Our Loire Valley Discovery Trip

May 5th- 12th, 2017

May 5th, Friday-

arrival, reception, dinner

Jason and Adrienne will be shuttling guests from the TGV station Saint Pierre des Corps. Check in, get comfy, relax, and enjoy your new castle home. We will meet at around 6:00 or so for a little welcome reception before dinner. There will be a light snack. So, time your lunch so that you will not be starving. (Though I don’t think there will be much of a fear of that on this trip! 😉)

May 6th, Saturday-

Candes Saint Martin, Montsoreau, Domaine Pierre Chauvin

After breakfast we are off to Cande-St-Martin and Montsoreau. These are listed as a couple of the most beautiful villages (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France) in France. There are only 110 villages in all of France that can boast this designation. The towns are right on the Loire with streets that meander up the hillside to famous Loire cave dwellings where people actually live today. There’s a castle, a famous cathedral, and a spectacular panoramic view of the confluence of the Rivers Vienne and Loire from the top of town. (and a famous parfumerie boutique, ladies!) Lunch is simple fromage and charcuterie at a highly regarded Caviste in Candes. Damien will provide a fantastic tasting of wines from all over the Touraine. There are few more enjoyable places to sip these wines and get a sense of their place than on a patio overlooking the bank of the Loire river. Afterwards we are off to our first winery, Domaine Pierre Chauvin in beautiful Anjou wine country. Sparkling, white, rose, red, sweet. They have it all, and it’s all organic! Dinner is back at Bourdaisiere.

May 7th, Sunday-

Amboise Market Day!, Villandry

After enjoying coffee and pastries in our chateau we’ll take a short ride to Amboise. Today is market day here, and it’s the best one in the Loire! Tons of things to see, taste, and buy. Wander along the streets and river during this bustling market or sit at a café and observe the bustle of a French market in Spring. We will rendevouz on the Loire river bank for a simple picnic before we head up to the Amboise Royal Chateau to learn about the fascinating history of this famous monument. After we’re done at Amboise we head on to Villandry to take in the beautiful gardens. They should be exceptional in May. Dinner is back at Bourdaisiere.

May 8th, Monday-

Chateau Bourdaisiere Garden Party, Chenonceau,

Le Fleuray Check in

Today we pack up, and head over Le Fleuray, our little country cottage. Before we leave Bourdaisiere we’ll have a leisure luncheon at their famous Bar a Tomate. (Their kitchen garden boasts at having up to 400 different tomato varietals planted each year.) From lunch we head over to Chateau Chenonceaux. One of the most famous Chateau in the Loire. It is often referred to as the “Château des Dames”. It was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, and successively embellished by Diane de Poitiers then Catherine de Medici. After our visit at Chenonceau we head on to check in to Le Fleuray and take in the pastoral side of the Loire. Dinner will be delicious.

May 9th, Tuesday-

Chinon, Café de la Promenade, Lorieux Freres Winery

We are headed to Chinon this morning. This is a famous village right on the Vienne river rich in Medieval history. We’ll walk through the meandering streets up to the castle which was founded in the 12th Century. From here it’s a short ride to Café de la Promenade. This is one of our favorite places in the Loire to eat and drink. Its run by a wonderful couple. She is maître d and he is chef. Afterwards, we are off to Bourgueil to meet Alain and Pascal Lorieux for a tasting at the winery. They have holdings in both the Chinon and Bourgueil appellations of the Loire. So, it should offer a chance to ponder the differences between these 2 terroirs so close to each other made by the same winery! Dinner is back at our charming little cottage. Maybe take advantage of the covered outdoor hot tub?

May 10th, Wednesday

Loche, Montresor, Chambord

Its market day in another of France’s Les Plus Beaux Villages, Loches. Loches is a very pleasant medieval riverside town resting on the banks of the Indre River. Meander through the market and head up the cobbled streets to the top. There you’ll have sweeping views of the area from the old Dungeon and Royal Palace at its citadel. From Loches we’re off to Montresor to have lunch in a cave! This town is yet another Les Plus Beaux Villages! We’ll walk off lunch with a promenade on the river Indrois before heading to Chambord. Just a little hunting lodge in the area. Jk! It’s a magnificent architectural treat. Dinner is at a great little pizza place in Blois. French pizza! It is its own thing.

May 11th, Thursday

Saumur, Domaine de Bablut

Maybe go for a swim in the pool?! We are headed to another famous city in Loire’s wine country. Saumur. Lunch is at the famous bustling wine bar in town, Bistro de la Place. Then we off to our last winery, Domaine de Bablut. Christophe makes some impressive red wines here. He will tell us all about the famous terroir of Anjou-Brissac. Then we’re headed back to the cottage for our farwell dinner.

May 12th, Friday

Check out and Departure

Jason and Adrienne will be shuttling guests to the TGV station Saint Pierre des Corps. Please let us know your departure times as soon as you know them.