Activities
Touraine, right on the doorstep of Villa des Lys
Royal châteaux, celebrated vineyards, cycling routes along the Loire and the Indre — La Villa des Lys is perfectly placed to explore all of Touraine. Here's what to plan for your stay.
The Loire's Castles
Around fifteen landmark monuments within 1h30 by car, nearest first, each with the era that marked it.
Château de Villandry15 min
some of the most celebrated Renaissance gardens in France, terraced above the Cher
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau15 min
an early-Renaissance gem set on an island in the Indre, built under François I
Château de Langeais15 min
a medieval fortress where the wedding of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany was held, uniting Brittany with France
Royal Fortress of Chinon30 min
where Joan of Arc came to pick out Charles VII from among his courtiers, in 1429
Château d'Amboise45 min
home to Charles VIII and then François I; its chapel holds the presumed tomb of Leonardo da Vinci
Château du Clos Lucé45 min
in Amboise, the house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life at the invitation of François I, notebooks and the Mona Lisa in his luggage
Château de Chenonceau45 min
the « Ladies' Château », spanning the Cher — shaped by Diane de Poitiers and then Catherine de' Medici
Royal City of Loches50 min
its fortress was the setting for the secret love affair of Charles VII and Agnès Sorel, the first officially recognised royal mistress in France
Royal Abbey of Fontevraud50 min
not a château but Europe's largest monastic city, necropolis of the Plantagenets: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II and Richard the Lionheart rest here
Château de Saumur55 min
overlooking the Loire, in the town of horsemanship (the Cadre Noir) and its Museum of Decorative Arts
Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire1h00
once owned by Catherine de' Medici, now famous for its International Garden Festival and contemporary art
Royal Château de Blois1h10
home to Louis XII, to François I, then to Henri III and Catherine de' Medici; the François I wing and its great spiral staircase
Château de Cheverny1h20
one of the most sumptuously furnished châteaux of the Loire, and the model for Marlinspike Hall in Tintin
Château de Chambord1h25
François I's dream in stone, also cherished by Louis XIV, and its double-helix staircase
Château de Brissac1h30
the tallest château in France, seven storeys amid the vineyards
Château d'Angers1h30
the fortress raised by Saint Louis, home to the Apocalypse Tapestry, one of the largest medieval tapestries in the world
Photo credits
- Château de Villandry: photo by Jean-Christophe Benoist, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château d'Azay-le-Rideau: photo by Juan Carlos Cordovez-Mantilla, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château de Langeais: photo by Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Royal Fortress of Chinon: photo by Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château d'Amboise: photo by Gzen92, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château du Clos Lucé: photo by Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château de Chenonceau: photo by Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Royal City of Loches: photo by Christophe Finot, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Royal Abbey of Fontevraud: photo by BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château de Saumur: photo by GO69, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire: photo by Rolf Kranz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Royal Château de Blois: photo by Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château de Cheverny: photo by Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château de Chambord: photo by Benh Lieu Song, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château de Brissac: photo by W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Château d'Angers: photo by DXR (Daniel Vorndran), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wine Tourism in the Loire Valley
Cellar visits, guided tastings and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Just ask us — we have plenty of addresses to share.
- Chenin, Cabernet FrancSaumur — sparkling and still whites, elegant reds and rosés
- Cabernet FrancChinon — deep-coloured reds with red-fruit and violet aromas
- Cabernet FrancSaint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil — fine, fruity reds with good ageing potential
- Cabernet FrancBourgueil — full-bodied reds with a mineral edge from the tuffeau soil
- Sauvignon, Chenin, GamayTouraine — a broad, approachable range of whites, reds and rosés
- Chenin BlancVouvray — from dry to sweet, and sparkling too
- Chenin BlancMontlouis-sur-Loire — dry, lively, mineral whites
- Chenin BlancAzay-le-Rideau — a small appellation of crisp dry whites
- local blendsAmboise — reds, whites and rosés from a varied terroir
- local blendsChenonceaux — delicate reds and rosés, a little-known appellation
- Gamay, Pinot Noir, CôtNoble-Joué — pale, light rosés, a Cher valley specialty
And also…
Indre & Loire by Bike
Two riverside cycling routes, through tuffeau-stone villages and bucolic landscapes.
With Children
The Futuroscope, the Family Park, and Beauval zoo, one of the finest zoos in the world.
Discover Tours
The old town, Place Plumereau, Saint-Gatien Cathedral and the Fine Arts Museum.