Petit Ronsard

3 days in the Valley, valley of the kings

“Petit Ronsard”, a 3-day discovery of French where "living is an art!" and enjoy the privilege of a truly “insider’s view” of one of the most beautiful and culturally rich regions of

Discover the Touraine which is in the heart of the Loire Valley, known as the "valley of the kings" and "garden of France". You will explore the fascinating facets of this beautiful region and enjoy an intimate glimpse into its rich history and culture. Taste incredible food and wines, wander the countryside antique markets, bike through rolling vineyards and cruise down the Vienne and Loire rivers.

Day 1: Monday

• Arrival at the train station of or St Pierre des Corps • Visit of the gardens of the Castle of • Lunch with your exclusive guide in Villandry • Wine tasting in • Transfer to Chateau de Marçay (your hotel) • Dinner at l’Auberge de l’Ile

Arrival at Tours by TGV, the high-speed train from Paris or CDG Airport

You are met at the station of Tours or Saint Pierre-des-Corps. We start our tour, our first stop is 25’ away from the station. You will be hosted by your exclusive guide with a private coach.

Visit of the gardens of the Castle of Villandry

The acquisition of Villandry by Joachim Carvallo in 1906 marked a return to their roots for the gardens. Already known for their beauty in the Renaissance, different owners successively transformed them, now into a formal garden, now a romantic garden. With a scientist’s meticulousness, Carvallo recreated gardens that were worthy of the restored chateau. Ever since the construction of the Chateau of Villandry in 1532, outstanding gardens have embellished the building. The passage of time and changing fashions meant they underwent drastic changes in appearance.

Petit Ronsard – 3-day tour – 2019 version, subject to change without notice page 1 Archeological findings tell us how, in the Renaissance, there was a decorative kitchen garden at close proximity to the chateau.

As a man of science, he used a scientific approach to assemble a series of archeological and literary clues. By comparing the remains of walls and pipes against old plans, such as those of the Marquis de Castellane and the Napoleonic land register, Carvallo was able to recreate the decorative kitchen garden, while works like Les Plus Excellents bâtiments de France or the Monasticon Gallicanum gave him an idea of Renaissance landscaping.

Far from being a mere replica of gardens reproduced in architectural treatises, the gardens of Villandry are a reinvention. From their layout to the choice of vegetables, everything was conceived in terms of a return to the origins of the Renaissance formal garden. True to Joachim Carvallo, his descendants have undertaken to preserve and develop the Villandry estate with the rigor and selflessness that are the making of outstanding gardens.

Lunch in Villandry

A sweet interlude for food lovers… A delicious moment to share… A restaurant at immediate proximity to the chateau, but which manages to avoid being a tourist trap… Allow yourself to be seduced by a delicate, choice menu which is also quick!

Visit of the castle of

The Château de Langeais is a medieval castle in Indre-et-Loire, France, built on a promontory created by the small valley of the Roumer River at the opening to the Loire Valley. Founded in 992 by Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou, the castle was soon attacked by Odo I, Count of . After the unsuccessful attack, the now-ruined stone keep was built; it is one of the earliest datable stone examples of a keep. Between 994 and 996 the castle was besieged unsuccessfully twice more. During the conflict between the counts of Anjou and Blois, the castle changed hands several times, and in 1038 Fulk captured the castle again.

After it was destroyed during the Hundred Years' War, King Louis XI (1461–1483) rebuilt Château de Langeais into what today is one of the best-known examples of late medieval architecture. It is especially noted for its monumental and highly decorated chimneypieces. Restored in the late 19th century, Château de Langeais came under the control of the Institut de France , who own the site today. It is listed as a “monument historique ” by the French Ministry of Culture and is opened to the public.

Wine tasting in Panzoult

Domaine Hérault is located on the heights of the village, next to the Château de Panzoult. It covers 24 hectares of vineyards, from the plain to the hillside. Cabernet Franc has been grown here since 1964, and the year 2015 was marked by the planting of the Chenin grape varietal used for AOC white wine. The estate's wines are available in red, with the wines "La Barriquade", "Hérault- Ik", "Cuvée Tradition", and "Vieilles Vignes", as well as “rosé de saignée” and sparkling. The visitors are welcomed in an old cave carved in the “tuffeau stone”.

Petit Ronsard – 3-day tour – 2019 version, subject to change without notice page 2 Transfer to the Chateau de Marçay (hotel)

This 15th century castle is built on the ruins of an 11th century fortress. The successive owners and legacies parceled out this immense domain, hence all that is left is the Château and its outbuildings, a park planted with trees, vines and land over a 15 hectares area. This domain forms an island of greenery in the Chinon countryside, developed into a hotel and a restaurant which opened to the public in 1973.

