A world of medieval towns, châteaux and
award winning wine.
Poised between Northern and Southern France is the UNESCO world heritage region of the Loire Valley; famous for its châteaux, medieval towns, rolling hills and world class wines. Kings, Queens, dukes and aristocrats travelled here to build their châteaux from as early as the 9th century – that’s why the area is sprinkled with some of France’s most opulent estates. With many of these just a stone’s throw away from Les Bordes, Members can explore off-site for a day steeped in rich history and fine French gastronomy.
Explore and visit over 300 châteaux
Half a millennium of French history can be explored by visiting the Château de Chambord just 10 minutes from Les Bordes – one of the most recognised châteaux in the world. Onsite you can take a carriage ride in the grounds, pedalo or boat ride around the river, ride horses and visit former stables and discover animals in the periods of deer rut.
Located in the town of Amboise, Château du Clos Lucé. Built by Hugues d'Amboise in 1471, the palace has known several famous owners such as the French king Charles VIII and Leonardo Da Vinci; it was his final home until his death in 1519. You can learn about his last years in a well presented indoor and outdoor exhibition. Clos Lucé is 500 metres from the royal Châtea d’Amboise, to which it is connected by an underground passageway.
Another unmissable visit is the fortress of Chaumont-sur-Loire was built around the year 1000 to keep watch over the border between the counties of Blois and Anjou. In 1465, Louis XI had the château burned and razed to the ground, but it was rebuilt just a few years later. It was owned by the Amboise family for a good 500 years, and it was Charles II d’Amboise who turned it into an ornamental château in the Renaissance style, with sculpted decoration becoming the major feature of its outer façades.
La Loire à Vélo
The Loire is the longest river in France, whose sparkling water is lined by peaceful countryside and vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see. La Loire à Vélo (The Loire by Bike) cycle trail is a great way to discover The Château de Chambord and many other treasures of the Loire Valley, attracting over one million riders every year from all over the world. From one château to the next, the cycle trail follows the Loire along 900km of pathways right to its mouth on the Atlantic Coast.
Family days out
The Loire is also home to many medieval towns steeped in history and with lively weekend markets. The largest city closest to Les Bordes is Orléans, which offers many shops and historical sites to visit such as the Cathedral Sainte Croix and the house of Jeanne d’Arc. Beaugency is a small town just 10 minutes from Les Bordes and is classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, perfect for exploring cobbled streets, historical architecture and a popular Saturday morning market. The picture perfect village of Saint Dye Sur Loire is perched on the banks of the river just 15 minutes from Les Bordes for a quaint day out.
Located 1 hour from Les Bordes you will find Tours - the largest city in the Loire Valley. Known for its art and history, it is considered as one of the historic cities where French unity was forged. Don’t miss the Town Hall, the Saint Gatien cathedral and the old quarter of the city centre.
Zoo de Beauval can be found in Saint-Aignan, and with over 35,000 animals to learn about it is the largest in all of France and Europe.
Tour the longest wine route in France
From Nantes to Sancerre, the Loire Valley vineyards stretch along the river and cover over 185,000 acres. It’s the longest wine route in the whole of France, and more than a thousand of these vineyards are open to the public, welcoming guests to meet the winemakers and taste their wares. The Loire Valley is often divided into three sections - The Upper Loire, which is known best for Sauvignon blanc from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, the Middle Loire which is known better for Chenin blanc and Cabernet franc wines that can be found in and around Touraine, Saumur, Chinon and Vouvray. The Lower Loire, that leads to the river mouth and coast, passes through the Muscadet region which is famous for wines of the Melon de Bourgogne grape.
Every day is an adventure
Take off from Les Bordes and observe the beauty of the Sologne sprinkled with opulent châteaux on a private hot air balloon ride; tours take place in the morning at sunrise or in the evening, two hours before sunset. Enjoy a kayak or canoe paddle on the Loire river through protected natural areas including islands which are critical in safeguarding the flora and fauna of the Valley.
Embark on a river cruise leaving from the port of Chambord where you can simply relax and enjoy the view or book an oenological tasting or lunch on the deck. Double Michelin starred Rémy Giraud opens the doors of his kitchen for 3-hour cookery classes in a 19th Century hunting lodge. Between September and April, La Maison d’à Côté offer cooking classes with their very own Michelin-starred chef, Christophe Hay.
Fine French Gastronomy
Fine French food is a way of life. The best-known specialities of Loire Valley are the rillettes de tours, poached eggs au Chinon, saupiquet nivernais, pâté berrichon with eggs, chicken en barbouille, nougats de Tours, Chinon peaches, sabayon de golden, prune candies, and dried pears. Also at the centre of the local gastronomy; goat’s cheese comes in five different variations. Needless to say, our Members will be spoilt for choice when venturing out to enjoy the region’s cuisine.
La Maison d’à Côté is a must – this Michelin star restaurant can be found 20 minutes away, between Blois and Chambord. Christophe Hay serves an intuitive cuisine that is based around products from the Loire and his own garden. Sample the ‘à la carte’ menu by Chef Sébastien Arrondeau at Le Grand Saint-Benoît, a blend of traditional recipes and gourmet cuisine. Les Hauts de Loire is an ivy-clad, 19th century hunting lodge that now houses an elegant hotel, a two Michelinstar restaurant and Clarins spa. Hostellerie du Grand Sully, located in Sully-sur-Loire close to the famous château serves a creative menu by Chef Yves Dessaint. Passionate about seasonal, local produce, his modern take on seafood dishes are complemented perfectly by a selection of Loire wines.
