During the morning :
Visit of the "MUSEE DU COMPAGNONNAGE".
Unique in the world. Located inside the reception room (XIth c.) and monks' dormitory (XVth c.) of the former Saint Julien abbey. This museum tells the history, customs, and techniques of these training associations which also defended the workers rights. You will discover a great variety of crafts still existing or having disappeared, (locksmiths, confectioners, carpenters, roofers, etc.), tools, all sorts of masterworks the "Compagnons" had to create to deserve their title and honour "the fine work".

Lunch on your own.

Departure towards CHENONCEAU
Sightseeing of the chateau of CHENONCEAU. Built in the XVIth c., it is one of the purest Early French Renaissance style works. The square dwellings, built in the riverbed itself on the piles of a fortified mill, the square building is the original chateau. On the bridge built by Diane, rises The two-level gallery completed by Catherine de Medicis. You will discover the guardroom, the chapel, a superb 60 metres long gallery above the Cher river, Diane de Poitier and François 1st rooms. In the upper levels, you will admire the bedrooms of Gabrielle d'Estrees, Catherine de Medicis and Louise of Lorraine… Settled inside the two piles of the former mill anchored in the Cher river bed, the kitchens will reveal the art and ingenuity of the Renaissance builders. Not far from the gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis, stands "La Galerie des Dames de Chenonceau" settled in the former Royal stables. Here are told the dreams, ambitions, the great projects and the destinies of those women who made the history of the place. A walk in the French style gardens will provide a pleasant end to your tour with your car.

You will drive back to by VOUVRAY, small village built at the foot of the cliff where cave dwellings are dug in the rock. Ii is also the Vouvray wine area, famous for its white wine from the IV th century, during which Saint Martin introduced the vineyards. Guided tour of the "Cave des producteurs de Vouvray" and tasting. Located in the heart of the Vouvray vineyards, this wine cellar groups together 50 wine producers attached to their land, traditions and quality. The wines are strictly selected and bottled, are aging inside the cellars, galleries dug into the rock which are more than 2 kilometres long. Deep inside those cellars, you will be told the secrets of the making of the sparkling and still wines.

8:00 pm
Dinner in a city centre restaurant of Tours. Accommodation at your 2, 3 or 4 star hotel or bed and breakfast in the city centre of Tours.

DAY 2

Breakfast.

Departure with your car towards AMBOISE following the Loire river. On your way, you will be able to admire the beautiful landscape of the Loire river which slowly flows between the golden sandy islets. Visit of the chateau of Amboise. Built during the XVth and XVIth centuries by Kings Charles VIIIth, Louis XIIth and François 1st, Amboise was really the first royal residence. You will discover its French Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles. Today, the chateau still owns an exceptional collection of furniture, beautifully preserved. Leonardo da Vinci is buried inside the St Hubert chapel, built during the XVth century in the Flamboyant Gothic style. From the gardens, overlooking, the town of Amboise, you will discover one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Loire valley.

Lunch on your own.

During the afternoon :
Visit the CLOS LUCE in Amboise: a Renaissance style manor house, where Leonardo de Vinci spent the last years of his life. You will discover freely the Leonardo da Vinci park in three stages. The chateau itself where you enter Leonardo’s privacy (his bedroom , study, a kitchen and beautiful Renaissance style rooms ) and the exhibitions of 40 of his fabulous machines. Then, in the garden you will leave for an initiatory trip with Leonardo and his disciple. You will activate 12 giant machines, and listen to leonardo’s thoughts at 8 different spots and you will also admire 32 translucent paintings or sketches. Finally the "Halle" where Leonardo’s world will be explained thanks to the modern technologies : a giant image entertainment, the flying machine, a film on a big screen and 5 thematic stalls.
Back to Tours at the end of the afternoon.

8:00 pm
Dinner in a city centre restaurant of Tours. Accommodation at your 2, 3 or 4 star hotel or bed and breakfast in the city centre of Tours.

DAY 3

Breakfast.

In the morning :

Departure with your car towards Azay-le-Rideau. Visit the CHATEAU OF AZAY-LE-RIDEAU. The chateau was built on an island in the middle of the Indre river and surrounded by greenery . It is a perfect example of the Early French Renaissance architecture., Punctuated by towers and turrets, The two right angle wings show the perfect combination between traditional elements and others influenced by the Italian art. The furnished rooms are decorated with a lovely collection of XVIth and XVIIth c. Flemish and French tapestries. Continue towards Villandry.

