PROPOSAL FOR VAL DE LOIRE TRIP - 2017 PROGRAMME DAY 1 : AMBOISE Flight arrives at 09.00 am in CDG Airport Private transfer with minivan from CDG Airport to Amboise (250 km) Check-in in a small and charming 4* hôtel for 5 nights Its luxurious rooms (16-30 sqm), tastefully decorated in a mixture of styles, have each their own personality. Air conditioning, Internet, free WIFI in the lounges and in the rooms. Continental breakfast : juices, ham, cheese, fruits, breads, homemade cakes In the heart of the royal city of Amboise, its location is ideal, in the city center, 2 steps from the Royal Castle of Amboise and the Castle of Clos Lucé last home of Leonardo da Vinci, and the Royal Estate of Château Gaillard. Free day in Amboise to enjoy the visit the Château d Amboise, Clos Lucé or Château Gaillard. All of them are walking distance.
DAY 2 : CHAMBORD AND SOLOGNE Aboard your minivan, with your private english-speaking driver&guide, drive to CHAMBORD Chambord is an exceptional work of art and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Erected for the glory of king François I, it is emblematic of the French Renaissance across the globe. 282 chimneys, 440 rooms, 800 capitals and 15 staircases, including the famous double spiral staircase. And, on the outside, a 32 kmlong wall and a 5,400-hectare park Commissioned by Louis XIV, but completed only during the reign of Louis XV, the gardens existed for over two centuries prior to gradually disappearing during the years before the two world wars. Integrally restored in 2017, they occupy approximately sixteen acres at the foot of the château. After the visit, enjoy a tour in the SOLOGNE. Hiking along the lakefronts of the Sologne or in the heart of its forests offers you the opportunity to discover the carefully-protected treasures of the region s exceptional natural environment. DAY 3 : BLOIS AND CHEVERNY Before leaving for the day, you can have a walk in the typical weekly market of Amboise, one of the largest and most popular of the region. Situated on a promontory in the heart of town, the Château of BLOIS boasts one of the most beautiful views s of the royal river and the ancient streets of Blois. Throughout the centuries, dramas, plots and power games have played out in the Royal Chateau. The Chateau itself is a concentration of French history s great architectural periods. From the courtyard, a unique and majestic view opens up for you. In turn, your eyes will rest upon Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and Classical facades. A magical place which enchants visitors of all ages. The Château de Cheverny is a grand estate which has been in the same family for over six centuries. Cheverny has always been lived in and every generation has made a great effort to take care and embellish it with a true passion. In 1922 it was one of the first private homes to open its doors to the public. Visitors can appreciate the splendour and delight of real life in a castle. The owners invite you to discover this fantastic and vivid heritage.
DAY 4 : CHENONCEAU AND LOCHES Property of the Crown, then royal residence, Chenonceau Castle is an exceptional site not only because of its original design, the richness of its collections, its furniture and its decorations, but also because of its destiny, since it was loved, administrated and protected by women, who were all extraordinary and who, for the most part have marked history. For the historical background, the Château des Dames was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, and successively embellished by Diane de Poitiers then Catherine de Medici. Chenonceau was protected from the hardship of the revolution by Madame Dupin. The iron, but very feminine, fist in the velvet glove has always preserved Chenonceau during times of conflict and war in order to make it forever a place of peace. A town of art and history, classified among the "Most Beautiful Détours de France", Loches has an astonishing wealth of heritage which makes of it an exceptional medieval city in the heart of the Loire Castles Valley. Perched on a rocky outcrop, Loches is one of the few medieval French cities to still have almost all of its ramparts of the 12th century. DAY 5 : CHAUMONT SUR LOIRE Festival International des Jardins (International Garden Festival) The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire has become a must in the field of art and gardens. The triple identity of the estate: patrimonial, artistic and gardening makes it a singular place in the circuit of the Loire castles. The designers of the 2017 edition are asked to propose to the public new, contemporary, original scenarios, designed to surprise, enchant, make dream come true by associating and valuing flowers differently. From gardens to gardens, you will meet flowers never seen, unexpectedly assembled, playing on accumulation and surprises of all kinds. The ticket enables access to the Garden Festival, the Goualoup Park and the Historic Grounds, but does not include access to the Château and Stables.
