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Châteaux & Vineyards

Stroll between the Loire’s finest châteaux
 
Visit some of the region’s most romantic châteaux as you set out on relaxed, self-guided hotel-to-hotel walking with your luggage transported. On your picturesque and leisurely walks you may also appreciate pauses for wine-tastings!
Châteaux & Vineyards. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Châteaux & Vineyards. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Loire past châteaux

West of Tours, the Loire and its many tributaries meander through the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Park, an area of vineyards, rolling farmland, hunting forests and limestone cliffs into which curious troglodytic dwellings have been carved. Crowning these picturesque landscapes are some of the Loire’s most splendid châteaux, from elegant Renaissance palaces such as that of Azay-le-Rideau to sturdy fortresses like that of Chinon.
As the walking, accessible to all, is relaxed and leisurely, you have time to visit both these châteaux on this holiday, as well as the château at Ussé, the abbey at Fontevraud and other places of interest such as vineyards and mushroom caves (pay locally in all cases).
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 7 8 11 15 18 22 25 24 22 17 11 7
    mm 62 58 54 52 63 50 49 45 53 58 65 62
  • Arrival in Azay-le-Rideau
    Night 1: at Hotel de Biencourt (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Free day in Azay-le-Rideau
    Spend your day in Azay-le-Rideau visiting the splendid 16th-century château, one of the most important Renaissance buildings in France, and exploring the streets of this charming town.

    Circular walk from Azay-le-Rideau: 7.5km, 2hrs
    In the afternoon, stroll across farmland and through woodland to Goupillières, where a series of cave dwellings have been set up as they would have been when they were inhabited in the Middle Ages.
    Circular walk from Azay-le-Rideau: 7.5km
    Track through farmland around Azay-le-Rideau
  • Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé: 14.5km, 4.5hrs
    From Azay you are taken by taxi to the Maurice Dufresne Museum, whose fabulous automotive and machinery collection you may like to view before beginning today’s route. This traces the riverside as it heads through floodplains and along levées (dykes), offering good bird-watching opportunities along the way. As you approach your destination – and your inn, the Le Clos d’Ussé – you are rewarded with lovely views of Ussé's fairy-tale château.
    Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé: 14.5km
    Fairy-tale château at Ussé
  • Ussé to Chinon: 17.5km, 5.5hrs
    We recommend that you start the day by visiting Ussé’s beautifully furnished and very romantic château, thought to have been the inspiration for Perrault’s tale of Sleeping Beauty. Your walk begins with a gentle ascent away from the River Indre on which Ussé is located, after which you follow good tracks through a centuries-old hunting forest towards Chinon. The last section is along an ancient trail along the escarpment above the River Vienne that formed the main approach to Chinon in the Middle Ages and is dotted with troglodytic dwellings. Your hotel for the next two nights is the Hotel de France, located in the Old Town.
    Ussé to Chinon: 17.5km
    Track beside the vines en route to Chinon
  • Free day in Chinon
    Surrounded by high walls, Chinon's Old Town contains winding streets of half-timbered medieval houses that lead down to river. You can while away your time in the picturesque main square; visit museums dedicated to Joan of Arc and Richard I; explore the vast 12th-century fortress, or enjoy a wander round the wine museum.
    Around Chinon - Chinon Old Town
  • Chinon to Fontevraud: 17.5km, 5hrs
    From Chinon, you walk along the willow-lined banks of the River Vienne, before crossing rolling pastureland and woodland to historic Fontevraud, and La Croix Blanche for two nights.
    Chinon to Fontevraud: 17.5km
    Quiet countryside en route to Fontevraud
  • Free day in Fontevraud
    You can spend your last day in a variety of ways. The village is famed for its magnificent abbey which houses the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard, ‘coeur de lion’, among others, and is well worth a leisurely visit. Alternatively, you could opt for one of our two suggested walks into the surrounding countryside:

    Circular walk via Candes-St-Martin: 15km, 4.5hrs
    This route takes you through woodland and farmland to the historic villages of Candes-St-Martin and Montsoreau beside the Loire. After lunch overlooking the river, you pass the vineyards that produce the refreshing and delicious wines of Touraine and Anjou.

