Château to Château à Pied Loire

Château to Château à Pied

Name: Château to Château à Pied
Price: 1280 GBP
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Famous names and hidden gems

Château to Château à Pied

This easy walk through the Garden of France follows the limestone banks of the Loire. Turn inland through vineyards and flower-decked villages to take in some of the region’s most enchanting châteaux and their gardens.

Holiday Highlights

Authentic French Auberges and hotels with some very good dining
Château Chenonceau : the beautiful castle nicknamed the Chateau des Dames
Clos Lucé: home of Leonardo de Vinci and interactive museum
Royal Château at Amboise
Château Chaumont and its quirky international garden festival
Château Cheverny, don’t miss feeding time of the hounds
Tintin interactive museum at Château Cheverny
Château Chambord: the most spectacular of the region

What's Included

6 days easy walking
7 nights, half-board/B&B
Welcome introduction
Outward station transfers
Return transfer to Blois
Luggage transfers between hotels
Comprehensive route notes
Belle France 24hr Support

Itinerary & Hotels

1
Arrive Chenonceaux day 1
Summary
Arrive at Hôtel Restaurant La Roseraie where there will be time to relax and explore the surroundings before your evening meal.
Hotel
La Roseraie
Chenonceaux
A typically French, 3 star hotel, only 400m from Château de Chenonceau, with large spacious rooms, very attentive staff and a good menu choice. Many famous people such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman,Churchill, Rockefeller have stayed in this 18th century building. Rooms are charming, comfortable and individually decorated.
Facilities
Bar
Restaurant
Outdoor swimming pool
Garden
Terrace
Air-conditioning
TV
Free WiFi
Free parking
Board
Half Board
Cuisine
Example menu
Les Entrées
- Snail in garlic butter
- Cream of corn
- Salad of purple cabbage with hot beef
- Custard tart of Duck Foie Gras
- Pastry on tomato and hot goat cheese
Les Plats
- Duck tenderloin with Mulled wine sauce
- Fillet of Carlet fish with butter and capers
- Kidney with blackcurrant
- Oxtail of Beef, crispy with wine sauce
6 mi
(10 km)
2
Chenonceaux to Amboise day 2
Summary
A shady walk through the Forêt d’Amboise will bring you out across farmland as you approach the town. Pass the manor house where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years and stay at the 4-star Pavillon des Lys. Eat in a delightful restaurant close to your hotel.
Hotel
Le Pavillon des Lys
Amboise
Located in the centre of the town of Amboise, Le Pavillon des Lys is a four star hotel, with 8 bedrooms and suites, within 5 minutes walking distance from the Château d'Amboise. Bedrooms are spacious and there is a garden and a terrace for the guests.
Facilities
Very large beds
Soundproof rooms
Air-conditioning
Television, radio, CD and DVD player, safe
Free WiFi
Garden
Terrace
Board
Half Board
Cuisine
The hotel has no restaurant. The meals are booked at the restaurant L'Alliance (2 minutes away).
Options at L'Alliance include...
Example Menu
Starters
Oysters au gratin Vouvray, Endive and smoked duck breast
Ballottine of duck foie gras and mallard, mango chutney with Szechuan pepper
Mains
Roast scallops, pumpkin puree, ravioli with chestnuts and dried bacon
Veal sweetbreads, mushrooms, truffle sauce and potatoes
Cheese platter & dessert of your choice
11 mi
(18 km)
3
Amboise to Chaumont day 3
Summary
A walk through Amboise and on to Mosnes. From here the route leads along riverbanks and through leafy vineyards until you reach your hotel in Chaumont.
Hotel
Hostellerie du Château
Chaumont- Sur -Loire
L'Hostellerie du Château is situated in the charming village of Chaumont sur Loire, between Blois and Amboise in the center of the Grands Châteaux circuit of Chambord, Blois, Amboise, Chenonceaux. The hotel is on the edge of the Loire, at the foot of the feudal Chaumont castle which dominates the valley and the village and is renowned for its famous International Garden Festival.
The owners, Dominique Poignon and Pascal Delsériès and their team, use their savoir-faire to lend charm and comfort to their home in order to make your stay pleasant, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The hotel has 3 stars and 15 rooms, of which 3 are family rooms. In the summer, the meals are served on the terrace, and in the winter you can enjoy the heat from the fireplace in a dining room filled with character. During the summer months you can enjoy the swimming pool or spend a relaxing moment in the garden.
Facilities
Three star accommodation
Satellite TV
Telephone
Restaurant
Bar
Lounge
En suite with bath or shower
Traditional cuisine
Free WiFi
Outdoor swimming pool
Garden
Terrace
Board
Half Board
Cuisine
The restaurant proposes traditional dishes prepared with local fresh seasonal products. The wine list is composed of various wines representing the local vintages: Touraine, Touraine Mesland, Touraine Amboise and Cheverny, as well as other vineyards from the Loire Valley which extend from Sancerre to Muscadet passing by Vouvray, Chinon, Saumur, Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil and other French vines.
Example Menu
Entrées
Tartare de Saumon aux Agrumes, Vinaigrette Acidulée
Corolle de Melon, Mousse de Jambon Sec, Gelée de Pineau des Charentes
Charlotte de Dinde et Caviar d’Aubergines, Brochette de Gambas au Tandoori
Plats
Filet de Dorade Poêlé, Beurre d’Orange, Tatin d’Endives
Emince d’Onglet de Veau aux Herbes, Légumes Confits au Curry
Magret de Canard, Sauce Cassis, Tian de Légumes

