Considered one of the most elegant castles in the Loire, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, harmoniously set on an island in the middle of the Indre River.

This is an opportunity to admire the elegant white stone façade reflected in the calm waters of the water mirror, to visit the furnished apartments that illustrate castle life in the 16th and 19th centuries, to walk in the romantic English-style park, which surrounds the castle and offers beautiful views.

Here are some suggestions for possible visits to make around Bourgueil

Castles

Azay-le-Rideau (30 minutes)

Ussé (20 minutes)

It is one of the jewels of the Renaissance in the Loire Valley, especially famous for its extraordinary gardens.

The castle itself, perfectly restored, with its elegant lounges and views of the gardens, the famous French gardens : decorative vegetable garden, water garden, garden of love, labyrinth...,

the terraces which offer magnificent panoramas of the entire estate.

The visit to Villandry can be done in half a day, followed for example by lunch on site

Villandry (30 minutes)

Nicknamed "the castle of Sleeping Beauty", the Château d'Ussé is a marvel of fairytale architecture, which is said to have inspired Charles Perrault for his famous tale.

The castle features magnificent historic rooms, lounges, bedrooms, tapestries and period furniture. You can walk along the walkway and the towers where a scenography tells the story of Sleeping Beauty (with costumed mannequins), explore the Renaissance chapel, the stables and the French-style park designed by Le Nôtre (famous gardener of Versailles), enjoy beautiful views of the Indre valley.

Towns

Chinon (20 minutes)

Chinon (8000 inhabitants) is a magnificent medieval town where it is very pleasant to walk through the cobbled streets of the lower town. There arehalf-timbered houses, Renaissance mansions, shopping streets with cafés, numerous restaurants, bookshops and art galleries.

Saumur (30 minutes)

The Château de Saumur, which overlooks the Loire, is a magnificent castle with slate roofs and a fairy tale look. From its ramparts you can discover an exceptional panorama of the city, the Loire and the whole region. It is also a museum around the horse and decorative arts (furniture, tapestries...) with temporary exhibitions.

Saumur is the capital of the horse in France. It is possible to visit the Cavalry School to discover the history of the Cadre Noir, a famous corps of elite cavalrymen. Depending on the season, shows or galas are organized. You can also take guided tours of the stables, riding arenas, tack room...

You can also visit the Combier distillery created in 1834 which makes syrups and liqueurs.

To get to Saumur de Bourgueil, we advise you to take the road through Candes-St-Martin, which is worth the trip in itself. It offers many views of the Loire, troglodytes, villages. Infinitely more picturesque than the motorway or the D35...

The Royal Fortress of Chinon is the emblematic site of the city: it is an impressive medieval citadel perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Vienna. A guide will be able to show you the ramparts, towers and drawbridge, the royal dwellings because it was the residence of the Plantagenets and the place of the historic meeting between Joan of Arc and Charles VII. The panorama is magnificent over the old town and the river.

Chinon is also famous for its red wines (Cabernet Franc). Several cellars are set up in troglodyte galleries dug into the tufa. You can contact the Plouzeau, Couly-Dutheil, or Domaine de la Noblaie cellars for tasting tours.

Others

La Loire or la Vienne

It is possible to go boating on the Loire. Several sites offer to discover the Loire but also the Vienne by navigation and if desired accompanied by aperitifs...

This is the case of the Compagnie de Navigation Vienne-Loire à Chinon, which offers to sail on a traditional boat on the Vienne from Chinon to the Loire. You can find the same service but on a more classic boat in Saumur with Croisière Saumur Loire which goes up the Loire to the Vienne.

Chinon-Canoé, in Chinon, offers similar routes ... by canoe!

The cellars

The easiest way is to start this trip with a visit to the Maison des Vins de Bourgueil. It is located in the family home of Jean Carmet (French actor), a fifteenth century building located in the heart of Bourgueil. You can find most of the local production, reds, rosés, blanc de noirs, cellar accessories, local products, grape juice... with tastings of course and the possibility of buying bottles at Domaine prices. It will then be possible to make an appointment with a wine domain to visit their cellars.

Fontevraud abbey (20 minutes)

It is one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe and a major site in the Loire Valley, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1101, the abbey has had a unique history, combining spirituality, royal power and an astonishing conversion (it was even a prison in the 19th century).

You can discover the abbey church where the recumbent statues of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart and Henry II Plantagenet (key figures in Franco-English history) rest, the grandiose cloister, the Romanesque kitchens with their chimney-shaped roofs, and the refectory, dormitories, chapter houses, gardens and beautifully restored conventual buildings. A museum of modern art with contemporary art exhibitions is also present on the site.

Gizeux castle (15 minutes)

Less known than the great castles of the Loire, Gizeux is a site full of charm and character, inhabited by the same family for several generations. It has one of the longest frontage (250 m), painted galleries (17th and 18th centuries) that recall the large Italian frescoes, furnished rooms and historic kitchens that illustrate the life of the castle through the centuries. The castle is very much oriented towards family hospitality, theatrical visits or children's workshops are organised, especially during the school holidays. An Escape Game is also available.

Langeais 's castle (25 minutes)

This charming market town on the banks of the Loire is dominated by the impressive Château de Langeais, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the region.

It is a medieval fortress built by Louis XI in the 15th century, with its imposing drawbridge still in operation. You can discover the richly furnished apartments that recreate the seigniorial life of the Middle Ages, and admire the tapestries, chests and period furniture. We also witness the re-enactment of the royal union between Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany (1491), a key event in the history of France, staged with wax mannequins and soundscapes. The park of the castle offers superb views of the Loire, and there is an old keep from the tenth century, a rare vestige of the very beginning of medieval architecture.