3-Day Mont Saint-Michel and Loire Valley Castles from Paris

Depart Paris and head through the Normandy countryside to the historic Mont St-Michel. Enjoy a guided tour of the interior of the Abbey, then explore the streets and alleyways in your own free time and soak up the atmosphere at your leisure.

Travel to Angers and take in views of the 9th-century Château d'Angers before continuing onward to tour the Château de Langeais and the Château du Clos Lucé. Wander the ground of the Château Villandry and admire the beautiful gardens there. End your day with a visit to the ancient town of Tours.

Take a guided tour of Château de Chenonceau then travel on to Cheverny for lunch. End your tour with a guided visit of the Château de Chambord, widely considered to be the finest in the Loire Valley.

A knowledgeable guide, round-trip coach transport and overnight accommodation are included, as well as some meals.

Day 1: Paris – Mont St-Michel – Angers (L, D)

Meet your guide near the Pyramides metro station in Paris in the morning and board your air-conditioned coach for the 4-hour journey west toward Normandy. Arrive for lunch at the restaurant ‘Relais Saint-Michel’ (see sample menu below) and take in spectacular views over the island of Mont St-Michel as you dine.

One of the most famous places in France, Mont St-Michel has been a site of religious significance and strategic fortification since the 8th century, when the Bishop of Avranches built a small church there. In the course of its long life it has served as a place of pilgrimage for Benedictine monks and a prison during the French Revolution. Today, Mont St-Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage site and people visit from across the world to explore its narrow alleyways and hear of its fascinating past.

Tour the Abbey with your guide to discover the cloister and refectory, see how the ramparts have been strengthened to support the Gothic monastery above and learn of Mont St-Michel’s history and heritage. Afterward, enjoy free time (until 4.30pm) to explore at your leisure and see Mont St-Michel's most impressive feature: the extreme tides. At low tide, Mont St-Michel is surrounded by open beach for miles, but at high tide — just six hours later — sea water rises up to fill the streams and eddies before filling the bay and surrounding the entire island!

As afternoon turns to early evening, hop back aboard your coach and head south for the Loire Valley. Many of France’s most impressive châteaux can be found here — there are more than 300 in total! Arrive in the city of Angers in the evening for dinner with your group and an overnight stay.

Overnight: 3-star hotel in Angers

Day 2: Angers – Langeais – Amboise – Clos Lucé – Villandry – Tours (B, D)

Depart Angers after a buffet breakfast at your hotel and drive out toward Amboise. Stop first to take in views of the impressive Château d'Angers — a 9th-century château overlooking the Maine River — before continuing on through the historic communes of Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault and Saumur to the town of Amboise.

Visit the nearby Château de Langeais, originally a medieval castle. Langeais saw violent conflict in the 10th century and, following its destruction during the Hundred Years’ War, was rebuilt in the 15th century by King Louis XI. Today this beautiful building serves as one of the finest examples of late-medieval architecture in the world. After your tour, enjoy a little free time for lunch in Amboise (own expense).

In the afternoon, explore the nearby Château du Clos Lucé, where the painter Leonardo da Vinci lived between 1516 and 1519. Clos Lucé, as it’s known locally, is now a museum dedicated to da Vinci and houses over 30 models of the various machines he invented. A copy of the Mona Lisa — his best-known painting — also hangs within the château.

Continue onward to stroll around the immaculately-manicured gardens of the Château Villandry. Marvel at the gardens’ seasonal colors and symmetry, and enjoy capturing their beauty on camera. Head onward to visit the historic town of Tours for dinner.

Overnight: 3-star hotel in Tours

Day 3: Tours – Chenonceau – Cheverny – Chambord – Paris (B, L)
After breakfast, depart Tours for a guided visit of the Château de Chenonceau, widely considered the most famous in the Loire Valley. The extraordinarily beautiful Château de Chenonceau was built in the early 16th century and its 4 arches span the length of the Cher River. Learn of its impressive history and architecture from your guide and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Continue onward to the Château de Cheverny and lunch. The Château de Cheverny has been in the same family for six centuries and boasts elegant interior, grand salons and a fine antique collection. It underwent major renovations in 1768 and the results can still be enjoyed today.
Your final visit is to the opulent Château de Chambord, the very largest in the Loire Valley. With its ornate French Renaissance architecture and imposing stature, the Château de Chambord impresses throughout. It was built in the early 16th century to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francis I of France, and to show off his considerable wealth. Take a tour of the château and learn of its amazing history from your guide.
Depart Chambord at 4.30pm for the 2.5-hour journey back to Paris, where your 3-day Mont St-Michel and châteaux tour will come to an end.
Sample Menu:
Main course:

• Salmon accompanied by rice and vegetables

Dessert:

• Apple pie

Drinks:

• 1 bottle of cider or mineral water for 6 people