The Loire Valley is within a two-hour drive from Paris. The main thing that attracts thousands of visitors a year to the area is the vast number of beautiful French Castles. Whether you’re in Paris for a week or only a day or two, I highly recommend taking a trip to the countryside.
Booking a guided tour is one of the best ways to explore the Loire Valley if you are short one time. On my first trip to Paris, I only had three days to fit in all my must-see locations. We ended up booking a guided tour for the day, and it was one of the best decisions we made. We opted for the Loire Castles, Wine Tasting, and Lunch Tour. It includes transportation for the day, admission to two of the most popular castles in the area, and lunch with wine tasting at a quaint family-run vineyard. This guide takes you through our day-trip to the Loire.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Trip to Paris
Starting Point
The tour conveniently picked us up outside the Paris Catacombs in the morning. We were joined by about 15 other people from around the world. From there, we made our first stop to Chambord. Our two tour guides were amazing. They made the long drive to the countryside fly by with their insightful stories about the Kings and Queens who inhabited the area.
Stop #1: Chateau de Chambord
Our first stop was the Château de Chambord. Chambord was commissioned by François I, but construction was not completed until the reign of Louis XVI, who used it primarily as a hunting lodge. It is known for its extravagant double helix staircase inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci. The castle is massive with over 400 rooms, 282 staircases, and almost 80 staircases sitting on 13,000 acres of the french countryside.
The nice thing about being part of a tour group is an immediate entry. Chambord is one of the most popular Loire Valley castles and is therefore busier. However, it was pretty quiet when we arrived. Once inside, we were allowed to walk around freely and enjoy the castle. Our tour guides were always readily available to throw in snippets of information.
We did not have enough time to explore the grounds and stables. If you can spend half a day there, I recommend getting the Chambord Passport. It includes admission to both the grounds and castle, a horse and birds show, and discounts on equipment. Rent an electric cart, bike, or boat, and explore the estate. For even more information, visit Chambord.org.
Stop #2: Lunch and Wine Tasting at Château de Nitray
Next, we stopped at a family-run vineyard known as Château de Nitray for lunch and wine-tasting. We were welcomed with glasses of wine and brought to this cozy room where the family served us lunch. This is by far the best part of the day! Lunch was chicken with potatoes and vegetables, accompanied by cheeses from the local area. As we ate, the family introduced us to their variety of wines. Unlike other tastings I have been to, they were not at all stingy about their wine. The owner supplied us with an infinite amount and even joined us for the meal.
After that, we took a tour around the property ending with some purchases. I was so blown away by the hospitality that I order a shipment of wine from them every year. Whether you decide to join a tour group or travel the Loire alone, I highly recommend stopping by this local vineyard, they will make you feel right at home!
Stop #3: Château de Chenonceau
Our last stop was the fairy tale Château de Chenonceau. Although much smaller than Chambord, it was my favorite of the two. It is well worth a trip to the Loire Valley to see. Chenonceau is nicknamed “The Ladies Château” as it has been influenced and preserved by many famous women since its construction. It is most known for being the home of Diane de Poitiers and eventually Catherine de Medici. On the ride over, our guides told us the captivating story of Henri II, his wife Catherine de Medici, and the well-loved Diane de Poitiers.
here are many things to do when visiting Chenonceau. Make sure to explore the beautiful gardens around the castle and the flower garden and maze. There are also a couple of different restaurants on the estate that offer a variety of food. The Orangerie is a beautiful fine-dining restaurant located in the Green Garden. If you are spending the day there, make sure to pack a picnic, there are many areas where you can sit down and enjoy a meal.
After visiting the chateau and gardens, we headed over to the Caves des Dômes for a private wine tasting in their cellars. From there, we jumped on the bus and headed back to Paris.
I had a wonderful experience exploring the countryside and would recommend this tour to anyone. The guides were both friendly and entertaining and made the journey experience that much more enjoyable.
Other Day Tours from Paris
City Wonders is just one of the tour groups that offer tours in the Loire Valley. Get Your Guide is another popular tour group with lots of great reviews. Here are some other popular options:
Full-Day Castle Tour – Discover three magical castles, Chenonceau, Chambord, and Amboise. This small-group tour picks you up and drops you back off from Paris. It also includes free admission to the castles and audio guides if requested. This is a good option if you want to explore more castles instead of an afternoon winetasting.
Wine Tours France – This company offers tours for all different regions of France. Their packages combine wine tastings and visits to several castles. They also provide private and custom tours with a variety of locations to visit.
Chambord Wine Tasting & Lunch – This tour picks you up from Paris, and is very similar to the one I experienced. However, you visit one castle and two vineyards. This tour includes entrance and audioguide to Château de Chambord and wine tastings at two local vineyards. Enjoy lunch during one of the tastings.
Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting – This is a very intimate tour with a total of 12 people per group. You will visit a family-owned Vouvray Vineyard (my favorite white wine!) in the Loire Valley. The experience includes a tour of the vines, cellar, and winery. They will teach you all about the winemaking process. Best of all, they offer finger foods during your tasting.
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