About the location: Among the glories of the Loire Valley are the magnificent chateaux studding the banks of
the Loire river. The playground of nobles, the valley became the cradle of the artistic explosion of the French
Renaissnace. Today, you will also find vineyards flanking much of the length of the Loire, and you will blend your
visits of the chateaux with tastings of the best wines of the region. Pascal Mineau, a noted wine specialist, will
be your private guide throughout this exceptional experience. Your accommodations will be in a lovely Chateau
hotel located in the heart of a wooded park.
During this special and exclusive itinerary, you will enjoy tastings at some truly remarkable
locales. Visit world-class wineries where the the experts will lead you in
a tasting of the Loire's famous wines; explore the
subterranean caves where many varieties of mushrooms are cultivated; let a renowned cheese Affineur
lead you through a paired tasting of the region's specialties; and revel in a chocolate class with a
famous chocolatiere.
About the cooking lessons: You will have the exceptional opportunity for two lessons during your
stay in the Loire Valley. Chef Garanger of "Le Medicis" was trained in Michelin star restaurants
in the Loire valley, Paris and Burgandy. And the chef of
Chateau du Breuil will propose a menu using the freshest seasonal ingredients.
An added bonus is the special chocolate demonstration by
Max Vauché, "Master Chocolate maker."
Grand Tour of the Loire
Blois, Loire Valley
Itinerary
Day One
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Arrival at Blois train station on your own. A taxi will be waiting for you to
transfer you to your Chateau hotel.
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Check-in at Chateau du Breuil. Please note that rooms are
available after 3:30 PM.
Set in a magnificent, 30-hectare wooded park, the Château du Breuil
is situated in the heart of the Châteaux de la Loire (Castles of
the Loire Valley), close to the major historical sites of the
French Renaissance. The Chateau consists of a 15th-century tower
and some late 18th and early 19th-century buildings.
Accommodation in double superior room in the Chateau.
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Enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the pool or in the park of the
Chateau.
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Four-course welcome dinner at the Chateau, drinks included.
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Day Two
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Pick-up in the morning by your English-speaking chauffeur and transfer to Blois.
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This morning you will go to the restaurant "Le Medicis", where Chef
Damien Garanger welcomes you for a cooking demonstration. Chef Garanger
trained in Michelin-star restaurants in the Loire Valley (“Domaine des
Hauts de Loire”), and in Paris and Burgundy. After a few years traveling
around the world (Saint Martin, Cyprus, Moscow), he is now back in his
region of origin.
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Gourmet lunch in the restaurant with the recipes you have prepared.
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Transfer to Cheverny.
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Visit of the Chateau of Cheverny. In the 17th century Cheverny was
the first chateau incarnating the classic style in the Loire Valley.
Built by the governor of Blois city, this chateau is known for the
richness of its interiors, which have been kept unaltered thanks to its
owners, the Hurault family. Cheverny presents a magnificent collection of
furniture and master paintings from the Renaissance period.
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Later in the afternoon, a winery visit and wine tasting in Cour Cheverny, at the Domain
Des Huars Michel Gendrier. Mister Gendrier wins awards every year for the
quality of his wines. The Cour Cheverny wines exist today because of
King Francois I. On his way back from Italy, Francois I stopped in
Burgundy and brought back 80,000 Romorantin vines. Nowadays the Cour
Cheverny is the only appellation in the world using the Romorantin grape.
Each couple will receive a nice bottle of Cour Cheverny to take home.
Four-course dinner at the Chateau, drinks included.
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Day Three
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Cooking class with the Chef of Chateau du Breuil . Every day a new
menu is proposed with the freshest seasonal ingredients. The
lesson starts around 10.00 AM and lasts about 2 hours. The menu
you prepare in the morning will be served to you for
dinner. All the recipes you prepare can be reproduced at
home.
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After the lesson, your chauffeur will pick you up for your excursion to Chambord.
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Your three-course lunch in Chambord (drinks included) is at "Le Saint Michel," which faces the
magnificent Chateau.
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Visit of the Chateau of Chambord. Chambord was the very first
Chateau of the Valley to be proclaimed by UNESCO as a
world heritage. It was commissioned in 1519 by King Francois I to Leonardo Da Vinci and his architects.
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Transfer to Bracieu.
