Day-Trip from Paris: Loire Valley Castles and Wine Tasting

Explore the heart and soul of the French countryside on our Loire Valley Tours, taking you directly from Paris into this stunning region to explore fairy-tale castles, sample local foods and wines, and experience some of France’s most beautiful scenery.

Our day trip from Paris starts at a central location, from where you’ll board a comfortable, air-conditioned coach with your expert, English-speaking tour guide. We’ll travel out of the city and towards our first site – Château de Chambord, the largest castle in the valley.[readmore]Disney fans will recognize this castle as the inspiration for ‘Beauty and the Beast’. You’ll hear about the strange history of this castle, once intended as a hunting lodge for a king, and climb the staircase that was supposedly designed by Leonardo da Vinci. 

After your guided tour, you’ll have some free time to explore more of the castle yourself, climb to the roof for spectacular views among the turrets, or even take a stroll around the grounds, home to a huge population of wild deer.

Having worked up an appetite, we'll get back on the bus and on to our next stop - an up-close and personal tour of a privately-owned and run castle and winery, where we’ll be wined and dined. You’ll visit the charming, 15th-century Château de Nitray, where family members, perhaps even the personable owner François, will be waiting to proudly give you a guided tasting of their wines. 

You’ll enjoy a wide range of white and red wines and even a sweet dessert wine, with tasting notes from a real expert. There will be more wine (unlimited) when we sit down to lunch, a hearty three-course meal of traditional rural French dishes served by our hosts.

After coffee and dessert, the owner will take you to the pigeon-house and you will have free time to explore the domain at your own pace.