Loire castles tour from paris. Tours to France

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Days of the excursion: any day from Monday to Sunday
Start of the excursion: 9:00
Meeting point for small groups: at the Monceau metro station, line 2 ()
Duration of the trip: 12 hours
Transport: comfortable minivan for 8 passengers
Included: driver-guide services, transport, toll roads and parking, wine tasting
Not included: entry tickets, personal expenses, meals ()
Price in a mini-group of 5 - 8 people: 100 € per person
Individual excursion:
1 - 4 people: 650€
5 - 6 people: 700€
7 - 8 people: 750€

TRIP DESCRIPTION:

This is one of the largest and most beautiful castles in the Loire. It was erected under the leadership of the Great French King Francis I according to the project developed by the genius Leonarodo Da Vinci. The castle is so magnificent that it is hard to believe that it has never been the main royal residence. Such a "modest" hunting lodge for the French king.

- castle of five queens or castle-bridge. From the modern parking lot to the castle, you need to walk several hundred meters along a wide shady alley to make a big leap in time several centuries ago. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, marvel at the charm of the women's castle, which, by the way, is considered the most beautiful in the entire Loire Valley, learn about palace intrigues, conspiracies and betrayals. The visit also includes a walk in the park and a visit to the wax museum, which is located on the territory of the castle.

Amboise / Clos Luce

The history of Amboise is so rich that it is difficult to overestimate its importance in fate medieval France... Here, at your own discretion, you can visit the royal castle-fortress Amboise or the Clos Luce estate, where the great Florentine Leonardo lived and worked. And perhaps you will be so perspicacious that you will have time to visit both places, especially since each of them is attractive in its own way and is worth your attention.

Blois

The last stop is Blois, which during centenary war was temporarily the capital of the French kingdom. You will learn some of the secrets of the royal castle of the same name, as well as significant historical figures who were noted here in their time.

The Loire River crosses France from the southeast to the northwest; in its valley in the Middle Ages, European rulers and influential nobles began to build castles. Now this area is called the Valley of Castles because of several dozen chateau, which were built in different styles. The concentration of attractions here is so great that the entire valley was included in the list World heritage UNESCO.

It was here that fate was decided European states, intrigues were woven and the future rulers of France were brought up. Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Honore de Balzac, Stendhal and other writers drew inspiration here.

Each of the castles is strategically located and presents an amazing architectural ensemble, well blended into the landscape. It is almost impossible to inspect all the castles in one go. Travelers admit that having seen several chateau, they will definitely want to come back here and visit the rest. It is advisable to purchase the Passeport Val de Loire pass, which costs approximately 25 euros. It entitles you to visit 10 attractions throughout the year. If you visit the castles in the summer, you are guaranteed to see the many colorful shows, performances and exhibitions that are held in each chateau. When planning a trip for the fall, you can be sure that there will be no heat and a lot of tourists.

Loire Valley Castles

One of the most recognizable chateau - Chambord - was built in the 16th century by order of the King of France Francis I. He wished to settle here in order to be closer to his lady of the heart - the Countess of Turi. The walls of the castle are still decorated with the coat of arms of this noble lady. The name of the architect has not survived to this day, but numerous studies show that Leonardo da Vinci, who worked at the court of Francis I, took part in the design. During the construction, it was even planned to change the course of the Loire so that it flows right in front of the castle, but this idea was later abandoned ...

The Blois palace was the favorite residence of the kings Francis I and Louis XII and is now the largest castle in the Loire Valley. Truly dramatic events took place here in the 16th century. King Henry III lured his enemy Heinrich of Giza and his brother-cardinal here and ordered them to be killed. A few weeks later, the king's mother, Catherine de Medici, died here.

The castle of Amboise in its modern form was built in the 15th century, then it was owned by the powerful Amboise family. Later, the owner of the castle was accused of conspiracy against the king, and the estate was seized in favor of the treasury. Amboise was connected by an underground passage to the Clou estate, where the house-museum of Leonardo da Vinci is now located. It is believed that here he worked on "La Gioconda" and died here in 1519. This artist, scientist and inventor is buried in the chapel of St. Hubert.

Not far from the ancient Chenonceau is the castle of the same name, which was nicknamed "ladies'". This chateau is one of the most visited in France, although it is privately owned. The construction began at the beginning of the 16th century, almost completely destroying ancient fortress, which was at this place. In 1580, a wing was completed on the bridge over the river. At various times, Francis I, Henry II, Catherine de Medici, Francis II and Mary Stuart, Henry III and Louis XIV... Later, the castle was abandoned for some time, and later given over to the Capuchin monastery. During the First World War, there was a hospital here, and after the occupation of northern France by Nazi Germany, the castle served as a contact point for local partisans.

