Luxury France single-centre Loire Valley rail holiday with hire-car
This 7-night holiday by train from London to the Loire Valley spends seven nights in a charming hotel close to Tours at the heart of the Loire Valley. The travelling time from London to the Loire Valley, door to door, is around 8 hours, with very sensible train times. You then have seven nights in a historic hotel close to Tours which makes an ideal place to explore the surrounding area using a hire-car. The Loire Valley is known as the garden of France but historically the region was the playground of the kings of France for hundreds of years. The River Loire was a major means of communication in Gallo-Roman times and the river itself was surrounded by fertile fields and forests teeming with game, and this encouraged the economic development of its towns from an early age. Later the region became strategically important during the Hundred Years War and the remains of mediaeval strongholds and fortresses still bear witness to this. Eventually the fortified castles were replaced by chateaux designed to be for enjoyment and relaxation. The Loire Valley became the playground of the Kings of France. The area is rich in sites that show the development of western culture since Gallo-Roman times. The numerous chateaux are obvious places of interest (Chambord, Cheverny, Villandry, Chenonceau, Aazy-le-Rideau among many others) but there are many gardens, some attached to chateaux, vineyards, walks, river trips, local festivals, museums and galleries, markets (Tours boasts no fewer than twenty markets), and fine dining with an array of Michelin-starred restaurants. During your stay we suggest exploring the town of Amboise on the banks of the river Loire, visiting the medieval town of Tours and including a few of the nearby impressive châteaux.
Highlights
Loire Valley • Tours • Amboise • Visit Chateau de Chenonceau • Saumur • Angers • Villandry • Visit Abbaye de Fontevraud • Azay-le-Rideau • Chinon
Day by day
Begin your rail holiday to the Loire Valley on a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, before changing stations for your high-speed TGV train to St Pierre des Corps. We recommend that you leave London just before 08.00 hrs which means you’ll reach St Pierre des Corps just after 15.00 hrs. Collect your hire-car from the station and then it’s a short drive to your hotel where you will spend four nights.
You have three full days at leisure to explore the Loire Valley. There are several interesting places to visit within a short drive of the hotel, as well as places of interest further afield. Firstly, explore the town of Amboise, on the banks of the river Loire. Here you can visit Château d’Amboise, a 15th century residence of Charles VIII and where you will find the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. You can also visit Château du Clos Lucé where Leonardo Da Vinci lived. Around 20 minutes from Amboise is Château de Chenonceau. This château offers an extensive art gallery and a collection of exquisite Flemish tapestries, as well as wine-tasting opportunities. You can dine in L’Orangerie, the on-site restaurant, or relax in the tea rooms, before exploring the wax museum or enjoying a boat ride. You may wish to visit the capital of the region Tours, an ancient university town with narrow streets to explore as well as the 12th century Cathedral of Saint Gatien. Visit Chateau de Villandry, a 12th century castle and gardens. This is about a 20-minute drive from Tours. Visit the 11th century Château de Saumur, formerly a fortress, manor house, town governor’s residence, prison, arms and ammunitions depot, and now housing the museum. Nearby are the troglodyte caves the Loire valley is famous for. Not far from Saumur is the Abbaye of Fontevraud, with its strong Plantagenet connections. You can see the effigies of Richard the Lionheart and his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine here. On the bank of the river Vienne sits Chinon, just over an hour from your base. Popular wine-tasting spots include La Cave Montplaisir, the Cave Painctes for specifically Rabelais wine, and the Château de Coulaine for the local speciality, Chinon Blanc. On the edge of the Chinon Forest, sits the Château d’Ussé, so elegant in its architecture and positioning that it inspired Charles Perrault’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Or, to witness something very unusual, in the context of the French château tradition, tour the remarkable underground fortress at the Château de Brézé, sometimes called a château within a château. Nearby is the gem of a chateau at Azay-le-Rideau, built on an island in the Indre River, under the patronage of King Francois I. It combines French tradition and Italian innovation and typifies the style of architecture that developed in the 16th century.
Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before checking-out. Return your hire-car to St Pierre des Corps and then take the TGV back to Paris, with a change of stations, and then the Eurostar from Paris to London. There is a train that leaves Tours just after midday which means you arrive in London just after 17.30 hrs.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Prices from £1,250 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class about £210 per person. Supplement to stay at Le Choiseul, Amboise £120 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR14
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury France single-centre Loire Valley rail holiday with hire-car
Begin your rail holiday to the Loire Valley on a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, before changing stations for your high-speed TGV train to St Pierre des Corps. We recommend that you leave London just before 08.00 hrs which means you’ll reach St Pierre des Corps just after 15.00 hrs. Collect your hire-car from the station and then it’s a short drive to your hotel where you will spend four nights.