This afternoon, a very special experience:
a visit and tasting at Max Vauché's in
Bracieux. Mr. Vauche is a "Master Chocolate maker" and has
travel around the world to select the best quality cocoa to
create outstanding chocolates. Max developed a unique
partnership with Soa Tome, also called the Chocolate Island, where he developed a “cooperative” Fare Trade agreement
with the growers.
After a short film about the history of chocolate, you will be treated
to a chocolate demonstration. Max is attentive to every step in the process that
turns raw cocoa beans into rich, luxurious
chocolates.
We end the visit and demonstration with a chocolate tasting.
Blois is the home town of Mr Poulin. A contemporary
of Lindt, Mr. Poulin in the 1870's invented the chocolate
bar. Each participant gets a nice selection of Chocolates
to take home.-
Return to your hotel. Four-course dinner at the Chateau,
drinks included.
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Day Four
- Morning pick-up by your English-speaking chauffeur.
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Visit of the Chateau of Chenonceau. The unique architecture of
the Chateau makes it one of the most exquisite Chateaux of the
Loire Valley. Chenonceau is related to important French
Renaissance women and was offered by King Henry II to his
mistress Diane de Poitiers.
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Transfer to Amboise.
Enjoy the exceptional matured wines of the Loire Valley: you are welcomed
in Caves Duhard, established in 1874. Its owner and wine maker
Daniel Gatay is specialized in matured Loire Valley wines. You
will discover a large range of vintages, from 1959 to the present.
The caves were originally carved in the 12th century. Many of
the stones extracted from the caves were used for the
construction of the Chateaux and Cathedrals of the region.
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Lunch is served in a private room next to the cave. We will
present a selection of local specialties (Rillons de
Touraine, charcuteries), salads, and an outstanding selection of
cheeses. The cheese selection will be by Rodolphe Meunier (2007
France Master Cheese Affineur “Refiner” and 2007 World Champion
Cheese Affineur “Refiner”). All wines are selected by Daniel
Gatay to match perfectly the local dishes and cheeses. You will
have a chance to taste wines form 1960 to the present. -
Next is the Chateau of Amboise. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, this
authentic royal castle introduced Italian style to the Loire
valley. Relive the warmth of the past in this historical place
thanks to the presence of an exceptional collection of Gothic
and Renaissance furnishings. In the Saint-Hubert chapel, the
tomb of Leonardo Da Vinci has recently been elegantly restored.
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Return to hotel late afternoon.
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Four-course dinner at the Chateau, drinks included.
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Day Five
- Transfer to Bourré. In a troglodyte village of
Touraine in the heart of the Châteaux of the Loire, lies the
Cave des Roches. It was from this
former tufa (lime stone) quarry that the stone was extracted
to build the jewels of the Renaissance: Chambord,
Cheverny and Chenonceaux, among others. This stone has the
unique feature of both hardening and whitening in contact
with the air.
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The Cave des Roches at Bourré is the only example in the
world of the complete production of different varieties of
mushroom at 50 meters underground. The farm covers 120
kilometers of galleries on seven levels.
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Three-course lunch at the mushroom cave, drinks included.
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Visit of the Chateau du Clos Lucé. This Manor was the last
residence of the Genius Leonardo Da Vinci where he spent
the last four years of his life. You will discover in the Manor
and the gardens some of his inventions: the helicopter,
the parachute, the mobile bridge, and the tank.
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Transfer to Villandry.
Visit of the Gardens of the Chateau of Villandry. Villandry
was the last Chateau built during the Renaissance period. It
is today famous around the world for its unique French
terrace gardens.
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Return to your hotel. Four-course dinner at the Chateau,
drinks included.
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Day Six
- Following breakfast, your chauffeur will drive you to the Blois train station, where you can catch a train to Paris.
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Included in the program:
- Five nights accommodation in Chateau hotel
- Two cooking sessions
- Nightly dinners (drinks included)
- Four lunches (drinks included)
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All transfers in an air-conditioned,
comfortable mini-van
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Entrance tickets and guided tour of the Chateaux Cheverny, Chambord, Clos Lucé, Chenonceau, Villandry and Amboise*
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Visits and wine tastings in Cours Cheverny and Amboise
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Max Vauché Chocolaterie visit
- Bourré mushroom farm
*Please note that while the cooking classes are private, the visits to the monuments are not, although the number of participants is limited to 8.
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Cooking Vacations 
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