the Chateau of Amboise followed by time to explore at leisure. Today’s castle visit includes stories of royal accidents, more stories of some of France’s most important historical events, an attempted kidnapping, as well as royal love affairs and the death of royal guest, Leonardo da Vinci. LUNCH: independently in Amboise village. Afternoon: Tour of the Castle and Gardens of Chenonceau, a castle shaped by women, this castle represents the greatest accomplishments of royal women during the Middle Ages and French Renaissance. Enjoy stories of Queens and their courts, royal love affairs, the first ever fireworks display in France, parties and deception and how royal debt nearly led this castle to be confiscated by the French state. DINNER: Independently in Amboise village. Stroll through the village, enjoy cocktails at sunset overlooking the Loire River and dinner at one of the many favorite places in the village. Highlights: Amboise Village, Royal Castle of Amboise, Chenonceau Castle… LOIRE VALLEY FRANCE CASTLE TOUR ITINERARY — DAY 5: Morning: Tour and Shop at the Blois Market, Explore the Historic Town, Tour Blois Castle, Early Evening: Culinary Class with celebrity Chefs, Friends, a husband and wife team, Christophe and Angelique Q. at their Family Home – Breakfast and Dinner included BREAKFAST. Morning: Guided visit of the weekly market in Blois. From local artisan products to French linens, paintings, clothes, food, wines, artwork and locally made jewelry, the market brings an unparalleled livelihood to villages and towns of the region. Free Time: Explore and shop independently at the market or at the town shops. AFTER THE MARKET: Guided tour of Blois Castle followed by time to explore the castle and historic town at leisure. We’ll share stories about some of the most note worthy events of French history: a Queen’s death, two marriages that would forever change the future of France, important accomplishments by the French monarchy, an assassination, details of the rigors of daily life during the Renaissance, and quirky facts about royal marriages and deaths. LUNCH: Independently in Blois. Guests are welcome to join their guide at a local favorite brasserie owned by a friend, also a Michelin-star chef. EARLY EVENING & DINNER: Fun, hands-on cooking class with our friends, Master Chef Angelique and “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (MOF) and Master Chef Christophe Q. at their home in the countryside near Chaumont-sur-Loire. Tonight we cook with two of France’s highest rated Master Chefs. Christophe is the former director of the Val de Loire Culinary Arts school, currently working with his friend and colleague Alain Ducasse on the development of Ducasse’s new worldwide culinary project and “Ecole de Cuisine” concept in Paris. Christophe’s wife, Angelique, is a Professeur de Cuisine in the Val de Loire region. Both are passionate about the culinary arts, and have received top awards from and along with Paul Bocuse, Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon.