Visit three of the Loire Valley’s most famous castles: Château de Chenonceau, Château de Chambord, and Château de Cheverny, and experience what life was like during the Renaissance period.
Loire Valley Castles Day Trip
We'll meet at the designated time in front of the Hotel Pullman Paris Bercy and head south toward the famous Loire Valley castles. The drive will take around 3 hours.
Our first stop is the Château de Chenonceau. Known as the Ladies' Castle, it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, later remodeled by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici, and saved from the French Revolution by Madame Dupin. Its feminine legacy has kept it free from conflict, making it a place of rare peace and beauty.
From there, we'll continue along the Loire Valley to the Château de Chambord, the largest castle in the region and one of the most famous in the world thanks to its French Renaissance architecture. Construction began in 1519 on the orders of Francis I, who wanted it as a hunting residence. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
Before moving on, we'll make a stop in the area for around 1 hour so you can grab lunch on your own.
To round off the day trip, we'll head to the Château de Cheverny, a Renaissance-style palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most famous castles in the Loire Valley, it has belonged to the Hurault family, known in Blois since the 13th century. Its architecture also inspired cartoonist Hergé when designing the famous Château de Moulinsart in the Tintin comics. You're going to love it!
Finally, we'll make our way back to the meeting point in Paris, wrapping up this 13-hour 15-minute day trip.
Tour Options
During the booking process, you can choose the option you prefer, depending on how you'd like to do the day trip:
- Tour with a guide: an English-speaking guide will accompany you during the tour of the castles.
- Tour with an audio guide: you'll visit on your own, with an audio guide in English that will explain every detail.
- Self-guided tour: in this case, admission to the castles is included, and you can explore them at your own pace.
All options are the same length.