AMBOISE TO CHENONCEAU WALK

This easy-paced walk starts out along the banks of the majestic Loire, lined with the great royal châteaux. It also follows the leafy val ley of the Cher, littered with private châteaux, no less impressive, and charming in their intimate opulence. There’s no tough climbing - the high est you reach is l50m - but you still get enchanting views along the valleys.

Highlights include quite a few of the Loire’s most famous châteaux, some with Son et Lumière displays of their turbulent history. There’s the Renaissance splendour of Chenonceaux, straddling the Cher like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence (which gave Catherine de Medici the idea). Amboise has another wonderful château, and a great deal to see besides, including Leonardo da Vinci’s manor house. Nearby, Tours has a clutch of fine museums, the Cathedral of St Gatien with its fabu lous patchwork of architectural styles, and a charming old quarter.

The Loire vineyards produce a wider variety of wines than any wine region in the world, with plenty of opportunities to taste them in labyrinthine cellars dug into the val ley sides. Vouvray is probably the best known wine village here, however Montlouis and St Martin produce some wonderful wines - and a fraction of the cost! Not a bit overshadowed by the wines, you can enjoy the great gastronomic speciali ties of the Loire, for centuries the “garden of France”.

For more infomation about this holiday, including hotel descriptions, travel options and full holiday itinerary, please see our new 'further details' section.

Short break 'taster' option

This holiday is also available as a 4 night 'taster' version. You follow the same route as the regular holiday, but move on everyday (no rest days), making it ideal for a long weekend break.