Small Group Tour: 2013 Palaces and Castles of the Loire

Discover Paris in a truly original and personalised manner aboard your very own 2CV. The 2CV, the quintessential symbol of the “French touch”, thanks to its convertible, soft top roof offers a magnificent panoramic view. You will be driven by a knowledgeable, English speaking chauffeur, and discover the most famous, beautiful and elegant monuments of Paris. The capacity of the 2CV vehicles is 3. If there are more in your group additional cars will be arranged so you can travel in convoy. (Includes hotel pick up and drop off in central Paris).

Enjoy your 2 days Museum Pass, where you have access to 22 museums, 24 historical monuments, 15 art galleries, 3 tourist attractions, 1 cruise and special offers in shops and restaurants.

Enjoy dinner at leisure. Here are a few suggestions; In the Latin Quarter (5th): Le Petit Pontoise bistro, 9 Rue Pontoise (Metro: Maubert Mutualite) Tel: 0143292520.This restaurant is nestled in a discreet and quite street, 10 minutes walk from Notre Dame Cathedral. Reservation for the dinner is recommended. By the Arc de Triomph and Parc Monceau (17th): Chez Les Anges, Paris, 54 Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg (Metro: La Tour-Maubourg). Tel: 01 47 05 89 86. Cool jazz on the sound system, a sunny veranda, and a cool, modern bar. This is pure market cuisine, the daily changing menu punctuated by fabulous wild fish, wild mushrooms, and seasonal game. Closed Sat. & Sun. In the Trocadero area (16th): Astrance, Paris. 4 Rue Beethoven (Metro: Passy). Tel: 01 40 50 84 40. For fashionable foodies, a meal at this small, split-level dining room with silver-painted walls on a quiet residential street near the Trocadero is guaranteed Nirvana. Book a month in advance. Closed Sat. Sun. & Mon.

Meet your small group and guide at 8h30 at the Hotel Elysees Ceramic in Paris and depart for your Palaces and Chateaux of the Loire tour. It is recommended to be here 30 minutes prior.

Leaving Paris, you will travel to the wonderful Palace of Fontainebleau, used by the kings of France from the 12th century. The medieval royal hunting lodge of Fontainebleau stands at the heart of a vast forest in the Ile-de-France and has over 1500 rooms and 130 acres of parkland and gardens to explore.

In the afternoon you will visit the charming town of Beaugency, liberated by Joan of Arc in 1429. There will be time to explore its narrow medieval streets, stroll along its 14th century bridge or visit the Church of Saint Etienne and the City Hall, before continuing to the Montlouis-sur-Loire region, your base for the next two nights.

In the morning you will take a tour of Chateau de la Bourdaisière’s gardens including it`s dahlia garden and tomato conservatory, which houses no less than 600 heirloom varieties. Then learn the art of French cooking with one of the chateau’s chefs before sitting down to enjoy the lunch you have cooked.

A real highlight awaits today - the Chateau de Cheverny. The castle is a jewel among the more famous monuments stretching along the Loire Valley. You will love this 17th century gem which is, almost uniquely, still privately-owned by the descendants of the original owners. The Chateau is surrounded by an English-style park consisting of magnificent giant redwoods and lime trees, which were planted between 1820 and 1860. Explore the Park, the Kitchen garden, the Apprentices' garden and the Kennels, home to over one hundred hunting dogs.

Your first visit today is to the wonderful Chateau de Chenonceau, whose beautiful arches span the River Loire. Known once as the “Castle of Women”, the chateau owes much of its charm to the influence over the centuries of such ladies as Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of royalty, and Catherine de Medici. Visit the castle, remarkable for its architecture and the fine quality of its collections, and delight in the Italianate grounds. Enjoy a boat cruise under the arches and then stroll around the gardens, filled with hundreds of climbing and standard roses, orange trees and perfectly manicured box hedges.

This afternoon sample delicious local wines in Vouvray, and then visit the fascinating Clos Lucé to gain a real insight into the life of Leonardo da Vinci. Next stop where you will overnight is Chinon, a medieval town located in the heart of the Val de Loire Region near the banks of the majestic Vienne River, which is steeped in history and rich with culture.

The magnificent Abbey of Fontevraud will no doubt be one of the highlights of the day. One of the largest monastic complexes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was first established in 1099 and had, unusually, both a nunnery and a monastery under the command of an abbess. The abbey contains the tombstone effigies of Henry II and his son, Richard the Lionheart, as well as that of his infamous wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine – brilliant, beautiful and the wife of two kings!

After lunch, travel to Bourgueil for a wine tasting and cellar visit before your final visit of the day to the charming Azay-le-Rideau. This masterpiece of 16th century architecture rests on an island in the River Indre. One of the most visited chateau of the Loire Valley, the Azay-le-Rideau is an exceptional example of Renaissance architecture and offers stunning landscaped gardens.

Enjoy a visit of the imposing Chateau de Villandry, the last of the great chateaux to be built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. The Chateau’s glorious landscaped gardens, which occupy over 6 hectares, are some of the finest in France. Explore the tranquil water garden, the ornamental garden and the beautifully-designed vegetable garden.

As you make your way back towards the capital today, you will stop in Chartres, a pretty town with medieval timber-framed buildings and a magnificent Gothic cathedral. The Cathedral of Chartres, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the best examples of gothic architecture in the world and is perfectly preserved with its marvellous stonework and exquisite 12th and 13th century stained-glass windows. Your tour concludes this afternoon in Paris.

Your Small group tour comes to an end on your return to Paris and the Hotel Elysees Ceramic for approximately 5.30pm.

Enjoy a private airport transfer in Paris in a private vehicle with a professional driver.