One of the most prominent representatives of the Renaissance is the Villandry Palace. It differs from all the others in its magnificent multi-level gardens, the most famous of which - Gardens of Love - a real work of art. At the beginning of the 20th century, this castle was acquired by a married couple - Dr. Joaquim Carvalho and Anna Coleman, now the estate belongs to their great-grandson.

The oldest surviving stone fortress in France is the Langeais castle. It was founded in the 10th century by order of the founder of the ruling dynasty of the Plantagenets, Fulk the Black, and was later expanded by Richard the Lionheart. During a hundred-year war with the British, the castle was partially destroyed, leaving only the main tower, which can be seen now. The rest of the castle was built later, in the 15th century.

Each of the dozens of Loire Valley castles has its own amazing story, in which intrigue, war, love and lust for power are intertwined. The palaces built in the Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles have kept the secrets of their owners for several centuries, but they are ready to open this veil for travelers interested in the rich heritage of France.

Holidays in the Loire Valley

There are many ways to get around the French Valley of Castles, the choice depends on the individual traveler's preferences. Someone more like to travel as part of an excursion group on a tourist bus, someone - to use the services public transport... The most convenient way is to rent a car, in this case, you should stock up on maps or a reliable navigator in advance - it is not so easy to understand the intricacies of rural roads. Some people like the wind in their hair and the most environmentally friendly transport - a bicycle. Such travelers are advised to explore the paths of the Loire a Velo cycling route, but keep in mind that to see the maximum number of castles, you will have to travel more than 200 kilometers.

Rent a room in a small hotel or rent a room from local residents can be found in almost every village. Tours and Blois are convenient starting points for exploring the valley. It is better to book accommodation in advance, especially if the trip is planned for the summer - at this time there are many who want to see with their own eyes the wonders of French architecture.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Days of the excursion: any day of the week
Start: 9:00 am
Meeting point for small groups: Monceau metro station, line 2 ()
Duration: 12 hours
Transport: comfortable minivans for 8 passengers
Included in the price: driver-guide services, transport, toll roads and parking, wine tasting
Not included in the price: entrance tickets, meals (), personal expenses.

Mini-group cost up to 8 people: 100 € per person

The cost of an individual excursion:
1-4 people: 650 € per group
5-6 people: 700 € per group
7-8 people: 750 € per group

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCURSION:

Chambord

The first stop is around 11:15 am - a unique "hunting lodge" of truly royal size, founded in 1519 by the greatest French king Francis the First, according to the project of the genius Florentine Leonardo da Vinci.
The driver-guide will tell you the history of the creation of the castle and will help you purchase tickets to visit Chambord.
In general, you will have about 2 hours to explore Chambord.
For a subsequent visit, all the other castles of the Loire are selected as close as possible, you will spend no more than 20 minutes on the way from castle to castle.

Chenonceau

The travel company Travel Plan "Travel Collection DSBW" as a specialist in France offers in 2020 not only Paris tours for a week or a weekend, with a different set of excursions and without. Our main difference is that we specialize in sightseeing tours by provinces of France for mini-groups of up to 12 people, which provide the greatest level of comfort during a sightseeing trip.

We have a wonderful program on a regular basis "Paris - Normandy - Brittany"(held every two weeks), "Exclusive travel in Normandy - Brittany"(conducted several times a year), a wonderful tour (rarely conducted), and "Colors of Provence" other interesting tours in the South of France. Provinces of France are waiting for you in our tours: Normandy, Brittany, Provence, Cote d'Azur, Languedoc-Roussillon, Aquitaine, Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace.

In the South of France, we offer the tour "Colors of Provence" - a region that we know and love well, there is a wonderful exclusive program "Travel Southern provinces France "for 8 days and his older brother" big Adventure in the Southern provinces of France + Colors of Provence "for 12 days. This is really a great trip, full of impressions, but not tiring, despite the length and abundance of visited cities and attractions. All tours, of course, can be combined with an extension of your stay in Nice or rest resort towns French Riviera France.

Perhaps it is worth mentioning one more program "Spain - France - Catalonia". It can be combined well with a holiday on the Spanish Costa Brava.

The programs are carried out on our comfortable buses with experienced drivers and guides. Our own transport allows us not only to provide a high class of service, but also to guarantee all the stated dates of the tours. We wish you a vivid travel experience in France.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Mini-group cost up to 8 people: 100 € per person

The cost of an individual excursion:
1-4 people: 650 € per group
5-6 people: 700 € per group
7-8 people: 750 € per group

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCURSION:

Chambord

Chenonceau