Lunch on your own.

Visit the GARDENS OF VILLANDRY. They surround like, a jewellery box, the last great Early French Renaissance château built on the banks of the Cher river (1536). You will walk through one of the most beautiful gardens in France distributed on three levels : the water garden, surrounded by a cloister made of linden trees , the ornamental garden, displaying its "love", "music" and herb gardens, the kitchen garden, over 12,500 m2, which reproduces the shape of an authentic multicoloured checkerboard divided in nine squares where vegetables and fruit trees are symmetrically planted.
Back to Tours at the end of the afternoon.

8:00 pm
Dinner in a city centre restaurant of Tours. Accommodation at your 2,3 or 4 star hotel or bed and breakfast in the city centre of Tours.

DAY 4

Breakfast.

Morning on your own for shopping ( many shops, flowers market, flee market…), or guided tour of the city ( schedule available at the tourist office) visit of the museums of Tours ( a pass for the entrances of the different museums of Tours is available at the tourist office)

Lunch on your own in Tours.

Departure with an air conditioned minibus with a driver for a second excursion discovering the Loire valley chateaux ( visits on your own). On your way, you will be able to admire the beautiful landscape of the Loire river which slowly flows between the golden sandy islets and which is now part of the UNESCO world heritage. Departure with an air conditioned minibus with a driver for a second excursion discovering the Loire valley chateaux ( visits on your own). On your way, you will be able to admire the beautiful landscape of the Loire river which slowly flows between the golden sandy islets and which is now part of the UNESCO world heritage.

You will also have the best view on the chateau of CHAUMONT SUR LOIRE and you will visit the chateau of CHAMBORD. More than 4 centuries after it was built, it still mystifies one’s imagination : 156 meters of façade, 56 meters high, 440 rooms… Built as a fortress, with its keep, fortification and massive corner towers, the fantasy of the gothic style roof crowned with chimneys, turrets and dormer windows makes it look like the fantastic palaces met in novels of chivalry. Chambord is a dream come true for a young king of 25 years, François 1st, who was fond of the Loire valley way of life and full of pride for his military success and who wanted to have built the most sumptuous hunting meeting place ever seen.


Then, The chateau of CHEVERNY. The chateau which was used as example by Hergé to draw Moulinsart, will amaze you by the wealth and density of its furniture and the authentic and refined charm of its decoration. Inhabited all year long by the owners, the estate of Cheverny belongs to the family Hurault well known people and councillors of the Kings Louis XII, François 1st, Henri III and Henri IV. The tradition of fox hunting is kept and respected. 70 hounds live in the kennel and their feeding called "la soupe" has remained an astonishing spectacle.
Back to Tours around 6:45 pm.

8:00 pm
Dinner in a city centre restaurant of Tours. Accommodation at your 2, 3 or 4 star hotel or bed and breakfast in the city centre of Tours.

DAY 5

Breakfast.

Departure with your car towards Rigny-Ussé :
Guided Visit of the CHATEAU OF USSE, "the Sleeping Beauty's Chateau" located in the green Indre river valley. It is the very image of a beautiful castle, the one which inspired poets and authors of fairy tales: built with the local limestone , with a multitude of roofs, pinnacles, dormer windows, and chimneys. You will discover: the guardroom, the former chapel, the large gallery with many tapestries, and king's bedroom hung with red silk and lovely Louis XVIth style furniture. Inside the keep, be enchanted by the Tale of the Sleeping Beauty with the famous Wicked Witch and Princess... and Prince Charming. Indeed, , Charles Perrault, author of this tale, was inspired by the château when writing this famous story.

Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon :
Continue towards Langeais following the Loire river. Visit the chateau of LANGEAIS. Built during the middle of the 15th century, this chateau is the starting point of an opening to the Renaissance period of time even if the building is still very medieval : massive round towers, parapet walkway with crenels and machicolation, drawbridge. All those elements enable to evoke the way of life of a Lord during the 15th century. Its originality lies in the furnishing : furniture, wooden panelling, fabrics, sculptures, paintings. You will also admire the treasure of this museum : a collection of gothic and Renaissance styles tapestries.