Let’s cook and play together! Below you will find the itinerary of the French “Loire Valley” tour and the daily four-course menus.
Tour the Chateau’s Guest Bedrooms – click below to view
Itinerary
Saturday
- The group meets at Paris Marriott Charles de Gaulle 10:00 am. 5 All? du Verger, Zone Hoteliere, Roissy en France 95700
- First stop, Chateau de Chamboard – the largest and most majestic castle of the Loire. The double helix staircase is a highlight! The Chateau is home to 426 rooms and 4,500 art pieces. The gardens have been restored to the original design and is the largest enclosed park in Europe.
- Arrive at Langeais and check in to our chateau in the late-afternoon.
- Welcome Cocktail and Chateau Tour
- Settle In
- Casual Crêpe Dinner
- After Dinner Drinks and Itinerary Briefing
Sunday
- Breakfast at the Chateau
- Excursion to Chateau de Chenonceau, one of our favorite Chateaus in the Loire Valley. Michael especially loves the kitchen here, where they still have a massive antique copper pot collection on display. The Chateau is situated on a small river and was once home to Henry II’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers and then Catherine de’ Medici, so it is rich in interesting history. The gardens surrounding the Chateau are beautiful, and the vegetable section is just as beautiful as the floral display.
- After lunch (on your own at Chenonceau) your day will continue with a visit to a historic troglodyte village & distillery where you’ll learn about French mushroom production in the historic caves.
- Cooking Class at the Chateau with chef Michael. Assist Michael in preparing the four-course dinner menu of the evening.
- Four Course Dinner at the Chateau, see menu in chart below
- After Dinner Drinks and Itinerary Briefing
Monday
- Breakfast at the Chateau – Free Day to explore Langeais on your own.
- Market Day in Langeais: A local market in one of our favorite little villages and a great way to start your adventure. The market is a bustle of activity and it’s always exciting to see what’s in season. You will enjoy the people watching and an extensive variety of local produce, baked goods, flowers, baskets, fine porcelain, clothing and kitchen utensils. For lunch a picnic near the river would be fun with some of our favorite specialities from the market: seafood paella, spit-roasted chicken, endless varieties of local cheeses, pastries galore and chocolates (just to name a few). If you choose something more formal there are dozens of terrific cafe’s and the window shopping in Langeais is always fun. You are also sure to enjoy Langeais Chateau and the beautiful gardens that align the river banks and are sprinkled throughout the village.
- Dinner off property
Tuesday
- Breakfast at the Chateau
- Tour Chateau d’Amboise. Today we will travel north along the Loire river to Amboise which is one of our favorite villages. The Chateau’s landscaped gardens offer one of the most remarkable panoramas of the Loire valley, and are registered as a World Heritage site by Unesco. We will tour the Chateau and learn about it’s history. Lunch break will give you some free time to explore and shop. The main street is pedestrian only and is flanked by boutiques, small butcher shops, wine shops, patisseries, chocolatiers and restaurants. The village is a pretty bustle of activity and it’s always exciting to see what’s in season. You will enjoy the people watching and an extensive variety of local produce, baked goods, flowers, baskets, fine porcelain, clothing and kitchen utensils. You will have time on your own to explore or you may wish to visit the Leonardo da Vinci museum during the afternoon break.
- Afternoon Wine Tasting in Rochecorbon / appellation Vouvre. Domaine Marc Bredif
- Cooking Class at the Chateau with chef Michael. Assist Michael in preparing the four-course dinner menu of the evening.
- Four Course Dinner at the Chateau, see menu in chart below
- After Dinner Drinks and Itinerary Briefing
Wednesday
- Breakfast at the Chateau
- Morning tour of Chateau Villandry’s famous gardens.
- Late morning we’re off to the Town of Saumur. Located on the banks of the Loire and surrounded by vineyards you’ll be on your own for lunch and exploring the pretty town and the panoramic views from the Saumur Chateau grounds. In the afternoon look forward to a tour and tasting at the Combier Distillery. Saumur is the home to Cadre Noir, the French National School of Horsemanship and if we’re lucky the riders will be training while we’re in the neighborhood.
- Cooking Class at the Chateau with chef Michael. Assist Michael in preparing the four-course dinner menu of the evening.
- Four Course Dinner at the Chateau, see menu in chart below
- After Dinner Drinks and Itinerary Briefing
Thursday
- Breakfast at the Chateau
- We’ll start the morning in Fontevraud with a guided tour of the The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. This UNESCO world heritage site dates from the 12th century. After the Abbey and garden we will visit the family production of fine artisanal soap which has received a UNESCO award for preserving the marseilles process of fine soap production by using only natural ingredients in their perfumes and body products. Their products are as beautiful as they are luscious – the perfect gift.
- Lunch will be in the beautiful village of Azay le Rideau which lies along the Indre River, you will have free time to explore the village or a self guided visit of the château which is considered one of the foremost examples of early French renaissance architecture. The château projects out into the river and is surrounded by acres of a wooded wooded park and gardens.
- Afternoon Sparkling wine tasting Langlois Chateau.
- Cooking Class at the Chateau with chef Michael. Assist Michael in preparing the four-course dinner menu of the evening.
- Four Course Dinner at the Chateau, see menu in chart below
- After Dinner Drinks and Itinerary Briefing
Friday
- Breakfast at the Chateau
- Morning visit to the Village of Chinon which is rich in culture and history. Located on the banks of the Vienne River, the rue Voltaire is cobbled and lined with houses, shops and restaurants in beautifully restored historic buildings, many of which date back to the fifteenth century. For many generations Chinon was the home of Kings and the seat of the government. The castle in Chinon was the home for the Knights Templar and the village was the place where Joan of Arc met Charles VII; there is also a memorial to Joan of Arc. You’ll enjoy the colorful morning market in the square and free time for lunch.
- Afternoon activity is a guided tour of a working goat farm and it’s cheese production. Taste a variety of artisinal cheeses.
- Cooking Class at the Chateau with chef Michael. Assist Michael in preparing the four-course dinner menu of the evening.
- Four Course Dinner – at the Chateau, see menu in chart below
- After Dinner Drinks and Itinerary Briefing
Saturday
- Breakfast at the Chateau
- Depart Chateau at 7:00 a.m. for Paris (book flights after 1pm)
Weekly Dinner Menu
Saturday
- Casual Crêpe Dinner
Sunday
- Stilton Cheese Tartlet with a Chive-Beurre Blanc
- Carrot Soup with Nutmeg Croutons
- Grilled Salmon Niçoise with Haricot Verts and Roasted Tomatoes
- Combier Orange Crème Brûlée
Monday
- Dinner Out
Tuesday
- Pork and Artichoke Pâté with Pistachios. Cumberland Sauce
- Shrimp Bisque with a Cognac Cream
- Herb Breaded Sole Provencal
- Raspberry and White Chocolate Mousse Tartlets
Wednesday
- Wild Mushroom and Gruyere Soufflé
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Duck Leg Confit with a Green Apple Compote and Baby Greens
- Chocolate Ganache Tart with Pistachios
Thursday
- Onion, Sage and Olive Tartlet
- Local Mushroom Soup
- Flounder “Oscar”
- Tangerine Crème Caramel with Plumped Apricots
Friday
- Seafood Vol-au Vent with a Vermouth Cream
- Chicken Consommé with Quenelles and Pearl Vegetables
- Pork Cutlets with a Mustard Cream and Rosemary-Roasted Potatoes
- Grand Marnier Soufflé with an Orange Crème Anglasie