Air Touraine

Price: €15.90 (public price: €16.90) Imagine a palace delicately poised above the Loire, with gardens suspended between heaven and earth... It's hardly surprising that Amboise was a favorite site for the kings of France as they transformed their country during the Renaissance. Charles VIII and François I, Leonardo da Vinci and the iconic Queen Anne de Bretagne are all familiar faces here. Even today, the view is breathtaking! A 360° panorama of landscapes listed as a World Heritage Site. A castle open to nature, a haven of peace for birds, Amboise is also a place of innovation, where innovations such as the HistoPad enhance the experience. LPO Refuge.

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’!

A day to visit the 3 châteaux of Amboise and the not-to-be-missed Château de Chenonceau. Departing from Tours, you will head for Amboise to discover: Château de Chenonceau (visit & lunch: 3h15): majestically set on the Cher, this masterpiece of the French Renaissance is famous for its elegant arches spanning the river and its gardens set in breathtaking natural surroundings. Lunch at leisure in the château's restaurants or in the village. Château Royal d'Amboise (visit: 1h30): majestically overlooking the Loire Valley, the château combines medieval splendour with Renaissance elegance, testifying to its historic role as the residence of the kings of France and a place of artistic creation. Clos Lucé (visit: 1h30): the former residence of Leonardo da Vinci, is a place steeped in history where you can discover the fascinating world of the Italian genius through his inventions, his works and his magnificent gardens. Morning tour operated by Touraine Evasion.