Christmas in Loire Valley châteaux
From Saturday, November 29, 2025 to January 4, 2026, the spirit of the season returns to six of the Loire Valley's most famous châteaux. It's “Christmas in the land of castles”! In each location, magical decorations, staging and unique events based on legends, tales and sweets are sure to delight young and old alike. From now on: the event programme, Passes 3, 4, 5 and 6 châteaux, and all-inclusive stays to enjoy the event!
And if you're waiting to count down the days until Christmas, check out the video for Noël au Pays des Châteaux 2025!
Discover our Passes
A little, a lot, or madly? Throughout the event, enjoy special rates with Passes for 3, 4, 5, or 6 castles to discover at your leisure.
Bonus gift for the holiday season: these Passes give you access to exclusive offers (discounts in toy, craft and local product shops and partner leisure providers: escape games, sidecars, cooking classes, etc.).
Prices:
- €43 (3 castles)
- €54 (4 castles)
- €66 (5 castles)
- €75 (6 castles)
Discover our stays
The Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office offers four all-inclusive packages for a truly magical Christmas experience. For two or three days of your choice, enjoy your getaway in Touraine to the fullest and with complete peace of mind. The package includes your Pass (for three, four, five or six châteaux), accommodation with breakfast in a three-star hotel in Tours, dinners, and mulled wine and crêpes at the Tours Christmas market.
![Noel au chateau - nocturne]()
Each château opens its doors for one evening so visitors can admire the decorations after dark.
- Villandry Castle: Saturday, December 6
- Azay-le-Rideau Castle: Saturday, December 13
- Royal Castle of Amboise: Saturday, December 20
- Chenonceau Castle: Thursday, December 23
- Royal Fortress of Chinon: Saturday, December 28
- Royal City of Loches: Monday, December 29
![Château de Chenonceau - Grand Nord]()
Chenonceau Castle - Far North
Winter, cold weather and snow have arrived at Chenonceau this year! The iconic grand gallery has been transformed into a forest of snow-covered birch trees. Tall white fir trees stand here and there. In the kitchens, frosty delicacies take their place in the dining room and the pantry becomes an ice floe populated by penguins!Not to be missed:
- Christmas brunch at L’Orangerie during the school holidays;
- Christmas night opening on Tuesday, December 23, with the château open until 8 p.m. and a demonstration by floral designer Jean-François Boucher;
- Reservation and fee required: tour of the Christmas decorations with Jean-François Boucher (Fridays, December 5, 12, and 19 at 10 a.m. / €55); Holiday masterclass (Fridays, December 26 and January 2 at 10 a.m. / €90), exclusive Christmas tours (every Saturday from November 29 to January 3, at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. / €45), Food and wine pairing tastings at the Cave des Dômes (Fridays, December 19 and 26, and January 2 at 6 p.m. / €65).
![Château Royal d’Amboise - Noël, rêves d’enfance : Ô, beaux sapins !]()
Royal Castle of Amboise – Christmas, childhood dreams: Oh, beautiful Christmas trees!
Royal Castle of Amboise – Christmas, childhood dreams: Oh, beautiful Christmas trees!
The magic of Christmas brings the souls of the great fir tree people back to life. Fantastic trees have left their forests to gather at the royal castle of Amboise, decked out in their finest festive attire. An invitation to celebrate the holidays with the Tree of Dreams and Fantasies, the Tree of the Fearless Knight, the Tree that Wanted to be King...
Don't miss:
- “Candlelit Night Walk” evenings on December 13, 26, and 29, 2025, by reservation. Prices: €15/adult, €13/student, €11/child, and €7/subscriber (cardholder only).
- Christmas night opening on Saturday, December 20, until 8:00 p.m. Usual admission prices apply.
![Château d’Azay-le-Rideau - Gourmandises au royaume des contes]()
Azay-le-Rideau Castle - Delicacies in the realm of fairy tales
Château d’Azay-le-Rideau - Delicacies in the realm of fairy tales
An enchanting interlude dedicated to delicacies and imagination. As you wander through the rooms, you will discover sumptuous tables inspired by the most beautiful fairy tales of our childhood: a crystal table evoking the magical world of the Snow Queen, a fir tree, king of the forests, adorned with Snow White's precious apples, and the frosty landscapes of Narnia for an icy and enchanting atmosphere.
Don't miss :
- Christmas Night Tour on Saturday, December 13, 2025, by reservation only. The castle closes at 10:30 p.m. (last admission at 9:45 p.m.). Admission: €16, free for children under 18.
- Gourmet tours, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from December 23, 2025, to January 2, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Duration: 1.5 hours, ages 7 and up, by reservation. Prices: $19 for adults, $8 for children.
- Reversed tales of the castle, a tour designed by Esmé Planchon, storyteller and author for young people. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from December 23, 2025, to January 2, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Prices: $16 for adults, $8 for children.
![Forteresse Royale de Chinon - Trés(or)s de Noël]()
Royal Fortress of Chinon - Christmas Treasures
Royal Fortress of Chinon - Christmas Treasures
The Royal Fortress of Chinon is decked out in its finest attire for a display themed around treasure. Gold, a symbol of light, magic and wonder, inspires a magical journey created by floral designer Géraldine Leclerc.
Not to be missed:
- A story woven with gold thread: a one-hour storytelling treasure hunt for young visitors during the school holidays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11 a.m., by reservation. Price including admission to the Fortress: €15 for adults, €13 for children (ages 7-18).
- Christmas guided tour every Saturday and Sunday in December, and on January 3 and 4 at 3 p.m., by reservation. Duration: 50 minutes. Price including admission to the Fortress: €15 full price, €13 reduced price.
- Christmas night opening on Sunday, December 28: fire show by the Lutins Steampunk troupe from the Taprobane company (three 30-minute performances).
![Cité Royale de Loches - Les contes de la cité royale]()
Royal City of Loches - Tales of the Royal City
Royal City of Loches - Tales of the Royal City
This year, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of Alice in Wonderland, a tale created by Lewis Carroll, where they will encounter the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar and the Wicked Queen of Hearts!
Not to be missed:
- The Christmas color hunt, for ages 2 and up. Independent game with a booklet provided at the entrance to the royal residence. Every day, admission fee to the site.
- Storytelling for families with children aged 3 to 12. At the royal residence, Sunday, December 7, and every day from December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026, at 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Duration: 40 min. Reservations required. Admission fee included: $15, reduced rate $13, free for children under 7.
- Themed tour “A castle in winter,” for all ages (children ages 12 and up). At the keep, Wednesday, December 31, and Friday, January 2, at 11 a.m. Duration: 1 hour. Reservations required. Regular admission included: $15, reduced rate: $13, free for children under 7.
- Christmas night opening for all ages on Monday, December 29, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Discover the floral and plant decorations, and the “Alice” trail led by actors from the L'Intruse theater company. Admission fee for the site.
![Château et jardins de Villandry - A Noël, la nature s’invite au château]()
Villandry Castle and Gardens - At Christmas, nature comes to the castle
Villandry Castle and Gardens - At Christmas, nature comes to the castle
Rennes, fawns, owls and squirrels have taken up residence at the castle, which has been transformed into a veritable enchanted forest. From the château windows, visitors can admire the gardens, which have also donned their winter finery: mosaics of ornamental cabbages and leeks, lace-like boxwood and topiary yew silhouettes, and long avenues of sleepy lime trees, promising pleasant winter walks.
