Castles & tourist sites

Price: €15.90 (public price: €16.90) Imagine a palace delicately poised above the Loire, with gardens suspended between heaven and earth... It's hardly surprising that Amboise was a favorite site for the kings of France as they transformed their country during the Renaissance. Charles VIII and François I, Leonardo da Vinci and the iconic Queen Anne de Bretagne are all familiar faces here. Even today, the view is breathtaking! A 360° panorama of landscapes listed as a World Heritage Site. A castle open to nature, a haven of peace for birds, Amboise is also a place of innovation, where innovations such as the HistoPad enhance the experience. LPO Refuge.

Price: €6.50 (public price: €7.50) From the remains of the ancient church where Ronsard is buried to the gardens that 12th century canons saw as a “paradise on earth”, the former monastery has retained its historical, spiritual and poetic dimension. Today, it offers a wide range of visitor itineraries linking different eras and arts through the prism of architecture, poetry and contemporary art.  Its eclectic program, its facilities that appeal to all five senses and its interactive mediation are all invitations to learn, be surprised and relax, with family or friends.  The Saint-Cosme priory is a timeless place whose forms never cease to renew themselves.

Price: €6.50 (public price: €7.50) Nestling in the Indre valley, the Château de Saché was one of Honoré de Balzac's favourite places of inspiration, and today houses a museum dedicated to this great writer. The furnished rooms recreate the atmosphere of the 19th century, and the exhibition rooms display the collections, which include some 2,300 items: furniture, old editions, manuscripts (including three collections of corrected proofs of Le Lys dans la vallée), sculptures (including several original works by Auguste Rodin), paintings, prints, drawings and photographs.  The two-hectare park invites you to contemplate the surrounding countryside, from the village of Saché to the Indre valley.  Shows, readings, workshops and themed tours.

Price: €12 (public price: €13) The Fortress of Montbazon, the stronghold of the terrible Count of Anjou, Foulques III Nerra, dominates the Indre valley and the town of Montbazon from the top of its rocky spur. It is one of our oldest military constructions. Home to the oldest keep in France still standing, its history stretches from the end of the 10th century to the 15th. As well as a particularly immersive guided tour, you can discover the trades of the Middle Ages through skits and demonstrations: war machines in action, weapons master, stone cutter, potter, herbalist, calligrapher...  Children can try their hand at a host of medieval games, and leave with their knight of the fortress diploma! The fortress tavern serves fouées, salads, planks and other delicacies.