What to do and see in Loire Valley, Centre-Val de Loire: The Best Scenic Railroads

November 17, 2021 Leonardo Torrence

Old world villages and storybook chateaux bedeck the Loire, once fought over by Gauls, Romans, Visigoths and even Attila the Hun. Rent bikes and roll through the lush valley, visiting fortresses in Amboise and Angers, UNESCO-designated Chartres Cathedral and the Gothic cathedral in Nantes. Musee Jules Vernes houses replicas of inventions designed by the futuristic author. Pay respects to other former residents: the Romans in Tours, the cave dwellers of Touraine, and the liberator of Orleans, Joan of Arc.
Restaurants in Loire Valley

1. LOIRE VALLEY: Your selection of three castles to visit (Day-trip from PARIS)

DAY TRIPS FROM PARIS (FRANCE) - CITY TOURS
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

IT IS SAFE TO TRAVEL WITH US - All our services are privatized and without regrouping with unknown visitors coming from outside. - All our tours include a pickup and dropoff at your hotel. - Book now and pay upon arrival. THE LOIRE VALLEY CASTLES -By booking this tour, we give you the opportunity to build your own itinerary. When booking, you must specify the 3 castles you want to include in your day from the following list: 1) CHAMBORD 2) CHEVERNY 3) AMBOISE / CLOS LUCE 4) BLOIS 5) CHENONCEAU 6) CHAUMONT 7) VILLANDRY 8) AZAY THE RIDEAU. 07.30 am Pick up at your hotel (Paris) and private transfer to Austerlitz train station 08:24 am | Departure of the train for Orléans (one hour) 09:32 am | Meet with your local guide who will drive his own vehicle En route to your first stop CASTLE #1. 12h30 | Lunch in a restaurant 02:00 pm | Visit of CASTLE # 2 03:00 pm | Visit of CASTLE # 3 06:28 pm | Transfer to Orléans station 07:34 pm| Arrival in Paris and private transfer to your hotel.

Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Lunch, Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle, R/T train tickets to avoid the trafiic jams, Tickets admission in the 3 castles you have selected

Exclusions: Drinks and extras

Reviewed By O5141HMjonathang

We are travelling from Australia and have previously visited other countries prior to to France which had amazing service and friendlyness. However 5minutes in France we found them to be rude 10minutes in and they were pushing us, 30minutes and pickpocketed. My advice when you get off the train is get back on and try a different country. Try Ireland, England or even Amsterdam. We are counting down the minutes to get out of this thieving, smelly, rude, dirty country Cheers

2. Loire Valley Day Tour From Paris

Tourist Office Tours Loire Valley, 78-82 Rue Bernard Palissy, 37000 Tours, France Link Paris
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Take a one day trip from Paris to see four historic castles in the Loire Valley. Tour includes 1st or 2nd Class rail tickets from Paris to the Loire Valley. Total tour day, including rail travel time, lasts approximately 13 hours.

Inclusions: Pick-up and drop-off in the Loire Valley, Rail to and from Paris to the Loire Valley, All castle admission fees., Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Lunch, Gratuities, Local transfers to and from your hotel/apartment in Paris

Reviewed By TravelFunForAll

My father and I had a fantastic tour of the D-Day Beaches, Sainte-Mere-Eglise and Bayeux in October. Our tour guide was Sabrina, and she tailored the day to meet our interests - including taking us by the statue of Dick Winters and Brecort Manor. We even managed to squeeze in a tour of the Bayeux tapestries at the end of the day, which was followed by a recommendation for dinner at the best restaurant in Bayeux before our train ride back to Paris - Le Moulin de Galette. It was a quaint restaurant near an old watermill that served delicious crepes. The tour was the highlight of our time in France. The tour also felt very safe from a COVID perspective - there was hardly anyone at the sites, the guide wore a mask, kept social distance and regularly offered hand sanitizer; there was also a divider in the van between the guide and the two of us.

3. LOIRE VALLEY: Private day-trip to visit Chambord, Cheverny and Chenonceau

DAY TRIPS FROM PARIS (FRANCE) - CITY TOURS

IT IS SAFE TO TRAVEL WITH US - All our services are privatized and without regrouping with unknown visitors coming from outside. - All our tours include a pickup and dropoff at your hotel. - Book now and pay upon arrival. If you're staying in Paris and craving for a trip to the Loire Valley Castles, then this private tour is perfect for you. You'll be picked up in Paris at your hotel and drove to the top 3 of Loire Valley Castles: Chambord, Cheverny, Chenonceau. This is how your fullday trip will look like: 07:30am | Pick-up at your hotel (Paris) and transfer to the train station 08:24am | Departure of the train to Orléans (one hour) 09:32am | Meet & greet by your local guide. En route to the castle of Chambord. 12:30pm | Lunch in a cosy restaurant close to Cheverny 02:00pm | Visit of the castle of Cheverny 03:30pm | Visit of the castle of Chenonceau 06:28pm | Transfer to the train station in Orléans 07:34pm | Arrival to Paris and private transfer to your hotel