You have three full days at leisure to explore the Loire Valley. There are several interesting places to visit within a short drive of the hotel, as well as places of interest further afield. Firstly, explore the town of Amboise, on the banks of the river Loire. Here you can visit Château d’Amboise, a 15th century residence of Charles VIII and where you will find the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. You can also visit Château du Clos Lucé where Leonardo Da Vinci lived. Around 20 minutes from Amboise is Château de Chenonceau. This château offers an extensive art gallery and a collection of exquisite Flemish tapestries, as well as wine-tasting opportunities. You can dine in L’Orangerie, the on-site restaurant, or relax in the tea rooms, before exploring the wax museum or enjoying a boat ride. You may wish to visit the capital of the region Tours, an ancient university town with narrow streets to explore as well as the 12th century Cathedral of Saint Gatien. Visit Chateau de Villandry, a 12th century castle and gardens. This is about a 20-minute drive from Tours. Visit the 11th century Château de Saumur, formerly a fortress, manor house, town governor’s residence, prison, arms and ammunitions depot, and now housing the museum. Nearby are the troglodyte caves the Loire valley is famous for. Not far from Saumur is the Abbaye of Fontevraud, with its strong Plantagenet connections. You can see the effigies of Richard the Lionheart and his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine here. On the bank of the river Vienne sits Chinon, just over an hour from your base. Popular wine-tasting spots include La Cave Montplaisir, the Cave Painctes for specifically Rabelais wine, and the Château de Coulaine for the local speciality, Chinon Blanc. On the edge of the Chinon Forest, sits the Château d’Ussé, so elegant in its architecture and positioning that it inspired Charles Perrault’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Or, to witness something very unusual, in the context of the French château tradition, tour the remarkable underground fortress at the Château de Brézé, sometimes called a château within a château. Nearby is the gem of a chateau at Azay-le-Rideau, built on an island in the Indre River, under the patronage of King Francois I. It combines French tradition and Italian innovation and typifies the style of architecture that developed in the 16th century.
Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before checking-out. Return your hire-car to St Pierre des Corps and then take the TGV back to Paris, with a change of stations, and then the Eurostar from Paris to London. There is a train that leaves Tours just after midday which means you arrive in London just after 17.30 hrs.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Prices from £1,250 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class about £210 per person. Supplement to stay at Le Choiseul, Amboise £120 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR14
Our prices include
● Standard class Eurostar and second-class TGV from London St Pierre des Corps return (standard premier/first class can be booked at a supplement)
● 4 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Charme room at the Domaine de la Tortiniere near Tours or in a Tradition room at le Choiseul in Amboise
● Hire of a group B car for four days
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers, entrance fees and meals except daily breakfast at each hotel
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in Paris
Additional information
This holiday can be arranged throughout the year. Additional nights can be added at any point on this itinerary. Timings can vary depending on the month and day of the week.
Driving time from Tours to the Domaine de la Tortiniere is about 20 mins, and from St Pierre des Corps to Amboise is about 30 mins.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury France single-centre Loire Valley rail holiday with hire-car
The Domaine de la Tortinière is a charming, boutique 4-star chateau-hotel in about 15 hectares of parkland in the countryside about 15 minutes’ drive south of Tours.
Charme double room
Le Choiseul is a very attractive, 4-star traditional hotel in Amboise, a superb location for visiting the region. Excellent cuisine and pristine grounds and gardens afford guests a truly tranquil and indulgent experience.
Tradition room
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
I just wanted to get in touch to say thank you! We have now returned from our Orient Express, Venice trip, and it could not have been better. The memories made will last a life time. Obviously, the train experience is beyond words and Venice is such a fantastic place, but we wanted to specifically thank you for the organisation and assistance. Your attention to detail is superb and it made everything smooth and easy. Thank you again for a job extremely well done.Mrs C, May, 2024
Holiday price guide Prices from £1,250 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class about £210 per person. Supplement to stay at Le Choiseul, Amboise £120 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR14
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury France single-centre Loire Valley rail holiday with hire-car
About Loire Valley
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Loire Valley offers travellers a chance to explore this magnificent region, known as the `Garden of France`, traditionally the hunting grounds of the Kings of France, is renowned for its gentle countryside, vineyards, forests, rivers and numerous chateaux. At the centre of this region are the regal river Loire and its numerous tributaries, attractive historic towns and cathedral cities such as Tours, Blois and Chinon and of course the chateaux. The chateaux range from vast palaces to fortresses, from mediaeval strongholds to Renaissance delights and include the well-known ones of Chenonceaux, Chambord, Villandry and pretty Azay le Rideau. The vineyards offer great variety from sparkling Vouvray to the reds of Chinon and Bourgueil. Our `Loire Valley` covers the central region of Touraine and the more westerly region of Anjou as well as taking in a more southern part that extends towards Poitiers. The visitor to the Loire Valley is embraced by seemingly endless amusements whatever the time of year, enticing for longer stays and so well situated for overnight stops or short breaks. It is very easy to reach the Loire Valley by train, combining a holiday here with a visit to Bordeaux. Alternatively, a self-drive holiday to the Loire Valley is an excellent option, allowing you to explore the region's Chateaux by car or to combine a stay in the region with a holiday to the Dordogne region and Normandy.
Highlights of the Loire Valley
Cultural highlights include wines and wine vinegars, wild mushrooms - (visit the mushroom museum), the Troglodyte caves, and local art exhibitions.
Festivals in the Loire Valley
Son et Lumiere in the chateaux in the summer months. Summer festival in Chinon in August.
Climate of the Loire Valley
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 7.8, Feb: 6.8, Mar: 10.3, Apr: 16.1, May: 16.4, Jun: 23.6, Jul: 25.8, Aug: 24.5, Sep: 21.1, Oct: 16.2, Nov: 11.2, Dec: 7.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
