So many things to see, so little time
In the heart of the loire valley
For a week-end:
Arrive at the end of the afternoon or early evening on Friday (rooms
are available from one o'clock). The advantage of arriving the day
before it is that you can begin visiting early in the morning (most
attractions opens at 9). We can advise you on / good restaurants
such as the / Alliance for a meal of very good quality at a very
accessible price, or with L'Ecluse for a more family cuisine and
a musical dinner. After dinner, have a walk on the L'île d'Or
(Golden Island) and taste a / cocktail or a beer at Le Shaker,a
small pub which has a splendid view of the illuminated castle during
the summer (beautiful choice of large cocktails at small prices).
Saturday, after a good breakfast at the hotel (bread and pastries
cooked on the premises) it is time to begin the serious things.
The Castle opens its doors (and not its drawbridge) at 9 o'clock,
the visit lasts about 2 hours (building and gardens). You will then
be / able to admire Amboise from a panoramic point of view. Do not
miss the Saint-Hubert Chapel in which the tomb of Léonard
de Vinci has just been the subject of an elegant restoration. It
is now around eleven,as you leave this visit... a pleasant walk
in Amboise leads you to the cellars for a wine tasting (don't miss
Plou et Fils who are wine makers since the XVIth century) or to
the banks of the Loire to admire the last wild river of Europe.
For lunch, the city proposes all kinds of fast or traditional food.
You can go directly to the Clos Lucè (last home of Léonard
de Vinci) where you will find at the bottom of the charming park
a brand new restaurant. The visit of the house and the park with
its models of the inventions of the great man will take up to 2
hours (depending on how keen you are about technology). / Back to
the town centreYou can stroll in old Amboise with / its troglodyte
or half-timbered houses.
Do not hesitate to make a tempting pause at Bigot, at teatime the
chocolate is marvellous there. / Bigot is an institution amboisienne,
it is the best chocolate maker in the area, their tearoom has a
terrace overlooking the castle, just imagine.... But it is not /
for the view and the terrace that we recommend Bigot to you, but
that for the quality and the originality of their products.... If
time allows /(and also your wallet) you can take a flight in the
baloon with the setting sun, takeoff from Gold island, spetacular
view of the castle, Amboise and the Loire Valley. During the summer
months (July-August) you will / be able to view the son & lumières
at the castle. You will discover there the characters who marked
this place: Charles VIII, Louis XII, François 1st and Léonard
de Vinci....
Sunday morning, don't miss the largest market of the department,
which proposes an immense choice of fruits, vegetables, cheeses,
all the seasonal products / and more. If time allows / for one weekend
you can go to gold island or rent bicycles for a ride in the forest
or in the vines.
Three days in Amboise:
With or without car you can go to visit some castles nearby. Buses
or guides with cars will take / you to the sites.
Chenonceau, unmissable is 15 minutes (by car) from the hotel,
best to visit in the morning or at the end of the afternoon because
of the crowds.
Chaumont-on-Loire 15 minutes away and its festival of / gardens
(from May to October every year) enables you to discover a feudal
castle and forty different gardens all with a new theme each year.
Surprise is guaranteed and the visit can be completed with a lunch
inspired by the theme of the festival ( temporary restaurant "
le grand Velum")
Valmer, at 15 minutes, for admiers of the kitchen garden,
to discover forgotten vegetables or rare varieties /(mint chocolate,
peppermint...).
Bourdaisière, at 15 minutes (/ Montlouis-on-Loire)
for its park where currently (at the end of October 2005) you can
admire an exhibition of aerial photographs / by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
and a collection of more than 400 tomato species in a very pretty
kitchen garden where you can stroll at will.
For one week anything is possible: (car is strongly
advised)
Cheverny, at 45 minutes, where you can understand the mystery
of "Tintin",notably you will learn / why the Dupont brothers
are not brothers... The pack of hunting dogs will impress you .
Blois, at 30 minutes, other very beautiful royal castle,
and also / very many shops for the shopping fans..
Chambord, at 45 minutes (by motorway), imposing castle and
state residence / and its park where one crosses stags, hinds and
wild boars (try not to miss the wail of the stag in the autumn).
Azay-Le-Rideau and Chinon, at 30 minutes, one for
its / fairy tale side and the other for its medieval splendour and
its wine /.
Tours, its old town, its cathedrals, its museums (of which that
of the trade-guild for the masterpieces of the best workmen of France)
and , of course its shops.
For the gastronomists:
not to be missed
the chocolates maker Bigot in Amboise
Hardouin delicatessen in Vouvray,
Vouvray wine at Huet in Vouvray
Touraine-Amboise wine at Plou with Amboise
Choiseul, starred restaurant in the Michelin guide
the list would be too long...
For children and their families:
In Amboise, on l'île d'Or, a very nice playground for kids
from 1 to 12, and the theme park of the mini castles.
In Autrèche, 10 minute/ drive, a beautiful game reserve allows
you to you ride in the small train in the midst of the animals,
and you can continue it by a lunch in the woods (ostrich steak and
bison on the menu!).
The "Lulu park" at Rochecorbon, 20 minutes away, allows
a host of activities for all the family in a cordial environment.
A guinguette will allow you to finish the day in an original way.
For the more sporting on the road to Chaumont, at 15 minutes, Fantasy
Forest, for exceptional activities such as accrobranching, kart,
cannoying and mountain bike.
A bit futher than Montrichard, / 40 minutes away, at the Zoo park
of Beauval, you can spend the day in a luxuriant park in the middle
of the animals. The animals are beautiful, there are even small
white tigers (born in June 2005). Pushchair friendly and several
playgrounds on the circuit
These are just a few of the possibilities offered to you in Touraine, do not hesitate to come to ask us...