Inclusions: R/T private transfer to/from the train station from/to your hotel in PARIS, R/T train tickets to/from ORLEANS, Driver-Guide assistance all day long, Private transportation by car or minivan, Lunch (3 courses menu), Ticket admisssions Chambord, Chenonceau, Cheverny, Audio guide in your own language, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Drinks

Reviewed By O5141HMjonathang

We are travelling from Australia and have previously visited other countries prior to to France which had amazing service and friendlyness. However 5minutes in France we found them to be rude 10minutes in and they were pushing us, 30minutes and pickpocketed. My advice when you get off the train is get back on and try a different country. Try Ireland, England or even Amsterdam. We are counting down the minutes to get out of this thieving, smelly, rude, dirty country Cheers

4. LOIRE VALLEY: CHAMBORD CASTLE EXPRESS by train (avoid traffic jams)

Gare d'Austerlitz, 75013 Paris, France DAY TRIPS FROM PARIS (FRANCE) - CITY TOURS

IT IS SAFE TO TRAVEL WITH US - All our services are privatized and without regrouping with unknown visitors coming from outside. - All our tours include a pickup and dropoff at your hotel. - Book now and pay upon arrival. Visit the castle of the kings and the king of the castles. 1 / You do not want to be stuck in traffic jams at the start and the return from Paris and waste your time ? 2 / You have a short time in PARIS but you can't miss to visit CHAMBORD (masterpiece of the french renaissance period). Knowing the precise time of your return trip allows you to better organize your stay in Paris and enjoy your evening. ITINERARY 08:00 am: meeting point at the train station 08:25 am: departure to ORLEANS 09:26: am; meet and greet with your privatized guide/driver 10:30 am to 02:00 pm: visit of CHAMBORD and the gardens 03:38 pm: train to PARIS 04:35 pm: arrival in Paris

Inclusions: R/T TRAIN TICKET , GROUND TRANSPORTATION PRIVATE CAR , DRIVER/GUIDE ASSISTANCE, ENTRY (CASTLE & GARDEN)

Exclusions: MEALS & DRINKS

Reviewed By O5141HMjonathang

We are travelling from Australia and have previously visited other countries prior to to France which had amazing service and friendlyness. However 5minutes in France we found them to be rude 10minutes in and they were pushing us, 30minutes and pickpocketed. My advice when you get off the train is get back on and try a different country. Try Ireland, England or even Amsterdam. We are counting down the minutes to get out of this thieving, smelly, rude, dirty country Cheers

5. LOIRE VALLEY : Exclusive experience (private lunch in a family castle)

DAY TRIPS FROM PARIS (FRANCE) - CITY TOURS

Exclusive for a few people, we invite you for a unique and memorable experience : Dare the Castle Life during a lunch as a guest in a family home while visiting Chambord and Cheverny. We don't bring you in a restaurant for lunch but in a private family castle as an exclusive guest. You will enjoy the art of living in the French way. Your day will start by a short journey by train to Orleans to avoid to be stuck in the traffic jams of Paris. ITINERARY 07:30am | Pick-up at your hotel (Paris) and private transfer to the train station Gare d'Austerlitz 08:24am | Departure of the train to Orléans 09:32am | Meet & greet by your local guide. En route to your first stop at the castle of Chambord. You can visit on your own during 2 hours. 12:00 pm | Welcomed by the owner of a nice family castle, you will have a lunch . 02:30 pm | Visit of the castle of Cheverny 06:28pm | Transfer to the train station in Orléans 07:34pm | Arrival to Paris and private transfer to your hotel.

Inclusions: R/T transfers from/to your hotel in Paris to/from the train station, R/T train tickets from/to Paris to/from Orléans , Driver guide all day long, Ground transportation by car/minivan, admission tickets at Chambord and Cheverny with audio-guides in your selected language, Private lunch at the castle owners table, All taxes and fees

Exclusions: Drinks and extras

Reviewed By O5141HMjonathang

We are travelling from Australia and have previously visited other countries prior to to France which had amazing service and friendlyness. However 5minutes in France we found them to be rude 10minutes in and they were pushing us, 30minutes and pickpocketed. My advice when you get off the train is get back on and try a different country. Try Ireland, England or even Amsterdam. We are counting down the minutes to get out of this thieving, smelly, rude, dirty country Cheers

6. Loire Valley Castles Private 1-Day Tour from Paris by Train & Minivan

Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France Dynamic Tourisme Paris

Take the TGV (Bullet train) to the city of Tours where you will meet your English-speaking guide/driver to board your minibus for an INCREDIBLE CASTLE TOUR through the LOIRE VALLEY which is referred as the “Cradle of the French” and the "Garden of France" due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit and vegetable fields. It is also considered as UNESCO´s World Heritage since 2000. You will have a guided visit of three Châteaux: Château de VILLANDRY, especially known for its beautiful gardens; Château de CHENONCEAU, one of the best-known châteaux of the Loire valley, and also one of the two to have been built in the river bed; and finally Château d´AMBOISE recognized as Historical Monument by the French Ministry of Culture since 1840. Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last days in this Château. At the end of the day return to Paris in the Bullet train (TGV) an be there in one hour.