DAY 6 : TRANSFER AMBOISE CHINON (80km) Private transfer from Amboise to Chinon. Check-in in a charming 3* hotel in the heart of Chinon for 4 nights character. Located in the Regional Natural Park Loire-Anjou- Touraine, the 3* hotel is a beautifully restored residence dating from the 16th century and nestled in the heart of the birthplace of Rabelais, in the medieval center of Chinon. This romantic hotel combines comfort and warmth with tradition, close to the cobbled streets of a city with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Decorated in a harmonious way, all the 31 rooms have a unique Air conditioning - Free Wi-Fi. Free day in Chinon to visit on your own the town and the fortress. The site is remarkable for being built on several levels between the River Vienne and the chalk cliff where the fortress was built. DAY 7 : AZAY LE RIDEAU AND VILLANDRY The castle of Azay-le-Rideau was built on an island in the middle of the Indre river during the reign of François Ier. Subtle alliance of French traditions and innovative decors from Italy, it is an icon of the new art of building of the Val-de-Loire in the 16th century. With its unique furnishings, décor and atmosphere, the Château de Villandry is a living testimony of French heritage. It is the last of the great châteaux of the Loire built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. The sober elegance of its architecture combined with the charm of its outstanding gardens make this one of the jewels of world heritage.
DAY 8. : VINEYARDS AND CHATEAU DU RIVEAU Loire Valley wines are known for their excellent value and moderate alcohol, as well as their refreshing acidity and minerality, and the pure expression of the varietal and terroir. For an unforgettable moment, enjoy a tour of vines and cellar, followed by a wine tasting in a historic tasting room. Then choose a bottle of wine to enjoy with your picnic lunch, thoughtfully packed with selected seasonal and local delicacies. This is an exceptional picnic experience over-looking Cabernet Franc vines and the peaceful and serene Loire Valley countryside. After lunch A unique blend of medieval and Renaissance architecture, Château du Rivau is a beautifully restored French castle set in the heart of Touraine. Although one of the lesserknown Loire valley castles, it seems to come straight out of a fairy tale, thanks to its imposing keep, protective drawbridge and glorious gardens. The gardens of castle Rivau are labelled "Remarkable Gardens" by the Ministry of Culture of France. Created over more than 20 years, the Rivau gardens are contemporary gardens that evolve with the seasons. There are Naturalistic Gardens, that change every day. There are always 2 out of the 14 gardens that are at their climax between April and October, with interesting associations between star plants and plants shedding favorable light on those star plants. DAY 9 : FONTEVRAUD ABBEY Fontevraud Royal Abbey is unrivalled in terms of its rich history, closely linked to the history of France and even of Europe. It is also unique in its configuration. From the moment you arrive you realise the unusual scale of the site: thirteen hectares of ancient buildings sitting within a lush landscape. At the heart of all this is the main priory, which links the Abbey s most beautiful buildings the magnificent abbey church, which overlooks the entire site, the Romanesque kitchens, the chapter house, the cloisters and their gardens regularly adorned by contemporary artworks, the great dormitory that permanently houses a work by Claude Lévêque Further on,the Saint-Benoît area and the Saint-Lazare priory are perfect for a stroll, as are the gardens, where vegetables, herbs and fruit trees create the ideal landscape for reflection.
DAY 10 : TRANSFER TO PARIS CITY CENTRE (290 km) It s now time to leave the fabulous Loire Valley. Your private driver will transfer you from Chinon to Paris where you can enjoy a free day. He drops you off at a charming 4* hotel. Recently renovated and decorated in classic style, this fully air conditioned charming property offers 41 rooms with all the comfort of the big hotels: private bathrooms, direct dial telephone, flat screen televisions and WiFi access.the hotel enjoys a strategic location in the heart of the city's most elegant of Paris' 8th arrondissement, only a few steps from the famous Champs Elysées. DAY 11. : Private transfer to CDG Airport, according to the flight schedule. END OF SERVICES Please note that the program can be slightly changed if necessary (weather, timing, availability ). Visits can be invert. Non contractual photos
QUOTATION 20107 ON BASIS 8 PEOPLE, PER PERS, HIGH SEASON : From 1990 Including : - Private transfer with minivan from CDG airport to Amboise - 5 nights - 4 double rooms B&B in Amboise in a 4* hotel - 4 nights - 4 double rooms B&B in Chinon in a 3* hotel (basis standard room) - 1 night - 4 double rooms B&B in Paris in a 4* hotel (basis superior room) - A private english speaking driver&guide for all the excursions (basis 8 hours tour) - Ticket fees in following places : o Chambord castle o Blois castle o Cheverny castle o Loches castle o Chaumont sur Loire : Festival international des Jardins o Azay le Rideau castle o Villandry castle o Rivau castle o Fontevraud Abbey - Visit including lunch in a vineyard Not included : - Liability insurance and repatriation (option) : 6,5% of the total price - Personal expenses - Meals appart from breakfasts - Meals for the driver during all the excursions/transfers - Ticket fees for castles or visits not part of «Including» - Generally : everything not part of «Including»