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Day
1: (Hotel in Saumur)
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Morning
Walk
through Saumur with tour of its fairy-tale
château, then explore the rest of this lovely town.
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Afternoon
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Discover
some "maisons troglodytes" carved into the
chalky white tufa cliffs, among them the unique
Trogo Tap Museum, where a local family has
revived the ancient art of preserving apples by
"tapping" them. Finally, tour the gracious medieval
village and Château of Montreuil-Bellay,
established in 1025, or the lovely wine village
of Montsoreau.
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Day 2: (Hotel
in Saumur)
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Morning
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Visit Angers, historic capital of Anjou,
home of the Plantagenets. In its formidable 13th-century
Château you will see one of France's finest medieval
works, a series of immense tapestries woven between
1375 and 1378 and depicting in exquisite colors
the story of the Apocalypse. Your visit will include
the beautiful rose garden next to the château and
a scenic stroll along the river.
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Afternoon
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Visit
the Jean Lurçat Museum to see some of Anger's
modern treasures. Optional short bike ride or walk
in the area.
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Day 3: (Hotel
in Saumur)
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Morning
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Visit
of the 12th-century royal Abbey of Fontevraud
where you will see the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine
and her son Richard the Lion-Hearted and
explore the grounds of this immense monastic site
to see how it has evolved over centuries.
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Afternoon
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Time
for exercise, optional visits of wine cellars or
one of the lovely private châteaux in the area,
possibly 11th-century Brézé, with its unique
moat and underground passages, its pigeon house
and orangery.
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Time
permitting, see the famous trained horses
or performances of Saumur's cavalry school.
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Day 4: (Hotel
in Tours)
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Morning
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Enjoy three very different château experiences,
beginning with
first Villandry and its unique Renaissance
gardens.
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The
severe feudal fortress of Langeais, with
its imposing drawbridge and towers.
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afternoon
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The
elegant 16th century Azay-le-Rideau, which
Balzac called "a multifaceted diamond set in the
Indre (River)."
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Day 5: (Hotel
in Tours)
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Morning
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Walking
tour of Tours. Discover the elegant Renaissance
and neo-classic mansions of the old town and learn
about the fascinating history of the city, which
has been an important metropolis since early Roman
times.
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afternoon
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Lunch
and wine-tasting in the famous village of Vouvray.
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Evening
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Later
visit the romantic château and gardens of Chenonceaux.
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Day 6: (Hotel
in Tours)
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Morning
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Brief
visit to picturesque Amboise, once home of
King François I, followed by a tour of the Clos
Lucé nearby, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his
last years under the king's patronage. Here you
will see working models of Leonardo's inventions
constructed by IBM from his mechanical sketches.
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Lunch
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Mid-Afternoon
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After lunch, you can tour the not-to-be missed and
most extravagant Château de Chambord, used
by the kings of France as a hunting lodge. Free
time for walking or biking in this beautiful area.
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Day 7:
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Tour
ends after breakfast.
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