    Circular walk from Fontevraud: 8km, 2.5hrs
    This shorter route is a gentle stroll though the woodland around Fontevraud.
    Enjoy a circular walk via pretty Candes-St-Martin
    Circular walk via Candes-St-Martin: 15km
    Circular walk from Fontevraud: 8km
 

Accommodation

The four pleasant hotels which feature on this holiday all provide comfortable accommodation and a warm welcome.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • 7 nights: 01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022 & 01 April 2023 - 31 October 2023

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 24 Apr 2022 £970 £340
    25 Apr - 21 May 2022 £1025 £340
    22 May - 24 Sep 2022 £1045 £350
    25 - 30 Sep 2022 £1025 £340
    1 - 24 Oct 2022 £970 £340
    1 - 24 Apr 2023 £1070 £375
    25 Apr - 21 May 2023 £1130 £375
    22 May - 24 Sep 2023 £1145 £385
    25 - 30 Sep 2023 £1130 £375
    1 - 24 Oct 2023 £1070 £375
    3rd & 4th person discount -£50 to -£55
    Single traveller supplement £50 to £55

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    7 nights: 01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022 & 01 April 2023 - 31 October 2023

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 24 Apr 2022 £1245 £340
    25 Apr - 21 May 2022 £1330 £340
    22 May - 24 Sep 2022 £1360 £350
    25 - 30 Sep 2022 £1330 £340
    1 - 24 Oct 2022 £1245 £340
    1 - 24 Apr 2023 £1370 £375
    25 Apr - 21 May 2023 £1465 £375
    22 May - 24 Sep 2023 £1495 £385
    25 - 30 Sep 2023 £1465 £375
    1 - 24 Oct 2023 £1370 £375
    3rd & 4th person discount -£140 to -£155
    Single traveller supplement £140 to £155

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

    Included travel from the UK: UK–Lille/Paris (Eurostar), Lille/Paris–St Pierre des Corps (TGV), approx. duration 6h10 plus 0h45 taxi transfer. Home, St Pierre des Corps–Lille/Paris (TGV), Lille/Paris–UK (Eurostar), approx. duration 7h plus 1h30 taxi transfer.
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect

    If you book your holiday less than 10 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

    7 nights: 01 April 2022 - 31 October 2022 & 01 April 2023 - 31 October 2023

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 24 Apr 2022 £1090 £340
    25 Apr - 21 May 2022 £1145 £340
    22 May - 24 Sep 2022 £1185 £350
    25 - 30 Sep 2022 £1145 £340
    1 - 24 Oct 2022 £1090 £340
    1 - 24 Apr 2023 £1195 £375
    25 Apr - 21 May 2023 £1260 £375
    22 May - 24 Sep 2023 £1295 £385
    25 - 30 Sep 2023 £1260 £375
    1 - 24 Oct 2023 £1195 £375
    3rd & 4th person discount -£150 to -£165
    Single traveller supplement £150 to £165

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus a return Channel crossing between Folkestone and Calais with Eurotunnel for your party and one car.

    We also include a transfer back to the first town at the end of your holiday to collect your car.
    > More information about travelling self-drive

    A supplement of £65 per car per single journey applies for outbound travel on 1-2, 8-9, 14-15 & 29-30 April, as well as for inbound travel on 9-10, 16-18 & 23-24 April. A supplement of £42 per car per single journey applies for outbound travel on 27-28 May; 2-3 Jun; 15-16, 22-23 & 29-30 Jul; 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 & 26-27 Aug; and 21-22 Oct, as well as for inbound travel on 2 May; 4-5 Jun; 30-31 Jul; 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 & 27-29 Aug; 3-4 Sep; and 29-30 Oct.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel de France, Chinon
    Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022 £24
    Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2023 £28
    La Croix Blanche, Fontevraud
    'Mini suite': 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022 £26
    'Mini suite': 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2023 £30

