Arrival at 10 a.m. in Saumur to visit the French National Riding School or Cadre Noir. First you will watch the famous equestrian show where you will have the opportunity to see the horses and riders perform, appreciate dressage techniques as well as traditional classic riding by the Cadre Noir Equerries. At the end of the presentation, lunch in the restaurant of the School. Following the meal, a guided tour of the corridors of the military Riding School, internationally renowned for the quality of its presentations. This visit will be completed by a stop by the Farrier’s blacksmith’s shop. Then on the road to Montlouis where you will be welcomed in the Cave of the Wine Producers of Montlouis, for a wine-tasting. Near the cave you will dine in a troglodytic restaurant, a fascinating space burrowed into the rock for the storage of barrels of wine. Night at Joué Lès Tours.
Breakfast at the hotel then on to the Beauval Zoo near the banks of the river Cher. Beauval is located in the heart of the Loire chateau country and is very much involved in the protection of endangered species. Ranked among the 15 most beautiful zoos worldwide, the Beauval Zoo is a magical and unforgettable place. More than 4600 animals, koalas, okapis, white tigers, white lions, manatees, are housed in exceptional settings : tropical greenhouses, plains … Lunch in the zoo park’s restaurant. At the end of the afternoon, back to the hotel, dinner then an unaccompanied walk, for which each guest is provided with a map of the town’s centre, to discover its old Towers.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a visit to the château de Cheverny. The Domain of Cheverny is a stately property which has belonged to the same family for over six centuries. Cheverny has always been lived in and each generation has ardently done its best to maintain it but also to embellish it. From the botanical park to the splendid interior of the chateau, from the kennels to the Tintin exhibit, the gardens and surrounding forest, the owners welcome you to a fabulous authentic and living heritage.
Guided tour of the chateau and the Tintin exhibition. (Cheverny was the model for the chateau de Moulinsart of the Tintin comic books) followed by a boat tour on its canals and a ride in an electric vehicle. Finally, discovery of the kennels and the gardens.
Lunch at Chambord then discovery of the chateau. Audio-guided visit of this royal residence, a masterpiece of architectural beauty. This chateau, iconic of the first French Renaissance and dwelling of king François I, is a must when visiting the marvellous Loire Valley.
End of the visit around 4.30 – 5.00 p.m. and back to your home.