Chateaux & Gardens

Price: €21 Chambord, a symbol of French Renaissance throughout Europe and the world. Just 2 hours from Paris, the Loire Valley’s largest château stands within Europe’s largest fenced park. The Domain, surrounded with a 32-km wall, covers 13500 acres. Listed as a historical monument since 1840, it has been also a World Heritage site since 1981. Do not miss : the double-spiral staircase, which may have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, the viewpoint from the rooftop, the sculpted ceilings on 2nd floor, the collections (over 4500 paintings, tapestries, furniture and works of art), the music festival in July, the exhibitions, the horse show, the roar of the stags or the local wildlife.

Price: €13 (public price: €14) The Château de Villandry is a unique example of Renaissance architecture and gardens. Six sumptuous gardens await you: the vegetable garden, the ornamental garden, the water garden, the medicinal plant garden, the labyrinth and the sun garden. The château boasts 18th century interiors and a collection of antique Spanish paintings.

Duration: 3 days - Price: €135 Ideal for a day-long loop starting from one of the four ‘stopover towns’: Tours, Amboise, Blois and Orléans. On the itinerary: castles, gardens, open-air cafés, vineyards, listed villages and much more! With over 60 offers included, the Loire à Vélo Pass lets you discover the treasures along the route between Tours and Orléans at your own pace and with ease.  Plan your itinerary and make the most of the offers and numerous benefits of this 2-day Pass! > Find all the Pass offers, practical information and suggested itineraries here. This Pass includes offers from the following partners:  Bicycle hire + helmet: Roue Lib, Détours de Loire. Lunches and snacks: Chez Monsieur Henri, Cordier, La Doulce Terrasse, La Fourchette Paysanne, La Guinguette de la Corne des Pâtures, La Guinguette de Tours-sur-Loire, La Maison Rabelais, La Petite Embarque, Le Checkmate, Maison Bigot, Sushi Shop. Places to visit: Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Beaugency, Château de Chenonceau, Château de Meung-sur-Loire, Tours Castle, Villandry Castle, Amboise Royal Castle, Cloître de la Psalette, CCC OD, Chaumont-sur-Loire Estate, Clos Lucé Castle, Chambord National Estate, Savonnières Petrifying Caves, Hôtel Cabu - Museum of History and Archaeology, Hôtel Goüin, House of Joan of Arc, Balzac Museum, Orléans Museum of Fine Arts, Tours Museum of Fine Arts, Compagnonnage Museum, Tours Natural History Museum, Orléans Museum of Biodiversity and the Environment, Parc Floral de la Source, Saint-Cosme Priory, guided tour of Orléans, guided tour of Tours. Tastings: Vouvray Wine Producers’ Cellar, Les Fromages de Camille, Maison Lacheteau, Martin Pouret Vinegar Works. Leisure: Boat trip in Orléans, Tours Miniature Railway, Orléans Miniature Railway.

Price: €12 (public price: €13) The Fortress of Montbazon, the stronghold of the terrible Count of Anjou, Foulques III Nerra, dominates the Indre valley and the town of Montbazon from the top of its rocky spur. It is one of our oldest military constructions. Home to the oldest keep in France still standing, its history stretches from the end of the 10th century to the 15th. As well as a particularly immersive guided tour, you can discover the trades of the Middle Ages through skits and demonstrations: war machines in action, weapons master, stone cutter, potter, herbalist, calligrapher...  Children can try their hand at a host of medieval games, and leave with their knight of the fortress diploma! The fortress tavern serves fouées, salads, planks and other delicacies.