Loire Valley Castles: Chenonceau, Amboise & Da Vinci Trip

Highlights

• Visit 3 iconic Loire Valley castles: Chenonceau, Amboise & Clos Lucé of Da Vinci
• Join a small group of no more than 7 guests for an exclusive experience
• Get picked up at your Paris hotel and travel in a comfortable Mercedes minivan
• Enjoy all entrance tickets and a guided Loire Valley wine tasting
• Explore with an English-speaking guide and enjoy free time for lunch in Amboise

Description

07:30 Departure to Loire Valley. Hotel Pick up. It is a 3-hour drive (240 km) on highway by our comfortable air conditioned Mercedes minivan to our first Castle Château de Chenonceau. One stop at a rest area will be made. The guide will give you general information about the French history connected to the Loire Valley Castles.

11:00 - 12:30 Chateau de Chenonceau and its Gardens visit with Guide explaining the history of the Castle and its construction. You will get as well the brochure with explanations of each room. Chenonceau nicknamed the "ladies’ castle" is remarkable for its feminine history of famous women of France such as Catherine de Medici as well as for its stunning architecture as well as unique arches over the River Cher. The Renaissance-style Gardens of Chenonceau with their more than 130,000 flowering plants will impress You as well.
12:30 Departure to Amboise city. It takes about 20 minutes. 

13:00 -14:00 Lunch break in Amboise city where You'll find many restaurants and cafes. We can as well recommend You or make a table reservation at a good restaurant.

14:00 - 15:30  Château Royal d'Amboise visit with Guide. Histopad (Interactive Videoguide) will be provided explaining the history of this Castle and of each room.
Amboise Castle is the grand 15th-century residence of King Charles VIII and an example of the transition of Gothic to Renaissance architecture. Learn the history of the castle Amboise which is known as birthplace of princes, the reign of Kings.
You will visit as well the grave of Leonardo Da Vinci who is buried in the Saint Hubert Chapel of the castle.

15:40 - 16:20 Wine Tasting of 7 wines at a local family winery that has existed for many centuries. You will learn how wines have been made for centuries and afterwards taste local wines with explanations. 

16:30 - 18:00  Chateau of Leonardo da Vinci Clos Luce visit with Guide. The Château du Clos Lucé is a castle located close to Château Royal d'Amboise to which it is connected by an underground passageway. Built by Hugues d'Amboise in 1471, the palace belonged once to the French king Charles VIII and afterwards to Leonardo da Vinci who lived there at the invitation of Francis I from 1516 until his death on 2 May 1519. Today it is a museum about Leonardo da Vinci's life, work and memory. Clos Luce is one of top 100 extraordinary destinations to explore 2021 by Time magazine.
18:00  Departure to Paris. It takes about 3 hours (230 km)

21:00 Coming back to Paris. Drop Off at Your hotel.