Whilst enjoying a relaxing, re-energizing and inspiring getaway in South Touraine, remember that the Loire Valley's internationally-renowned key attractions and castles are also on your doorstep.
Beauval ranks as one of the world's top 5 finest zoos. It's home to over 10,000 animals from across the globe. Here, you can discover rare species such as giant pandas. The equatorial dome, a gigantic greenhouse, overflows with lush vegetation.
Buy your entrance tickets in our Tourism boards
Château de Chenonceau, a Renaissance masterpiece and the world's only bridge-castle, is majestically reflected in the water of the River Cher. The rooms of this "ladies' castle" are decorated all year round with superb floral compositions imagined by a Meilleur Ouvrier de Francee’ (one of the finest craftspersons in France). Breathtaking views of the castle can be enjoyed from the gardens overlooking the river.
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Chateau d'Amboise, former residence of the kings of France, was home to Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I. You can visit the royal apartments, the chapel where Leonardo da Vinci is laid to rest and the terraces offering a panoramic vista over the Loire. The town is also home to Château du Clos Lucé, situated just a stone's throw away, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked, as well as Château Gaillard, famed for its Italian-style gardens.
Buy your entrance tickets online: CHÂTEAU D'AMBOISE / LE CLOS LUCÉ
In the western region of Touraine, AOC Chinon vineyards surround many of the castles. That of Azay-le-Rideau, a Renaissance masterpiece built on an island, which reflects in the water of the Indre and that of the Chinon fortress, with its powerful history of the Plantagenets that reigns over the Vienne Valley.
Buy your entrance tickets online: CHÂTEAU D'AZAY-LE-R. / FORTERESSE DE CHINON
Château de Langeais has watched over the royal river for many centuries. Here we witness the marriage of Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII, which brought together the Kingdom of France and the Duchy of Brittany. As you cross the wine region of Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil why not stop off at one of the many vineyards, where passionate winemakers welcome visitors to taste their production (with moderation).
The capital of Touraine is also labelled a "Town of Art and History" where visitors can enjoy a strolling between charming boutiques, heritage sites, museums, public parks and take time out at a "guinguette" (open-air café/bar) along the banks of the Loire. The iconic Château de Villandry, whose formal French gardens are reputed around the world, is a short drive away.
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Thanks to its hundreds of water bodies, La Brenne Regional Nature Park is a haven of peace for thousands of birds. It's also a paradise for hikers pursuing peaceful natural surroundings and for photo enthusiasts.
Chambord, built in the 16th century during the reign of Francis I as a hunting lodge, is the largest Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley. Its forest covers the same surface area as the City of Paris.
Buy your entrance tickets in our Tourism boards
The Royal Château de Blois epitomizes the architecture of Loire castles with its four façades spanning different periods. The castle also hosts a museum and proposes mapping shows in its main courtyard during the summer.
Buy your entrance tickets in our Tourism boards
Fontevraud, the largest monastic heritage in Europe, has preserved 3 of the 4 monasteries founded back in the 11th century. After the French Revolution, the site became a security prison. It was turned into a cultural centre in the 1970s and, since 2021, has also hosts a modern art museum.
Saumur, dominated by its medieval castle, topped by an immense golden fleur-de-lys, has a wealth of attractions to discover, between the world of equitation at the Cadre Noir to troglodyte sites and vineyards.
Futuroscope Xperiences, a theme park focused on technology and innovation, is an extraordinary place where the real and the imaginary come together as one. The medieval town of Poitiers also invites visitors to venture back through time following in Eleanor of Aquitaine's footsteps.