Inclusions: 2nd class round-trip train tickets from Paris/Tours/Paris, 1-Day tour in the Loire Valley with English-speaking guide / driver , Entrance fees and guided tour in three castles of the Loire Valley

Exclusions: Meals and beverages, Optional tips to the Guide / Driver

Reviewed By F5148YLjoannes

Our local guide (“small” Lawrence) was kind and knowledgeable, and logistics with her and the tour were seamless. Only recommendation would be to cut the wax museum visit (which comes at the end of the day) because by then, you’ve heard Therese’ story a lot and seen “real” sites so the wax museum seemed superfluous.

7. Mont St. Michel, D-Day Beaches & Loire Valley Castles, 3-Day Private from Paris

13 Rue d'Amsterdam, 75008 Paris, France Dynamic Tourisme Paris

Enjoy this 3-day tour in two of the most beautiful regions in France: NORMANDY and THE LOIRE VALLEY. Start your trip in the city of Bayeux to admire the 70 meters long middle age Tapestry, Listed World Heritage by UNESCO. Continue to the coast and visit the Landing beaches of the D-Day and the American Cemetery. On the second day visit the Mont Saint Michel classed by UNESCO as a world heritage in 1979 and continue to the walled city of Saint-Malo. Return to Paris in bullet train. Finally travel to the city of Tours, board your minibus for an incredible CASTLE tour through the Loire Valley, UNESCO´s World Heritage since 2000. You will have a guided visit of: Château de VILLANDRY, known for its beautiful gardens; Château de CHENONCEAU, one of the best-known of the Loire valley, and one of the two to have been built in the river bed; and Château d'Amboise recognized as Historical Monument by the French Ministry of Culture since 1840. Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last days in this Château.

Inclusions: Dinner, Breakfast, 2nd class train tickets from Paris to Bayeux, 2-Day tour in a private minibus. English-speaking guide/driver, starting in BAYEUX, ending in RENNES, Dinner and overnight in a 3-Star hotel on half board in Pontorson, Entrance fees at the tapestry in Bayeux and at the Mount Saint Michel, Bullet train (TGV) 2nd class journey from RENNES to PARIS Montparnasse train station , 1 Night in Paris in a 3-star hotel on Bed & Breakfast, Bullet train (TGV) 2nd class road-trip Paris/Tours/Paris, 1-Day tour in the Loire Valley with English-speaking guide / driver , Entrance fees and guided tour in the three castles of the Loire Valley

Exclusions: Meals and beverages unless specified, Tips for the guide / driver, Pre and post accommodations in Paris (Can be booked upon request)

Reviewed By F5148YLjoannes

Our local guide (“small” Lawrence) was kind and knowledgeable, and logistics with her and the tour were seamless. Only recommendation would be to cut the wax museum visit (which comes at the end of the day) because by then, you’ve heard Therese’ story a lot and seen “real” sites so the wax museum seemed superfluous.

8. 5-Day Private Tour around Seine Valley and the Loire Valley

Louvre – Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

Two certified guides take you around the Seine Valley and the Loire Valley, which are the Kings' Valleys. Both French and American, these two guides have been guiding for years and know their regions perfectly. Kevin, in Paris, will tell you all about Classicism, while Sylvain, in the Loire Valley, focuses on Renaissance... and wine of course!

Inclusions: Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Wine tastings

Exclusions:

9. Loire Valley Castles & Panda Zoo, 2-Day Private tour from Paris Train & Minivan

Paris Montparnasse Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France Dynamic Tourisme Paris

In this tour, you will discover some France's wonderful treasures: Take the bullet train to Tours and board your minibus for an incredible CASTLE guided tour in the Loire Valley, “Cradle of the French” and “Garden of France”, UNESCO´s World Heritage since 2000. You will have guided visits in Château de VILLANDRY, known for its beautiful gardens; Château de CHENONCEAU, one of the best-known of the Loire valley, and also one of the two to have been built in the river bed; and Château d´AMBOISE, Historical Monument since 1840. Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last days in this Château. Spend the night in your hotel in Tours. The second day, you will be transferred to the ZOO PARC of BEAUVAL, an extraordinary zoo focused on the conservation and protection of animal species, where you can admire more than 10.000 extraordinary and unique animals in France. The stars of the zoo are a couple of Pandas and their new baby, Yuan Meng. Finally transfer to train station for your return to Paris.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Round-trip train tickets in 2nd class Paris/Tours/Paris, 1-Day tour in the Loire Valley Castles with English-speaking guide/driver , Entrance fees and guided tour in three castles of the Loire Valley, 3-star Hotel in Tours on Bed & Breakfast, 1-Day entrance to the Beauval Zoo Parc, Transfers to and from the Zoo

Exclusions: Meals and beverages unless specified, Tips for the guide / drive

Reviewed By F5148YLjoannes

Our local guide (“small” Lawrence) was kind and knowledgeable, and logistics with her and the tour were seamless. Only recommendation would be to cut the wax museum visit (which comes at the end of the day) because by then, you’ve heard Therese’ story a lot and seen “real” sites so the wax museum seemed superfluous.

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