From the owner: Parmi les plus beaux sites du Val de Loire figure l'ancien palais de l'archevêché classé Monument…read moreHistorique, aujourd'hui musée des Beaux-Arts. Ses collections renommées, notamment une des plus grandes collections de Primitifs italiens après le musée du Louvre, en font un des plus riches musées de France. Ses chefs-d'œuvre comptent les peintures de Mantegna, Rubens, Rembrandt, Le Sueur, Champaigne, Coypel, Nattier, Boucher, Restout, Hubert Robert, Perronneau, Peyron. Disposées dans de magnifiques salons de réception, ces œuvres évoquent, grâce à la présence d'un riche mobilier, de sculptures et d'objets d'art la vie dans un palais au 18ème s. Le 19ème s. présente notamment des œuvres de Chassériau, Delacroix, Gervex, Degas, Monet, Rodin. La collection 20ème s. regroupe Asse, Calder, Davidson, Debré, Denis, Ernst, Hantaï, Monory, Poliakoff... Exposition : "Balzac Monumental. Petite histoire des monuments au grand écrivain". 18 mai - 2 septembre 2019

From the owner: L' Art Hotel Tours 4* est situé au cœur des Châteaux de la Loire et les fameuses caves Vouvray et…read moreMontlouis sur Loire, à 5 km de Tours à Rochecorbon. Il propose une connexion WI-FI gratuite, un bar lounge " Black &White ", salle de petit-déjeuner, salles de réception, mariage, événementiel. Un hôtel haut de gamme mariant l'architecture la plus classique aux formes et aux tonalités les plus actuelles. Art de Design et Art de Black & White investissent les murs du château plus que centenaire ainsi que ses pavillons. A coté du monde réel, un monde plus humain dans l'art et le design s'ouvre avec ses 28 chambres reparties dans le château et ses pavillons. Climatisées et insonorisées, toutes les chambres présentent une ambiance design en noir et blanc. Elles sont toutes équipées de la télévision par satellite, d'une salle de bain privative avec accessoires, mini-bar et plateau courtoisie Nespresso, une salle de coffre forts est disponible à la réception.

Loved every minute of our 2 hour tour of the streets and alleys of Amboise with our tour guide…read moreNicolas. We did the wine tasting tour which took us to the Caves Duhard wine caves and tasting room which was an awesome experience as well.

Just about the best winery experience you can have - 3 hours of touring vineyards, caves, and…read moretasting Vouvray wines from Vignoble Alain Robert while learning about the grape growing process as well as wine making, cave storage, sparkling wine finishing, etc. Myriam is amazing and not only knows the winery (her husband runs it) but also speaks perfect English and used to be a teacher. Especially if the weather is good, you really can't beat this tour - it may be a bit less personal on weekends when there can be up to 10 people on the tour during high season but for our Tuesday visit it was just two of us and Myriam was as gracious and informative as can be. After finishing up the tour you'll taste a number of Alain Robert wines and also taste through about 10 local specialty foods from cheese to pate to even a cake with preserved fruit. The only thing you'll need to worry about is how many bottles of this excellent wine you'll want to take home and whether you can fit it into your luggage! You'll need a car to get there, but this tour is highly recommended. Just about perfect!

From the owner: Prestations oenotouristiques dans les vignobles de Vouvray et de Touraine : balades commentées dans…read moreles vignes, visites de cave, dégustations-découvertes des vins de Loire. Wine tours in the Vouvray and Touraine vineyards including guided walks in the vines, tours of rock-hewn cellars, Loire wine tastings.

Wonderful afternoon champagne tasting and informative tour in beautiful Loire Valley. What else…read moredoes one do in this stunning region?

One of our favorite châteaus to visit - Château d'Amboise is a royal castle in the Loire Valley in…read moreAmboise, France. Built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Loire River, it transitioned from a medieval fortress into a Renaissance palace and was a favored royal residence in the 15th and 16th centuries. The château is known for its Gothic and early Renaissance architecture and its association with notable historical figures. The history is incredible, and worth a tour with a tour guide or the self guided audio guide. One of the nicest surprises of the château, it's the Final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci: Da Vinci is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert, located on the château grounds. I have visited three times and never get tired of seeing it!

A beautiful chateau atop the hill overlooking the Loire river and city of Amboise. Loved learning…read morethe history and getting to visit Da Vinci's final resting place.

The Château de Chenonceau is a historic French castle known as the "Château of the Ladies" due to…read moreits influential female owners throughout its years. Located in the Loire Valley, it is famous for its elegant architecture, which includes a gallery built over the River Cher. The château features rich Renaissance furniture, tapestries, and master paintings. This Château also paved a pivotal roll during g WWII as its walls helped move Jews out of occupied France to free France during the war. It also has a unique connection to the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, Italy. You'll have to visit to find out more. Additionally, the château's iconic gallery was built across the River Cher as an add on to the existing Château. Its interiors are richly decorated with works by artists such as Tintoretto, Rubens, and Van Dyck. Notable rooms include the bedchambers of Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de' Medici, and Louise de Lorraine. The gardens are exquisitely decorated and it's worth spending some time in them. You will need to book your tickets in advance as this Château is one of the most visited and they need it to control the flow of visitors. Be aware it also takes some time to travel, and once parked, to get to the Château (about a 20 minute walk). Enjoy this visit. I have seen it three or four times and always enjoy it!

This French castle spanning the River Cher is an opulent chateau in the Loire Valley of France…read more Built in 1513 to 1517 by Thomas Bohier for his wife Catherine Biconnet. This stunning Renaissance and Gothic architecture is the style of the women who owned and shaped it. The formal gardens are exquisite. The powerful ladies of the Chateau also included Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. The present day owners are the Menier family, famous for their chocolate. In 1539, King Francis the 1st acquired the estate. Later, King Henry the 2nd decided to offer it to the Queen. Our tour started with a wine tasting of three different wines actually grown on the estate. The fairytale like castle and the story of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty may have been the inspiration. The rooms and the kitchen in the basement are well preserved. It was a lovely experience.