DAY ONE:
Only 42 minutes from Paris, taking the fast TGV train, we will meet you in the morning at the TGV station: Vendôme Villiers, departure from the “Gare Montparnasse” in Paris. We will drive you first to your accommodation, a beautiful troglodyte suite. After coffee, and croissants, we will leave to the magical château du Rivau.
The château du Rivau and its renaissance stables bears witness to great historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Rabelais. The château seems to come straight out of a fairy tale, thanks to its imposing keep, protective drawbridge and glorious gardens. It is a magical atmosphere as soon as you arrive. The gardens of Rivau are labelled « Remarkable Gardens » it is a conservatory of Fragrant Roses, and a conservatory of old regional vegetables. Oversized contemporary art pieces are all over the gardens. In 2018, the exhibition resonates with « Beauty and the Beast », a tale re-adapted in 1757 by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.The visit of the château and gardens will take about 2.5 hours.
We will follow with a lunch at the château. The château grows its own organic vegetable. We will also share a glass or two of the Chinon appellation wine produced at the château.
In the afternoon, we will visit a local winery in Chinon where you will be able to meet the winemaker and tour le cellar. This will start your education about the Loire Valley wines. The Loire Valley produces Red wines, white wines, rosés and sparkling wines. Before the end of the day, you will have tasted many of the Loire Valley varietals.
On the way back, we will drive through the countryside and forests over to the banks of the Loire river, going through small picturesque villages.
There will be plenty of chances to buy the wine you taste and they are such good value you will want to send some home to enjoy with friends, and families. We can organize the shipping, and handle the custom paper work for you.
Diner will prepared by Luc Bonhomme, as a food and wine pairing experience. This will be an apportunity to taste lesser known French gastronomy. It is then time to retire to your troglodyte suite for a unique experience.
DAY TWO:
After breakfast, we will drive to the second castle, the one you have selected (select your second castle in the booking form). After the visit, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. On the way back to Thoré la Rochette, we will stop at a winery for a tasting. In the early evening, we will take you back to the train station for your return to Paris.
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Day one:
Day two:
[uix_column_wrapper top=’20’ bottom=’20’ left=’0′ right=’0′] [uix_column grid=’6′]including TGV train station pickup, and drop off.
Tours available from Mars to November 2018
• Comfortable transport
• English expert guide by: Luc Bonhomme (company’s owner)
• Coffee, and croissants upon arrival
• Access to your accommodation in the morning
• Château du Riveau , and visit of the award winning rose garden
• Lunch at the château
• Winery visit in Chinon and guided wine tasting
• Opportunity to buy and ship wines
• Gourmet diner prepared by Luc Bonhomme
• Night accommodation in your troglodyte suite
• Next day continental breakfast
• Visit of the second castle, the one you have selected (make your selection in the booking form)
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Wine tasting in the afternoon.
• Return to railway TGV station: Vendôme Villiers
• Good bye gift
Ideal for novice or expert tasters
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
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