A practical guide for a short visit to the Loire Castles region.
In this brand new title, we suggest you discover the Loire Valley as part of 6 big weekends where heritage, steps Gourmet, shopping, hiking and outdoor activities to make friends or family.
• a weekend In Blois, Chambord and Cheverny . Three star castles in the region. Blois, Chambord and his immense forest estate will take you to the footsteps of François I , while in Cheverny, you plunge into childhood with Tintin and Captain Haddock, he Even descending from another François ...
• A weekend in Amboise and Chaumont-sur-Loire < / Strong> . A few hundred meters separate the castle of Amboise and the Castle of Clos-Lucé, the residence of Leonardo da Vinci. This proximity illustrates the friendship that bound Francis I and the Italian master, whose "inventions" is discovered in a splendid park punctured with streams and waterfalls .
• a weekend in Chenonceau and on the edges of the dear . # doubt, the grace and elegance of Chenonceau are the brand of women who have succeeded each other in this celebration remains thrown on the Cher. After the visit of the "Castle of the Ladies", follow the tributary of the Loire and rejoice your children by discovering mushrooms, the pruning troglodyte site and the famous Beauval Zoo.
• A weekend in Tours and Villandry . # grandiose castle in Tours, but a finely chiseled cathedral and an old district with deliciously provincial charm. In Villandry, another flagship of the Loire Valley, you will be subjugated by exceptional French gardens. And you can always enhance your weekend of a hot air balloon, a large classic of the region.
• A weekend in Azay-le-Rideau and on the banks of the Indre . Azay-le-Rideau: Another castle, but this one, placed on its mirror of water, has an incomparable charm. Change of atmosphere with the troglodyte farms of the plains and vineyards visits, or even with the incredible mechanical treasures of the Maurice-Dufresne Museum. Diversity and pleasure insured for large and small!
• A weekend in Chinon and Fontevraud < Span>. Chinon, his fortress, his old town, his vineyard. Others may prefer that of Saumur-Champigny, which extends around Fontevraud Abbey, one of Europe's largest monastic sets. As for gourmands, they will feast with apples typed to Turker.
- and of course various activities, because everything is possible in Val de Loire: hiking, bike rides, by traditional boat or canoeing on the loire, in gyropod in vineyards, balloon or 2 cv ...
- Our favorite addresses and tips where to stay. A selection of restaurants and bistros to feast local specialties ... but also local craft shops.
- 1 special double page to discover the most beautiful courses in the bike loire.
- Focus pages to better understand the region (the Renaissance, the Loire, the wines, life at the time of kings ...).
All our addresses have been carefully tested and selected by our author, Nathalie Campodonico, great traveler and author of many guides, who has found with happiness the Loire Valley, one of its favorite regions. < / Span>
- Cities plans with all localized addresses
