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Tours, France Architecture

Our most recommended Tours, France Architecture

Chenonceau Castle Admission ticket

1. Chenonceau Castle Admission ticket

Enjoy access to Chenonceau site and its wonderful gardens. This unusual castle was built on a bridge across the Cher River. To learn more about castle history, audio guides are available in 16 languages. The castle is located near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Indre-et-Loire department. Chenonceau castle, also known as the Chateau des Dames, is famous for the great heroines who lived there, such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis, and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens. Chenonceau castle was also used as a military hospital during the First World War. Discover the rich history of this incredible fortress.

From Tours: Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at Family Chateau

2. From Tours: Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at Family Chateau

Travel back to the days of the French Renaissance on a full-day tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley. Enjoy a lunch in a privately owned and still-occupied castle. Start with a visit to Chenonceau, and pass the must-see castles of the French “Valley of the Kings,” including Chaumont, Amboise, and Blois. Upon arrival at the Château de Chenonceau, admire the unusual castle built on a bridge across the Cher River.  Stroll through the manicured gardens, named after Catherine de Médicis and Diane de Poitiers, the famous women who once lived there. Take time to appreciate the refined architecture, beautiful antiques, and lovely arrangements of fresh flowers. Discover glorious works of art and architecture as your guide selects the most emblematic rooms to visit. On your way to lunch at the Chateau of Villesavin, admire authentic French villages and the countryside. Eat a traditional French lunch with local products and local wine. Arrive at Chambord and discover the apartments of Francis I. View the double helix staircase, an emblem of Chambord. Hear memorable anecdotes and see hidden details. Get breathtaking views of the castle during a coffee break in Chambord Park. Enjoy the most striking view of Château de Chambord, before ending your tour in the evening.

From Tours & Amboise: Day Trip to Chambord & Chenonceau

3. From Tours & Amboise: Day Trip to Chambord & Chenonceau

Benefit from pick-up by air-conditioned, 8-seater van and head to the picturesque Château de Chenonceau with magnificent Renaissance gardens. Then, go to Amboise for a wine tour with tastings. Visit Les Caves Ambacia for a wine experience and sample some of the wines of the Loire Valley at a tasting with a sommelier. Lunch at leisure in Amboise. Continue to Chambord for a guided tour of the chateau. Admire the fine details of the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, including a double helix staircase by Da Vinci. Get dropped off in Tours at 5.30 PM or Amboise at 6:00 PM. Admire the fine details of the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, including a double helix staircase by Da Vinci. Get dropped off in Tours at 6 PM or Amboise at 6:45 PM.

From Tours: Afternoon Loire Valley Wine Tour to Vouvray

4. From Tours: Afternoon Loire Valley Wine Tour to Vouvray

Meet your guide at the tourist office in Tours and drive in a minivan to Vouvray. Discover this beautiful wine area full of passionate winegrowers. Meet a French winemaker in a charming family-run estate. See the vines and visit the traditional vat room and the cellars. During this visit, you will improve your knowledge regarding wine-making and of course wine tasting. Elegant sparkling wines and white wines are produced in this area. After this first visit, explore one of the famous underground caves that were dug during the 10th century in order to extract stones and today used by a famous Loire Valley wine house for producing and storing wines. Throughout the afternoon, your guide will share his knowledge with you, to help you understand the diversity of Loire wines and their specific terroir. You will learn the different steps of wine tasting and train your nose to identify many wine aromas. Benefit from your guide's tips and tricks and learn to taste like a professional. Afterward, you will be driven back to Tours, where your tour will end. 

