the gardens of the LOIRE valley

Please meet your Tour Director, Timothée the next morning at the Paris Airport

Tour starts at 10:00 AM at CDG Airport. Your Tour Manager will welcome you to Paris.
Arrive Paris – Transfer to your accommodations in the Loire Valley. En route, stop by the Castle of Chambord, the biggest Royal Castle in France. You will have some free time to stroll the grounds and walk around the castle and enjoy some free time for lunch at one of the small coffee shops there. Meals B, D (on plane)

Today  you will visit the  Rivau Castle and its gardens, guided by the owner.
It would seem as if Château de Rivau had sprung from a fairy tale… A shrine to the medieval castle, yet the fairy tale gardens are a contemporary creation.
The fourteen splendid thematic gardens of the Château du Rivau are original and all have fairy-tale names.
The gardens boast an amazing collection of irises and a unique collection of 450 varieties of fragrant roses, which has been labeled by the Conservatory of Specialized Plant Collections.

This afternoon, Savour the monastic charms of the 12th century Royal Abbey Of Fontevraud and its Gardens. Meals B,L,D

This morning enjoy a visit to the Prieuré de Saint Cosme, a fifteenth-century priory, famous as the last residence of Pierre de Ronsard, (the Prince of poets) who lived here between 1565 and 1585 where the monks welcomed him into their community. He divided his time between his writing, walks, prayer and gardening, taking inspiration from his peaceful surroundings. On the site today you can see the ruins of the priory and the prior's lodge in all its austere splendour. You get to stand in Ronsard's writing room and in there you can see where some of his inspiration may have come from! In 1988 it was decided that his love of roses should be commemorated by the development of a formal garden surrounding the priory. Each year, in spring it plays host to the 'Days of the rose' evoking his famous lines: "Live so my advice, do not wait until tomorrow. Pick today the roses of life" - Live for today. Join us for a “surprise” lunch today.

In the afternoon, enjoy the visit of Villandry castle and gardens. The gardens at Chateau De Villandry are the grandest examples of formal Renaissance style gardens in France. The gardens, which are terraced on three levels, were influenced by Italian gardeners brought in by Charles VIII.  Some spectacular gardens, where the skillful hands of its gardeners turn vegetable gardening into an art form! Meals B,L,D

This morning, visit Clos Lucé (Leonardo Da Vinci’s home and Garden).
The Clos Lucé is one of the Renaissance’s jewels. The park gives the public the opportunity to discover the spectacular machines conceived by the inventor : aircraft, automobile, helicopter, tank, swing bridge…
Leonardo’s Garden spreads over 2.5 acres on a damp area, typical of the Loire Valley. This natural preserved area was arranged and planted with full respect of the spirit in Leonardo’s paintings and drawings.  A fresh and quiet space, both shaded and mysterious, scattered with aquatic, wild, decorative and medicinal plants, humid grottoes, spouting springs, strange mists… 

You will also visit the inside of Leonard’s home with its beautiful original furniture and the room where he died on May 2 1519.

Enjoy some free time in town for lunch and shopping.

This afternoon, head to Chateau Gaillard, a special visit for those who are passionate about gardens. And it is of significant importance for the history of French gardens as well, as “Pacello da Mercogliano”, who layed out Chateau Gaillard and created its gardens, is known as a précurseur of French formal and Renaissance gardens in Val de Loire. He also worked for two other French kings :  Louis XII and François 1st. - Meals B,D

Today, you will depart your hotel to visit Chenonceau Castle and its Gardens .
Built on the river in the heart of the Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau, (also known as the Ladies’ Chateau) is one of the best loved, best known and most visited historic monuments.
Located in an absolutely beautiful forest , the castle offers an impressive French formal garden surrounding the chateau. It also has an amazing cutting garden where they grow flowers for the stunning flower arrangements displayed throughout the castle. Lunch will be served near Chenonceau.

Meals B,L

A Relaxing morning visit of the Chateau of Cheverny known for its incredible furnishings. Visit the inside of this beautifully furnished privately owned chateau and walk around the grounds and discover the kennels with the owners hounds used for hunting

Transfer to your hotel at the Paris airport OR extend for a week at Chateau D'Urou. Overnight at Paris airport hotel included.

Meals B,L

Flight back to USA

PLEASE NOTE : Contact Out Of This World Travel if you wish to extend your tour by spending a few days in Paris. Arrangements can be made for you and we can help with your accomodations there.

If you do want to arrive early in France, this can be arranged as well for you

Also note that you can extend your trip by staying a week at Chateau D'Urou (see 2024 Tours in Navigation Bar)