The Château of Marçay offers 22 rooms, all different . Some have a view on the park, others on the main courtyard. The rooms of the château and its wing have been decorated in a «haute époque» style. Rooms in the “Pavillon des Vignes” are located on the ground and first floors of one of the dependencies of the château. They are facing the vineyards; their private and quiet environment makes them a place where families with children can play safely.

You will settle into your room at our chateau accommodations. You will have time to rest after your long trip.

Dinner at l’Auberge de l’Ile

Monday evening you are the guests of Genevieve and Pierre Koniecko at their gastronomic restaurant L’Auberge de l’Ile. Situated on the banks of the Vienne river, the Koniecko’s welcome you to share in their passion for seasonal and inventive local cuisine. We will dine either on the terrace overlooking the river or in their elegant dining room on Pierre’s contemporary creations dictated by local specialties and the choice of the season.

Day 2: Tuesday

• At "Le marché de " • Market lunch and wine tasting in a vineyard of Bourgueil • Visit of the castle fortress and medieval town of Chinon • Shopping moments in Chinon • Dinner at Auberge du Val de Vienne

At "Le marché de Bourgueil"

Visit one of the most attractive " marché à la française " and buy food for the next picnic/lunch in a vineyard of Bourgueil ; under the supervision of your guides you will buy your next meal! Enjoy and choose what you would like to discover, taste and eat the fresh food of your market! Most towns and large villages in France have a large market once a week; but in larger towns, markets may take place twice a week, or even every day. Typical French markets are a mix between the farmers' market and a traders' market, with stalls offering local produce straight from the farm standing alongside fruit and vegetable stalls, cheese stalls and other stalls offering a full range of produce. Today they are expanded versions of large weekly markets that attract more traders from a wider area; there will usually be an eclectic and colorful array of ironmonger, clothes stalls, large organic produce stalls, craft stalls, plus the normal range of fruit and vegetable sellers and much more. In rural areas, there is often a small funfair too. Virtually every French town has its covered market ( marché couvert ),

Petit Ronsard – 3-day tour – 2019 version, subject to change without notice page 3 which is a permanent structure, occupied by an array of market stalls; in a classic " marché couvert ", sometimes called " les Halles ", and it is the case in Bourgueil.

Market lunch and wine tasting in a vineyard of Bourgueil

Accompanying our delicious picnic will be a private tasting of Bourgueil wines led by an English- speaking specialist of the region. Bourgueil wines are made from the Cabernet Franc grape – the same varietal as Chinon. Bourgueil is often compared to the wines of the Medoc region in Bordeaux.

Enjoy an exclusive guided visit of the castle fortress and medieval town of Chinon

Fortress de Chinon is a castle located on the bank of the Vienne river in Chinon, France. It was founded by Theobald I, Count of Blois. In the 11th century the castle became the property of the counts of Anjou. In 1156 Henry II of England, a member of the House of Anjou, took the castle from his brother Geoffrey after he had rebelled for a second time. Henry favored the Château de Chinon as a residence: most of the standing structure can be attributed to his reign and he died there in 1189. Early in the 13th century, King Philip II of France fought the English for the lands in France and in 1205 he captured Chinon after a siege that lasted several months, after which the castle remained under French control. When King Philip accused the Knights Templar of heresy during the first decade of the 14th century, several leading members of the order were imprisoned there. Used by Charles VII in the 15th century, the Château de Chinon became a prison in the second half of the 16th century, but then fell out of use and was left to decay. It has been recognized as a " monument historique " by the French Ministry of Culture since 1840. The castle, which contains a museum, is now owned and managed by the Indre-et-Loire General Council and is a major tourist attraction. In the early 21st century it was restored at a cost of 14.5 million euros. The historic town of Chinon is on the banks of the Vienne river about 10 kilometers (6 mi) from where it joins the Loire. Settlement in Chinon dates from prehistoric times with a pronounced importance for both French and English histories in the Middle Ages. At this period rivers were the main trade routes, and the Vienne River joins both the fertile regions of the Poitou and the city of Limoges, and is a tributary of the Loire, which acted as a traffic thoroughfare. The site was fortified early on, and by the 5th century a Gallo- Roman castrum had been established there.

