• Rates and commission to agencies - on request
• Tours and workshops are held in English
• Possibility of russian-speaking guide - on request
• Interpreter for workshops - on request
• Supplement for transfer from hotel to meeting point and back.

1. THE WONDERS OF CHAMBORD
2. THE CHARMS OF CHENONCEAU
3. WELCOME TO DA VINCI’S MANSION
4. LE CADRE NOIR BEHIND THE SCENES
5. FENCING MASTERCLASS
6. OF GRAPES AND WINE
7. SAILING DOWN THE LOIRE RIVER
8. THE LOIRE VALLEY COOKING EXPERIENCE

1. THE WONDERS OF CHAMBORD

• Duration of the activity: 2 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 6 years
• Included:
  • Certified guide for the family only
  • Tickets to the château de Chambord
  • Game booklet and gift for each child

Overview:
Experience a fun, privately guided family-friendly visit of the Château de Chambord, the biggest and one of the most beautiful 16th century chateaux of the Loire Valley.

Description:
Believe it or not: the Château de Chambord, which features 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases, was used as… a hunting lodge!
The Château de Chambord is truly one of the major highlights of the Loire Valley and should by no means be missed while traveling in the region.
This Wonders of Chambord tour will not only enable you to enjoy the beauty of its architecture and history, it is also a unique way to keep your children engaged and entertained while they learn about Renaissance art.
Your highly knowledgeable and fully licensed guide will tell you all about the history of Chambord and the person who ordered its creation, King François I. As a matter of fact, this king only spent a total of 72 nights in the château in his entire lifetime. You will discover the famous double helix staircase (designed by Leonardo Da Vinci), the grand fireplaces, the beautiful terraces and much more. You’ll even hear how the Mona Lisa ended up hidden here during World War II!
If there is one cultural activity that should be experienced when traveling with your family in the Loire Valley, it would be have to be the Wonders of Chambord. Your children will love it, and so will you.
And if you want to continue the fun, why not choose one or two of the following leisure activities (guide not included, supplements indicated below): a horse and bird of prey show, an electric vehicle rental, an electric boat rental, a row boat rental or even a bicycle rental. All these extra activities are great to explore the garden and park of Chateau de Chambord.

2. THE CHARMS OF CHENONCEAU

• Duration of the activity: 2 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 6 years
• Included:
  • Tickets to the Château de Chenonceau
  • Game booklet and gift for each child
  • Certified guide for the family only

Overview:
Step inside one of the most beautiful (and most beautifully decorated) chateaux in France, the Château de Chenonceau, and enjoy a private, fun-filled family-friendly visit.

Description:
The Château de Chenonceau is second most visited château in the Loire Valley, just after the Château de Chambord. But because is it fully furnished, unlike the empty Chambord, this makes it one of the most beautiful and charming châteaux of the Loire Valley.
Accompanied by the local, fully licensed and family-friendly guide, discover all the secrets of this château built over the Cher River. With your private guided tour, your kids will have no trouble imagining what life was like for its past royal inhabitants. Just like you, your children will be fascinated by the kitchens, the rooms and the gardens.
Near the château, you will also find a small maze where your children can run and hide.
Thanks to the exciting game booklet, a visit to the Château de Chenonceau with your children will surely turn into a highlight of your Loire Valley experience.

3. WELCOME TO DA VINCI’S MANSION

• Duration of the activity: 2 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 6 years
• Included:
  • Certified guide for the family only
  • Tickets to the château du Clos Lucé
  • Game booklet and gift for each child

Overview:
Welcome to Leonardo Da Vinci’s former mansion, le Clos Lucé filled with real life-size reproductions of Da Vinci’s many fascinating and interactive inventions.

Description:
Did you know that Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years in the Loire Valley and is even buried in Amboise?
The Italian Renaissance artist (creator of the world famous Mona Lisa) and inventor was invited by 16th century French king Francis I to help him design the Château de Chambord. He was given another nearby château as a home: le Clos Lucé.
Our Welcome To Da Vinci’s Mansion tour consists of a visit of the inventor’s former house in the company of a certified and child-friendly guide.
Follow him/her as he/she takes your family through some of the key rooms of the mansion, including Da Vinci’s bedroom, dining room, kitchen and his atelier where he painted other masterpieces. This part is already very entertaining, and the guide knows how to keep the young ones engaged, but when you get to the basement and gardens, that’s when it becomes really fun. They feature some of Da Vinci’s extraordinary inventions. Your children will be able to play with these life size inventions to fully experience the genius’ work.
This Welcome To Da Vinci’s Mansion tour is mesmerizing for both you and your children as entering the home of the creator of the Mona Lisa is something that leaves no one indifferent…

4. LE CADRE NOIR BEHIND THE SCENES

• Duration of the activity: 2 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 6 years
• Included:
  • Private behind-the-scenes visit of Le Cadre Noir
  • An experienced private guide

Overview:
Come and explore Le Cadre Noir, one of the most prestigious horsemanship schools in the world, and take a behind-the-scenes look through a private, fun-filled guided tour.

