Chenonceau, Amboise and Clos Lucé with wine-tasting

Discover 3 highlights of the Loire Valley in this fully inclusive one day tour: castle of Chenonceau, castle of Amboise and manor of Clos Lucé. Enjoy local wines in a winery and local food in a typical cave restaurant. The tour includes the entrance fees of each place, lunch, wine around lunch, tour of each site by registered tour guide.Your morning starts with a guided visit of the Chateau de Chenonceau. Nicknamed “the ladies castle”, chateau de Chenonceau is famous for its owners which had only been women, 2 of the most famous being Diane de Poitiers, king’s favorite, and Catherine de Medici, wife of the same king. Chenonceau is now the most popular chateau in the Loire Valley and this is due to its amazing architecture and grounds. Built as a bridge arching across the Cher River, it is built by two magnificent Renaissance gardens. You will discover inside an impressive collection of furniture, tapestries and masters paintings.
At lunch, Daniel, oenologist, welcomes you in his caves, former tuff stone quarries, for a tour followed by a wine tasting of Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines. In order to transcend your meal, you will pair your wines with a selection of cheeses.First part of the afternoon, guided tour of the castle of Amboise. Impressively located on top of a cliff looking over the Loire River, the royal castle of Amboise was built by two kings: charles VIII and Francis I. You will be taken through the council room, the banquet room, the king’s bedroom and the gothic royal chapel where you will see the tomb of Leonardo Da Vinci.Second part of the afternoon, guided tour of the Clos Lucé. This little manor house located in the town of Amboise, property of King Francis I, was given to Leonardo da Vinci for him to spend the rest of his life. Invited by the king to work as his first painter, architect and engineer, Leonardo arrived here in 1516. He died here in 1519, aged 67. He developed for the king amazing machines and finished in this place Mona Lisa. You can see with your guide his bedroom, reception room, kitchens, studio and models of his inventions made by IBM.