LIVE LIKE A KING IN SOME WONDERFUL CHATEAUX

France is teeming with listed sites which are true treasures of its heritage. In the Val de Loire, the châteaux, former residences of the Kings of France, immortalise the nobility, extravagance and daring of their builders. In Bordeaux and its region, treasured vineyards alongside prestigious châteaux, line the most famous winemaking road in the world.
You will have the opportunity to get to know the history of these luxurious residences over the course of private visits, and appreciate the beauty of the elegant Châteaux-hotels, which invite you to experience ‘La Vie de Châteaux’ during the time of your escapade.

LOIRE VALLEY CASTLES FAIRYTALE

The first leg of your fabulous journey in France will be spent in the world famous and so romantic Loire Valley Chateaux. You will head to your incredibly elegant 18th century Château Hôtel, your nest for the next four nights, located near Tours, a town of Art and History, former Gallic-Roman city, then capital of the kingdom of France. Here, you will make the most of your incredible location right in the centre of the famous Loire Valley.

A private discovery of the Amboise Château, Royal residence of Charles VIII and François I, will take you round the royal dwellings, the Orient garden, the basement and the towers.
It was here at Amboise that Leonardo da Vinci came to live in 1516 and here that he finished his life in 1519. He was buried in the cloister of the Château before being transferred, it is thought, to the Saint-Hubert Chapel, a gem of Gothic art.
François I had the Château de Cloux converted for him, today called Clos-Lucé. Your guide will take you behind the scenes of this home as well as the park which offers a cultural experience, where you can enjoy the art and visions of this Italian genius.

The fairytale continue in Blois, a town which was right at the heart of historic and artistic activity during the 15th century and the Renaissance.
Built on a headland overlooking the Loire, the Blois Château is an absolute masterpiece.
The town is easy to visit by foot, and offers splendid private hotels and beautiful 15th and 16th century houses. You can marvel to the incredible view of the Loire from the Evêché gardens.
There is no better way to explore the rich Renaissance architecture of the Loire Valley than by air, so fly over the Châteaux of Chenonceau, Chaumont and the region’s undulating hills and Loire river in a hot air balloon tour.

No trip to the Loire Valley is complete without a visit to the largest and most extravagant of all the Loire châteaux, the Château Royal de Chambord, which was built under François 1st in 1519.
Chambord stretches over 5000 hectares of land (nearly the size of Paris!) and is surrounded by 32 kilometers of wall. With 440 rooms and no less than 83 staircases, it aimed to immortalise both the splendour of the French monarchy and the excesses of the young King.
It’s time for a luxury picnic lunch in a stunning spot with a glass of white wine. Speaking of wine, the region is also renowned for its world-class vineyards, so you won’t say no to a guided tour of the Loire Valley vines and cellars through a VIP wine tasting session.

BORDEAUX GRAND CRU CLASSES VIP VISITS

Today will see you heading to Bordeaux, the worldwide capital of wine, for an unforgettable experience. Your 5-star hotel, situated right in the heart of Bordeaux, will be your cocoon for the next three days.
Today, you will learn the stages and the vocabulary of wine tasting in an initiation lesson led by professionals.
Take the opportunity to stroll around the town, and discover the architectural gems of the 18th century. Don’t forget to wander along the banks of the Garonne with its amazing façades, listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Next day, you will be taken along the “Route des Châteaux”, where you will find some legendary wine-making areas – of which the names alone will make your mouth water. Châteaux Margaux, Lafite-Rothschild, Cos d’Estournel…
You will be treated to VIP visits in two famous 1855 “Grand Crus Classé” (officially classed by Napoléon III). These Châteaux will open the doors of their wine cellars for you to discover the winemaking and maturing techniques. A wine tasting session will give you the opportunity to get to know all the elegance and delicacy of these famous crus before living a fine gastronomic experience.

After breakfast, you are invited for a visit of the vineyard which dominates the Gironde estuary. You can start to better understand the importance of their land, what happens to the grapevines and learn winemaking techniques through a visit to the fermenting room and the barrel storehouse.

SEE THE FULL ITINERARY AND CUSTOMIZE THIS EXPERIENCE

We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you. Contact us on +33 545 833 652 to start planning your holiday.