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The Loire Valley - Possible Activities |
| Tours - capital of the Indre et Loire region. Your tour could include the Historial de Touraine with waxworks depicting significant moments in the history of Touraine through the ages; the Musee du Compagnonnage which explains the history and customs of the city's craft guilds and the Musee des Beaux-Arts in the former Archbishop's palace with works by Mantegna, Rubens, Rembrandt and Degas. There is also the opportunity to do a Tours discovery treasure hunt or visit a wine cellar. They offer a fund of french language activities. |
 Futuroscope, Poitiers - Futuroscope European Park of the Moving Image is continually evolving with new films and attractions using the latest audio-visual technology. The pavilions transport the visitor into a universe of steel and glass but in total harmony with its unspoilt natural setting. A range of study packs are available for schools |
| Amboise - situated on the banks of the Loire, Amboise has, at its heart, the chateau successively developed by Charles VII, Louis XII and Francois I into a strong fortress and royal palace. The chapel of St Hubert is a masterpiece of the Flamboyant Gothic style. Other possible visits in Amboise include the Bigot Patissier Chocolatier and the Musee de la Poste and Musee Manoir Clos Luce where Leonardo da Vinci lived and where models of 40 machines of his invention and constructed by IBM are on display. |
| Blois - originally constructed in the 13th century and best known for the Renaissance staircase added by Francois I in the 16th century. The Duke of Guise was assassinated at Blois in 1588. |
| Saumur - practise your french in the winding mediaeval streets of Saumur. Visit the chateau or mushroom caves or a wine cellar. |
| Chinon - an impressive mediaeval fortress amply illustrating the military defence systems employed by castle-builders in the Middle Ages. The hillsides around Chinon are dotted with caves and quarries now used for mushroom-growing, wine cellars and even cave dwellings. |
| Chenonceau - built between 1513 and 1521 this magnificent Renaissance chateau was the gift of Henri II to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. She was responsible for building the original bridge across the river. On Henri's death Catherine de Medici dispossessed Diane and had the two storey gallery constructed on the bridge. Several of Catherine's rooms can be viewed along with the gallery which served as a hospital during the First World War and an escape route across the River Cher in the Second. |
| Chaumont - Diane de Poitiers was given the chateau as compensation for the loss of Chenonceau. The grand staircase and the Tapestries of the Planets are its most notable features. |
| Loches - situated to the south-east of Tours on the banks of the River Indre, Loches is a picturesque location with much that is of architectural and historical interest especially the mediaeval keep and ramparts which enclose the old quarter and dominate the town. The keep, which is one of the oldest Romanesque keeps in France, has a replica of the cage in which Louis XI was imprisoned and you can also visit the dungeon. A market is held on Saturdays. |
| Montrichard - visit the Magnaerie at Bourre, an underground site with a silkworm hatchery. In the summer, view the display of the Eagles of Montrichard in the ruins of the old keep where hawks and falcons are flown from the wrist. Take the opportunity of a cruise on the Cher. |
| Petrified Caves - the caves in Savonnieres contain lakes, waterfalls, stalactites and stalagmites. Water droplets containing calcite sparkle under the lights and the pools are full of rich limestone deposits. |
| Villaines-les-Roches - until the 18th century almost the whole population of this village lived underground and fifty caves are still inhabited today with over five hundred others which are no longer occupied. The caves were originally tuffeau limestome quarries converted into dwellings warm enough to live in all year round. The village is one of the Loire's most important centres for basket weaving. |
A typical 5-day language tour |
| Day 1: Pick-up from school and travel by executive coach/cross-channel ferry to hotel for evening meal |
| Day 2: Breakfast in hotel followed by morning visit to Chenonceau or Chaumont. Visit Montrichard in the afternoon and enjoy a river cruise on the Cher. Return to hotel for evening meal |
| Day 3: Breakfast in the hotel and a full day visit to Tours or Amboise. Return to hotel for evening meal. |
| Day 4: Breakfast in the hotel and an exciting day spent at Futuroscope Park of the Moving Image. Return to hotel for evening meal. |
| Day 5: Breakfast in hotel and return to UK and school. |
| Itineraries can be tailored to your requirements. Contact us now by clicking here. |
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