Castles & tourist sites

Price: €11 (public price: €12) The only Château on the Loire to be built on the riverbed, Château de Montsoreau was built in 1450 by Jean II de Chambes, a close adviser to King Charles VII. Its history has been marked by the lives of many famous people, including Mary Stuart, Anne of Brittany, Claude of France and François I. Its avant-garde architecture has always inspired artists from Rodin to Turner, Flaubert and Alexandre Dumas. Transformed into a museum of contemporary art and inaugurated in April 2016, the Château de Montsoreau is a new venue that offers, two hours from Paris, in the Loire Valley, a World Heritage Site, and over 2,000m2, a journey through its permanent collection, considered to be the most important collection of Conceptual Art in the world.

Price: €18.50 (public price: €19.50) In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci accepted the invitation of Francis I and moved to the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise, where he worked on numerous projects for the King. From Rome he brought his notebooks and three of his major works: the Mona Lisa, the Saint Anne and the Saint John the Baptist, now in the Louvre. Prolific and inspired, he worked as an engineer, architect and stage director, organising sumptuous festivities for the court. On 2 May 1519, he died in his bedroom. The house, its park - a veritable open-air museum - and the Leonardo da Vinci Painter and Architect Galleries invite you to discover the many facets of this genius through his restored workshops, models of his inventions and an immersive show presenting his 17 masterpieces...

Price: €17 (public price: €18) Its arches gracefully span the Cher. Cherished by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, Chenonceau remains the most visited château in France after Versailles. Wonderfully furnished (ah, its kitchens!), this 16th century château can be visited with an iPod. You'll fall under the spell of the gardens planted on either side of the keep... and the delightful village, whose name is spelt with an ‘x’!

Price: €43 With this 3-castle pass, treat yourself to a journey into the magical world of “Christmas in the land of castles”! Six of the most prestigious châteaux in the Loire Valley—Villandry, Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, and Loches—celebrate the holiday spirit with exceptional tours, spectacular decorations, and original entertainment. The 3-Castle Pass gives you access to 3 of the 6 sites of your choice at special rates throughout the event. Other benefits: skip-the-line access to the châteaux of Azay-le-Rideau and Amboise, free access without extra charge and without reservation to the evening opening of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau (value €16), as well as to all evening openings at the five other châteaux, the possibility of visiting the Château de Chenonceau without reserving a time slot (subject to high visitor numbers during the Christmas holidays). This pass also entitles you to exclusive offers and benefits, including: a complimentary gourmet break at the Café du Printemps in Tours (pastry + 1 hot drink - value €10), a guided tour with complimentary tasting at the Cave de Vouvray, discounts/benefits from around ten partners. On the program: Each château has a theme and will be open for a special evening event! Château and gardens of Villandry - At Christmas, nature comes to the château Marvel at the château transformed into an enchanted forest and the gardens decked out in their winter finery. Evening opening: Saturday, December 6. Azay le Rideau Castle - Delicacies in the realm of fairy tales As you wander through the rooms, discover sumptuous tables set with inspiration from the most beautiful fairy tales of our childhood. Late night opening: Saturday, December 13. Amboise Royal Castle - Christmas, childhood dreams: Oh, beautiful Christmas trees Fantastic trees leave their forests to take over the château, creating a spellbinding experience! Late night opening: Saturday, December 20. Chenonceau Castle - Far North It's winter, and the cold and snow have arrived... inside the monument, with a forest of snow-covered birch trees, frosty delicacies, and an ice floe populated by penguins! Late night opening: Tuesday, December 23. Royal Fortress of Chinon - Christmas Treasures Gold, a symbol of light, magic, and wonder, inspires a magical journey created by floral designer Géraldine Leclerc. Late night opening: Sunday, December 28. Royal City of Loches - Tales of the Royal City Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Alice in Wonderland, where you'll meet the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar, and the Wicked Queen of Hearts! Late night opening: Monday, December 29.