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel de Biencourt, Azay-le-Rideau (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022 £74 £122
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2023 £82 £136
    Hotel de France, Chinon (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2022 £84 £136
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2023 £94 £152
    La Croix Blanche, Fontevraud (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 30 Apr 2022 £126 £164
    01 May - 30 Sep 2022 £154 £192
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £126 £164
    01 Apr - 30 Apr 2023 £140 £182
    01 May - 30 Sep 2023 £170 £212
    01 Oct - 31 Oct 2023 £140 £182
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Tours, St Pierre des Corps (air/rail option) or Paris CDG
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Paris CDG KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Edinburgh - St Pierre des Corps via Paris CDG air/rail Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Paris CDG jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Paris CDG British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Paris CDG easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Tours Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Paris CDG Air France,  easyJet 
    Manchester - St Pierre des Corps via Paris CDG air/rail Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Paris CDG Air France,  KLM 
    Newcastle - St Pierre des Corps via Paris CDG air/rail Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Paris CDG

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Paris CDG to St Pierre des Corps (1h40), taxi St Pierre des Corps to hotel (0h40) £80-£88 1700
    rail Paris Montparnasse to St Pierre des Corps (1h05), taxi St Pierre des Corps to hotel (0h40) £76-£84 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to St Pierre des Corps (1h30), rail St Pierre des Corps to Paris CDG (1h50) £105-£116 1500
    taxi hotel to St Pierre des Corps (1h30), rail St Pierre des Corps to Paris Montparnasse (1h) £102-£114 1500

    Connecting travel options - flying via St Pierre des Corps SNCF

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    taxi St Pierre des Corps to hotel (0h45) £36-£40 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to St Pierre des Corps (1h30) £62-£70 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Tours

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Tours airport to hotel (0h45) £45-£50 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Tours airport (1h15) £68-£76 flexible
What's included
  • 7 nights
  • 3 dinners
    3 picnics
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • transfer on day 2
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 6 reviews
  • Bob Delaney
    03 June 2022

    We had an excellent walk in beautiful countryside and plenty of time to visit Church, Chateau, Fortress, Abbey and "Troglodyte" homes.  We especialy enjoyed our walk to Montroreau at the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire and would recommend a light lunch at the charming Fleur de Sel.  The fortress at Chinon was great and had some very wizzy tablets which gave a window into the past (really!)

  • Anon
    08 April 2022

    We had excellent weather and this period hit the middle of the tulip and rapeseed season. The colours and variety of this plus the numerous wildflowers was quite breathtaking. There was a patch of bluebells just before we left the forest at Fontevraud which was amazing.  The walk on the levee was quite long and hot. The last leg of the walk into Chinon through the vineyards, abbey and old town was very nice but it had been a long day by then. I think we would have enjoyed this part much more if we were not so tired.

  • Patricia
    02 October 2019

    Could have done without the day in Chinon, but did find a little bar with very cheap Ricard, and went to the lovely little Creperie du Grand Carroi for a light lunch.  In Azay I dined twice at La Credence practically next door (Cote Cour and Les Grottes were both closed - the latter on Thursdays) and is very good proper basic French three course menu about 23 euros. Wine by the pichet.)  In Chinon I found Table de Jeanne very good as recommended, and used it twice.

  • Dr AR Paterson
    Stourbridge
    17 September 2019

    We both particularly enjoyed the sights (or maybe that should be the sites): The Troglodytic village outside Azay was fascinating and made an excellent contrast to the wonderful Chateaux in Azay le Rideau. We also found the Fortress in Chinon extremely interesting, and were very glad of the lift. In addition, the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud has been magnificently restored, and when we were there there was an exhibition of tapestries, which were breathtaking. As we visited the Fortress and the Abbaye on the weekend of Le Patrimoine, we had free entry to both places, which was a nice bonus. On a different note, we upgraded both nights for dinner at Fontevraud and enjoyed excellent food, and the waiter was most helpful in advising us of which local wine would go best with which dish. I now know that some French Chardonnay is extremely good from their local chateaux and not at all like the New World Chardonnay which is horrible. I'm very glad I took his advice.

  • annviolet
    09 September 2019

    As usual was an excellent holiday - cannot say anything else, we both enjoyed Chinon a lot but felt the hotel was not quite as good.

  • Mrs C Noble
    Reading
    06 September 2019

    We loved the mix of historical buildings and varied landscapes.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least proving your vaccination status or taking a test in order to travel.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from A to B, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out a policy with our recommended provider (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Last fetch time is : 6/27/2022 4:19:29 AM