The tours departs from the front of the Tourist office 200 yards across the railroad station for your Castles and Chateaus of the Loire tour that allows you to see the best of sights in one single day. A knowledgeable bilingual guide (English and French) will give you company to provide useful anecdotes as you travel.
Start your tour with a drive to the “Chateau of the Ladies” in Chenoceau, so named for the succession of royal women who owned and embellished the place over the course of history.
Spend more than an hour at the Chateau boasting a 60-meter long ballroom, a Francois I bedroom, a Louis XIV sitting room, and an elegant arched bridge that spans the Cher River. It is the most visited private monument in France.
The next destination visited will be determined by the group, and with two fabulous choices, any decision will be the right one. Spend an hour at the royal castle of Amboise, a 15th century marvel that surges from a rock headland overlooking this small market town. An imposing fortress encircles a Gothic castle, which is wondrous inside and out. The ornamental flourishes on its stone exterior are fine as lace, and its interior is decorated with Flemish tapestries, Damask curtains and Turkish carpets.
As an alternative to Amboise, you can also spend an hour at the Chateau of Clos-Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years on an invitation from the King of France. The chateau offers beautiful views of the Loire River, and is connected to the Royal Castle by an underground passage, which gave the King direct access to da Vinci’s towering genius.
Proceed to Chambord, the magnum opus of the Loire Valley castles. It combines the French medieval forms with Italian classical structures to awe-inspiring effect and was built by Francois I. Featuring 365 fireplaces and massive double-helix staircases, which some scholars contend were the brainchild of Da Vinci, it is the second largest castle in France. You will spend an hour and a half at Chambord.
Visit Chateau of Cheverney, a strikingly symmetrical building of domes and bell towers in the classical style of Louix XIII. There will be a one-hour stop for lunch in Tours (payable direct).
Conclude your tour with a view from the road of Amboise Castle and Chaumont.
There is no hotel drop-off for any of these tours. Your minivan will return you to the Office de Tourisme de Tours at 78-82 rue Bernard Palissy at tour’s end.