Dinner at Auberge du Val de Vienne

Trained at the cooking schools of Tours and Blois, Jean-Marie Gervais wanted to become a cook from the age of seven, and it was the love of Florence, his wife, who inspired him, in 1992, to launch his own restaurant. Started from scratch in an old road stop in 1992, the Auberge du Val de Vienne and "this young chef with inventive cuisine" was discovered by “Bottin Gourmand” in 1994, and then by the “guide du Routard” in 1997 and by the “Gault & Millau” guide in 2000. Fascinated by Asian cooking, Jean-Marie Gervais likes "to work simple things, to make the terroir speak", while adding a point of exoticism. His wild duck in spicy crust, his rack of lamb with thyme or his mellow chocolate cake are the pillars of a menu that changes with the seasons.

Make a gastronomic stop in this former post house (1870) in the heart of the Chinon vineyards. Warm décor blends perfectly with quality contemporary cuisine. - MICHELIN guide inspectors

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Day 3: Wednesday

• The Chapel of Sainte Radegonde • A gourmet picnic aboard a traditional river boat* • Visit "Château d'Azay le Rideau" • Winery visit and sparkling tasting et Chateau de l’Aulée • Back to Tours train station

Visit of Ste Radegonde Chapel

Following breakfast, we explore the secluded Chapel of Sainte Radegonde in the hills behind Chinon. Our exclusive guide will reveal the fascinating history of this chapel half built into the rock face on the eastern outer limits of the town. During Antiquity, a natural underground spring at the back of the actual chapel was a site used for pagan worship. The site was Christianized in the 6th century when Queen Radegonde, later named a Saint, supposedly came to visit the hermit John who lived there. The name of the sanctuary comes from this event. The chapel is decorated with some of the most beautiful and well-preserved frescos of the 12th century which tell the story of the power and intrigue of the Plantagenet family in Chinon.

A gourmet picnic aboard a traditional river boat*

We will then raise a glass of sparkling wine to toast our morning tour as we float down the Vienne river, enjoying our on-board picnic prepared by Jean Marie Gervais, Auberge de l’Auberge du Val de Vienne, as we cruise by riverside villages and the vineyards of the valley.

Visit "Château d'Azay le Rideau"

The first medieval château of Azay was built around 1119 by one of the first lords of the area, Ridel (or Rideau) of Azay, knight to Philippe Auguste, who built a fortress for defense in order to protect the road between Tours and Chinon. The château was burnt down by Charles VII in 1418 when the king, staying in Azay on the way to Chinon, was provoked by the Burgundy troops who were occupying the stronghold. During the reign of François, I, 1514 to 1527, reconstruction work of the château began in an attempt to reconcile the French art of building with Italian-style architectural forms and ornamental decoration. The château is thus one of the masterpieces of the early French Renaissance. In June 1528, the king confiscated the estate and offered it in 1533 to one of his companions in arms, Antoine Raffin, captain of the guard. In 1791, the château "abandoned and very run down" was sold to the marquis Charles de Biencourt, deputy for the noblesse at the States General. The château remained empty until it was purchased by the State on August 11, 1905, when it was immediately classified as a historical monument.

Petit Ronsard – 3-day tour – 2019 version, subject to change without notice page 5 "Winery visit and private sparkling tasting at Chateau de l’Aulée”

Le Château de l’Aulée et ses chais furent construits en 1856. Depuis 2004, l’Aulée c’est l’histoire passionnée d’une femme œnologue et de son mari tourangeau et d’un domaine exceptionnel. « Nous nous sommes installés sur le domaine avec la volonté d’élaborer des vins de haute expression ». Marielle (Œnologue champenoise, formée dans des maisons comme Pommery, Bricout ou Bollinger) s’engage dans une démarche de culture raisonnée et d’élaboration qualitative dans le respect de l’expression du terroir et de la biodiversité. En 2008, 6,50 hectares de vignes dans le Chinonais viennent s’ajouter afin de produire rouges et rosés en AOC Chinon ainsi que des bulles rosées en Touraine et en Crémant de Loire. En 2010, nous plantons 1 ha de Grolleau qui n’existait pas sur le domaine. Ce cépage originaire de la région, ancien, est tout à fait adapté à notre terroir. Il nous permettra de présenter entre autres un rosé en AOC Touraine Azay-Le-Rideau. Avec une production annuelle d’environ 230.000 bouteilles, 80% sont consacrés aux vins effervescents qui restent notre spécialité.

Return to Tours train station

Return to the station with your private coach. Please note that TGV may go direct from Tours/St Pierre des Corps to Roissy CDG.

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