Loire Valley: Azay-le-Rideau & Villandry

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The Loire Valley is France's most celebrated region, with medieval castles and fancy country homes dotting the landscape.

The Loire Valley is a pocket of France brimming with fairytale castles and aristocratic mansions that makes for a great day trip from Paris.
A private chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel and will drive for about two hours to the first castle on the itinerary, Villandry, a stunning example of renaissance architecture complete with six beautiful gardens, including a labyrinth. Villandry is purely a French-style chateau, the last of the grand chateaux of the Loire built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. The sober elegance of its architecture and the charm of its outstanding gardens make it one of the jewels of world heritage.
The next stop will be the castle of Azay-le-Rideau, idyllically located on a little island on the river Indre,
The chateau, situated in the center of the Val de Loire region, was built on an island on the river Indre during the Francois I reign in the 16th century. Here you can see the innovations from Italy merging with the French art of construction.
Before returning to Paris, you will have a short stop to admire the medieval fortress of Langeais from the outside.
Langeais' gardens are home to centuries-old sequoias and cedar trees, with a lovely belvedere overlooking the splendid surroundings.

Location

Duration

12 hours

Mood