Paris to Loire Valley Castle Tours

If you fancy an extravagant getaway within France, Loire Valley is just a train ride away from the capital and makes for a perfect day trip from Paris. The quaint stretch that is now nestled right between the crucial frontiers of Northern and Southern France was once best known for its strategic importance.

Apart from its rich yesteryears, Loire Valley still attracts several visitors who wish to catch a first hand experience of culture, art and splendour in a single trip. Moreover, wine tasting in Loire Valley is quite the fad, and Loire Valley Wine Tours from Paris are immensely popular. With meticulously planned hamlets and sprawling vineyards adding to the valley’s beauty, there is no surprise that the Loire Valley is on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.

Châteaux: It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Loire Valley is best known for its stellar castles. And while there are over 300 châteaux in Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau and the Château de Chambord are the most visited, as well as the most photographed, castles in France. Both Chambord and Chenonceau châteaux are well furnished with interiors dating back from the Renaissance period, and are home to several notable pieces of art from the 16th and 17th century. With their expansive courtyards and palace grounds, a visit to these castles can easily take up an entire day.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours: A museum dedicated to the wonders of fine art, Musée des Beaux-Arts was built in the 18th century. It holds an eclectic collection of notable artworks, sculptures, furniture, as well as paintings beginning from the 14th century onwards. Monet, Delacroix, and Degas are only some of the well-known artists whose artworks are displayed in this opulent museum. Apart from the art, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is also regarded as an iconic structure in Loire Valley because of its strikingly beautiful facade.

Cathedrals: Apart from being home to a number of stunning castles, Loire Valley is also blessed with some of the finest cathedrals in the world. These include the Bourges Cathedral and the Chartres Cathedral, which attract pilgrims as well as tourists from around the world. Famous for their intricate architecture and their artistic stained glass windows, these cathedrals portray excellent craftsmanship that is almost 800 years old as of today. In fact, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres (Chartres Cathedral), the 12th century cathedral, has also earned itself a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites because of its splendid Gothic architecture and its unique religious allure.

Wine tasting: Being France’s third largest wine producer, Loire Valley houses some of the most picturesque vineyards that produce a variety of wines. Making use of a myriad of grape varieties, Loire Valley creates some of the finest wines that you can try on your day trip. Each year, visitors from around the world visit during the harvesting period to enjoy a thorough, guided walk within Loire Valley’s vineyards. A typical visit begins with a brief look into the process, which is both educational and interactive, along with a fun wine-sipping experience to go along!