Description:
If you and your family love horses, then this is the place to be, and something you won’t want to miss during your family holiday in the Loire Valley. And even if you are not so much into horses, Le Cadre Noir is such a prestigious place that a visit here becomes almost a must do.
Le Cadre Noir is France’s top horsemanship school, and ranks as one of the most prestigious ones in the world. For military purposes or leisure (some Olympic champions are from Le Cadre Noir), the art of horse training has been passed on from the day of the school’s creation in 1828. The riders are recognizable by their black uniforms, which gave the name to the school.
Follow your private guide as he/she takes you inside the heart of the school, from the main performance halls to the smaller restricted access training halls. During this 2 hour visit, you will also pass by the workshop where the blacksmiths work on the horseshoes, the infirmary and many other facilities which have helped Le Cadre Noir become so famous.
Needless to say that horses are to be seen everywhere, and you will get to pet quite a few!
Le Cadre Noir Behind The Scenes experience is a great way to learn more about the art of horse riding and get a chance to see a true iconic school with a great cultural legacy.

5. FENCING MASTERCLASS

• Duration of the activity: 2 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 5 years
• Included:
  • An introduction to the world of fencing
  • A private fencing teacher
  • All the equipment
• Visited places: Meung sur Loire (30 minutes drive from Orléans)

Overview:
Take part in unique fencing hands-on workshop and experience the art of fencing as a family with a private professional instructor in a beautiful private mansion.

Description:
Recalling the spirit of D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers, haven’t you ever dreamed of donning your helmet and stepping up for a duel?
Fencing Masterclass is perfectly in line with the region’s traditions. The Loire Valley was once the home of many French kings, queens and royal and noble families. And one of the noble sports was fencing.
Located in a real 16th century chateau, you will first be greeted by your private fencing teacher, who also happens to be part of a family of distinguished swordsman as they have trained several Olympic teams. After a brief introduction on the art and sport of fencing, it will be time to suit up and learn the basics.
Once you have mastered some of the basic moves and feel comfortable with your sword, it will be time to challenge one of your family members to a duel!
With this Fencing Masterclass, we give you and your children the opportunity to experience this age-old discipline in a safe and child-friendly environment. A highly entertaining activity that will create lifelong memories for everyone!

6. OF GRAPES AND WINE

• Duration of the activity: 2 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 6 years
• Included:
  • A visit of a local unique winery with certified sommerlier
  • Vineyard, troglodyte cave visit and vine tasting (juice for kids)

Overview:
Feast your eyes, ears, hands and taste buds while enjoying a private kid-friendly visit of a unique Loire Valley wine cellar and winery dug directly inside a cliff…

Description:
Have you ever wanted to show your children how wine is made, from the beautiful outdoor vineyards to the old wooden fermentation barrels?
Or Grapes And Wine is an extraordinary journey into an iconic element of French culture and lifestyle: wine.
Let your whole family enjoy these 2 hours in a beautiful and unique, fully privatized winery. You will learn how the grapes are grown, cut and fermented to make such delicious white wine. Just listen to your wine expert as he/she explain every process in a lively and highly entertaining way.
The private tour first starts with the visit of the vineyards. You and your family will then make your way into this unique wine cellar dug directly inside a cliff (troglodyte cave). While you taste some of the excellent white and red wines the region produces, your children will have a more sensory approach: touching the earth where the grapes are grown, listening to the fermentation barrels and seeing the fossils dating back from millions of years ago.
For younger children, grape or apple juice is available, but everyone will be able to enjoy the snacks made from local delicatessen such as goat cheese and cured meats.
At the end of the tour, each adult will be offered a bottle of their choice to recreate the magic of this wine tasting experience back home.

7. SAILING DOWN THE LOIRE RIVER

• Duration of the activity: 2 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 4 years
• Included:
  • A private boat
  • Crew
  • Wine tasting for adults
• Visited places: From Chaumont sur Loire to Amboise

Overview:
Enjoy a peaceful yet fun-filled sail down the Loire River with your family on a traditional wooden sail boat and discover the beautiful landscapes and the interesting life along its banks.

Description:
Do you want to take a breath of fresh air and relax on board a beautiful traditional wooden boat on the Loire River?
Leave the hustle and bustle of big cities like Paris for a while and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet with this Sailing Down The River Loire cruise.
Hop on board the charming traditional wooden boat and drift down the Loire River all the way to the historical city of Amboise. All along this relaxing 2 hour cruise, you will see the wild banks of the river. While you enjoy a bit of local white wine, your children will have fun fishing.
Just before arriving in Amboise, you will spot the beautiful and iconic Château d’Amboise, one of the most famous chateaux in the area.
Sailing Down The River Loire activity is the best way to take a break from all the cultural activities and just enjoy a lovely family bonding moment.

8. THE LOIRE VALLEY COOKING EXPERIENCE

• Duration of the activity: 4 hours (10:00-18:00)
• Minimum age: 6 years
• Included:
  • Chef for the family only
  • Visit to the market with a chef
  • Lunch
• Visited places: Tours

Overview:
Discover the Loire Valley specialties (cheese, cured meats, wine) at a local market and learn how to cook a traditional 3 course meal with your own private chef.

Description:
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make some of the best dishes in the world?
French cuisine is considered as one of the most refined and delicious cuisines on the planet. And in the Loire Valley, there are some delicious local specialties that you will want to discover and learn how to make.
Loire Valley Cooking Experience starts with a visit to a traditional market in the heart of the historical city of Tours. Let your family’s private chef assist you in buying the necessary ingredients for the day’s menu.
Depending on the season and arrivals, the menu can change. After all, local cooking is all about healthy, local and sustainable food.
The cooking class takes place in a private kitchen in the heart of the city, and once you have been briefed, it’s time to start cooking! No one will be left out, as everyone will have to participate in this fully hands-on experience!
The best part of the cooking class comes at the end. After preparing these delicious local specialties, it will be time to eat them!
For a unique culinary experience, book this Loire Valley Cooking Experience now and you will be able to impress your friends back home with some really delicious French recipes.