Mont Saint-Michel & Chateaux Country 3-Day Tour from Paris

5. Mont Saint-Michel & Chateaux Country 3-Day Tour from Paris

Drive through the beautiful French countryside to discover Middle Age and Gothic-inspired architecture, and learn the intriguing history of Normandy and France from an expert guide. Cross to the tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel, and soak up the refinement of prestigious Loire Valley castles, such as the vast royal Château de Chambord. Day 1 (Friday): Traveling by luxury air-conditioned coach, depart Paris via the western districts and take the Normandy motorway as far as Mont Saint-Michel. Arriving at approximately midday, stop for lunch at the 4-star Relais Saint Michel, offering fantastic views across to the island. After lunch, ascend to the Abbey on the summit of the mount for a guided visit of its Gothic and Romanesque interior. Enjoy some time at leisure exploring the narrow, hilly streets before your departure for Angers, cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty, where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the Hotel Mercure Lac de Maine (or similar accommodation). Day 2 (Saturday): After a hearty breakfast, drive to Langeais, passing Cunault and Saumur en route. Driving by vineyards, enjoy views of romantic castles on the horizon. Arrive at Château de Langeais to explore one of the best-known examples of late medieval architecture. Continue with a guided visit of Clos-Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci's last dwelling place. Stroll through the stunnning gardens of Villandry, and visit the old historic district of Tours on the lower reaches of the Loire. An evening meal will be served at your overnight stop in Tours at the Hotel Mercure. Day 3 (Sunday): Take a guide tour of the Château de Chenonceau, built on the site of an old mill across the River Cher. Continue to the decorative Château de Cheverny, used by Tintin creator, Hergé as the inspiration for his fictional Château de Moulinsart. After lunch at the Hotel Saint-Hubert, go to the Château de Chambord to explore the largest and most imposing castle in the Loire Valley. Admire the distinctive French Renaissance architecture, which blends impressively with traditional medieval forms.

From Tours: Half-Day Chambord Castle Guided Trip

6. From Tours: Half-Day Chambord Castle Guided Trip

Discover one of the most fascinating and beautiful castles in the Loire Valley and a UNESCO World Heritage Site on a half-day tour from Tours. Explore the Château de Chambord with a guide to learn about its history, architecture, and more. Admire the surrounding estate from the castle terraces. Meet your guide and be driven to the Château de Chambord. Upon arrival, follow your guide on a tour of the castle. Explore the main rooms, built to impress foreign visitors and ambassadors and demonstrate the power of the young King of France, Francis I (François 1er) in the early 16th century. After discovering some of the 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases the castle is home to, discover the central axis: the famous double helix staircase thought to be inspired by the world of Leonardo da Vinci. Marvel at the unusual design. Learn about the building's Italian Renaissance style. Then, head to the terraces at the top of the castle for a fantastic view of the surrounding area, including the French-style gardens. Next, enjoy some free time to discover Chambord Castle on your own before your guide drives you back to Tours.

Morning Tour to Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau

7. Morning Tour to Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau

Meet your guide in front of the Tourist Office of Tours at 9:30 AM and board the minivan for an amazing day in the Loire Valley. You will start with a visit to the Château d'Azay le Rideau, absolute prowess of Renaissance architecture. The perfection of the facade and its reflect on the Indre finish setting one of the most beautiful chateau of the Loire Valley. Your passionate guide will accompany you on all the visits and will share with you the stories of the estate. Then, arrival at the Château de Villandry, a jewel of French heritage built during the Renaissance, by Jean Le Breton and inhabitated by the familly Carvallo for over a century. They put a true amount of work to give us the gardens of Villandry, a perfect replica of what the gardens looked like in the 16th century. An experience you will never forget. Arrive back in Tours around 1:30 PM.

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The best day trips and excursions from Tours, France are:

Château de Chenonceau

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What people are saying about Tours, France

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 15 reviews

Buying tickets ahead of time was worth not standing in the long lines. However, we had to go to the ticket office and get a time for entry. The castle wouldn't allow entry with just our Get Your Guide ticket because we didn't have a specific time on it. We were able to get a time fairly quickly but it was a small hassle. Otherwise, getting the tickets ahead of time is worthwhile.

On December 29, I went on an excursion in the Loire Valley to the two interesting and picturesque castles: Chenonceaux and Chambord. Along the way, our guide told us in detail and entertainingly about these castles and about the role they have played in the history of France. We had lunch in a restaurant at a vineyard, where wine tasting was also planned.

These chateaus are an absolute must see. Charles was a great guide who is super knowledgeable about some of the lesser known (and, for me, more interesting) things about the chateaus and the people who lived and worked there. Lunch at Les Caves Ambacia was a really pleasant surprise as well.

The palace & the vicinity was beautiful and well-kept. I liked the way they arranged all the waypoints and landmarks. It’s easy to follow and very detailed. The history of the palace and it’s owners and inhabitants are also equally interesting. Would highly recommend.

Wonder your, wine tasting fun. Great host, meet other people too