Chateaux of the Loire by rail
Experience the fantastic Loire Valley on this fabulous six-day holiday by rail. From your base in Tours, you will explore the Château of Chenonceau, one of France’s most impressive buildings, and the imposing Abbey of Fontevraud, the final resting place of Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine. After the visit, take a trip to a local vineyard for a taste of the wines that make the Loire Valley famous. After a day exploring Tours, you’ll travel to Amboise , home to Clos Lucé Manor and the opulent Château d’Amboise, built by the French monarchy with no expense spared.
Itinerary in brief: London - Tours - Chenonceaux - Amboise - London
Journey in detail:
Day 1 - By train to Tours or Chenonceaux
You will be travelling from London St Pancras to Paris by Eurostar, and have a light meal and drinks during the journey. On arrival in the French capital you will change trains and continue on the high-speed service to Tours (Standard Class). In Tours, you will take a coach to the Hotel L’Univers, where you will stay for five nights. Dinner is included in the hotel this evening.
5 nights accommodation at Hotel L’Univers, Tours.
Day 2 - The Château of Chenonceau
Today’s excursion is to the marvellous Château of Chenonceau, one of France’s most impressive buildings. The stunning structure was built in 1515, and the château’s grand arches span the tranquil River Cher. You will be taking a guided tour of the beautiful building’s grand rooms and ornate furniture, followed by lunch in a local restaurant. Free time in the afternoon for you to continue exploring the famous château and its pretty gardens.
Day 3 - An ancient abbey and fine wines
This morning, you will be heading west by coach along the river to the beautiful Abbey of Fontevraud, founded in 1101 by Robert d’Arbrissel. The white-walled buildings and vast size of the complex, which occupies an area of 14 hectares, made the Abbey of Fontevraud the most prestigious in royal Europe. The abbey is the last resting place of some of the great Plantagenets, including Richard the Lionheart, Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. After a guided visit of the fascinating abbey, you will depart by coach to a local vineyard, near Saumur where you will be given a tour of the premises followed by a wine tasting. Dinner is included in the hotel this evening.
Day 4 - A day at leisure
Today you are free to explore the town. Tours is a UNESCO World Heritage site set on the banks of the River Loire, famous for its rich and architectural heritage. Its original medieval district, le Vieux Tours, is full of beautifully-preserved half-timbered buildings built around the atmospheric Place Plumereau, a bustling square lined with cafés, boutiques and galleries, and is well worth a visit. Dinner is included in the hotel this evening.
Day 5 - Clos Lucé Manor and Château d’Amboise
Today, you will be travelling by train to historic Amboise, a town which has built up around two fascinating and iconic buildings; Clos Lucé Manor and Château d’Amboise. Clos Lucé is an impressive mansion where Renaissance artist and scholar Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life. Visitors can marvel at giant working models of his inventions and huge translucent panels which depict sketches and details from his paintings. You will have some free time to explore the manor and its park independently.
After lunch you will walk to the impressive Château d’Amboise for a guided tour. Château Amboise was built by Louis XI and Charles VIII of France, with no expense spared, in order to provide a fortified residence of unparalleled opulence. Designed to be an impenetrable fortress to replace the castle in nearby Plessis, where Kings had previously resided, the château has two round towers flanking the royal palace, all built above massive structural walls. The chapel of Saint-Hubert, within the château complex, is alleged to be the burial place of Leonardo Da Vinci.
The château gardens, which have UNESCO World Heritage status, are beautifully presented and fascinating to explore and offer delightful views of the Loire Valley.
As this is the final night of the holiday, there will be a farewell dinner in the hotel.
Day 6 - By train to London
Following breakfast, this morning you will be travelling by coach to Tours station. Here you will join the high-speed rail service to Paris. You will cross Paris by coach and connect with the Eurostar service back to London, enjoying a light meal and drinks on board.
This tour includes:
First and Standard Class rail and coach travel.
Standard Premier Class on Eurostar with meals and drinks.
4 nights hotel accommodation (B&B basis).
1 lunch, 4 dinners.
Guided tour of the Chateau of Chenonceau.
Guided tour of the Abbey of Fontevraud.
Wine Tasting.
Entrance to Clos Luce Manor.
Guided tour of Chateau d’Amboise (travelling by train on LTB depatures).
All transfers.
Services of Tour Manager throughout.
To book, call 0845 643 6563
To book this travel offer, call one of our tailor-made travel experts now, quoting reference WEX102138.
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