Desserts
Soupe de Fruits Rouges, Ecume de Basilic, Mouillettes de Pain d’Epices
Pêche Pochée à la Menthe, Nid de Meringue et Crème Chocolat
Fondant Chocolat, Praliné et Noisette, Glace Fromage Blanc
6 mi
(10 km)
4
Chaumont to Candé sur Beuvron day 4
Summary
Spend the morning visiting the famous château and gardens before walking to Candé and tonight’s comfortable hotel, with its excellent restaurant.
Hotel
Auberge de Callière
Candé- sur -Beuvron
A relaxing hotel set in pretty gardens with a gastronomic restaurant.
Facilities
Terrace and garden
Free WiFi
Gourmet restaurant
Bar
Sound proofed rooms
Board
Half Board
Cuisine
5 mi
(8 km)
5
Candé sur Beuvron to Chitenay day 5
Summary
At Les Montils, pick up the ingredients for an al fresco lunch then head off through woodland, fields and a vintner’s yard to Chitenay and the delightful Auberge du Centre.
Hotel
Auberge du centre
Chitenay
The Auberge du Centre, a three star hotel with 27 bedrooms, is located in the centre of Chitenay, a small, quiet village, typical of many in this Garden of France. The hotel, though not particularly large, occupies a prominent position on the high street and is swathed in Virginia creeper. Across the road is the white tufa stone church with its little avenue of pollarded trees shading the place de l’eglise. A small shop offers basic groceries, and the wherewithal for a picnic.
There is a pleasant comfortable bar to the front of the hotel and the restaurant runs through to the rear. There is private parking at the back of the hotel with storage and racks for Belle France bikes. The garden, home to red squirrels, has a couple of swings and enough hidey-holes amongst the colourful shrubs to keep children entertained in safety.
From all points on this crossroads, cycle routes are signposted to Cheverny (6 miles), Chaumont (11 miles) and Chambord (15 miles) which are three of the larger chateaux within relatively easy range, and other lesser known gems are even closer.
Facilities
En suite bathroom
Satellite television
Free WiFi
Terrace
Garden
Pleasant, easy cycle routes on the doorstep
Pretty, tranquil village location
Attractive garden terrace for al fresco dining
Friendly staff, great for families
Board
Half Board
Cuisine
Monsieur Martinet is clearly proud of his hotel whose restaurant has an established reputation in the Blois catchment area. The food is carefully prepared and presented fairly elaborately in some cases. The menu offers a reasonable choice and children are catered for with simplified ‘grown up’ dishes (no nuggets in evidence). Local Loire wines are much in evidence on the wine list with some good value carafes on offer, especially those from Cheverny.
Example Menu
Les Entrées
Le croustillant de canard confit à la confiture d'oignons et son mesclun aux noix
L'assiette de saumon fumé à l'Auberge, salade de betterave rouge aux herbes
Les Plats
Le médaillon de volaille de la ferme de la Faubonniére farcie aux pleurotes, sauce forestière écrasé de pommes de terre aux appétits
Le filet de Lieu "sous Anna", boulgour crémeux à l'estragon et tomate confite, beurre citronné

Les Fromages
La sélection de fromages de chèvre et son mesclun
Les Desserts
L'opéra chocolat, crème de marron et glace aux grains de café
La tarte fine aux pommes, Sauce caramel, glace pain d'épices
10 mi
(16 km)
6
Chitenay to Cour Cheverny day 6
Summary
Today’s easy walk takes you through fields and woodland to the spectacular hunting château at Cheverny. Tonight’s hotel has an elegant dining room serving traditional French cuisine.
Hotel
Hôtel Saint-Hubert
Cour Cheverny
Situated about 457m (1,500 ft.) from Château de Cheverny, at the entrance to the village Cheverny, this three star hotel was built in the 1950s in the provincial style. It does offer some family rooms. You are sure to receive a warm welcome by the owners Monsieur and Madame Tisserand in this charming and comfortable hotel.
Facilities
Fully equipped rooms with a choice of shower or bath
Satellite television
Telephone
WiFi
Restaurant offering regional cuisine
Board
Half Board
Cuisine
Chef Carl Bigot offers you his regional gourmet specialities and game when in season.
Example Menu
Les Entrées
Cassolette d'Escargots de Bourgogne au Chablis et Crème d'Ail
Terrine de Lièvre Mariné à l'Armagnac
Tartare de Saint-Jacques et Thon Albacore en Sauce Basilic sur Petite Salade
Millefeuilles de Foie Gras de Canard Maison et Poires Caramélisées
Les Plats
Sauté de Chevreuil à La Royale, Pommes de Terre et Champignons
Filet de Saint-Pierre au Vin Blanc de Loire et Légumes du Soleil
Tête de Veau Roulée avec Langue et ses Légumes d'Hiver, Sauce Gribiche
Filet de Boeuf (origine Européenne) Façon Rossini, Tian de Légumes
Les Desserts
Good choice dessert menu
7 mi
(10 km)
7
Cour Cheverny to Chambord day 7
Summary
Château Chambord is approached through vast parklands – a beautiful and fitting end to your exploration of the Loire. After your visit to the château, our rep will transfer you to Blois for your final night and a beautiful chambre d’hote and gourmet dinner in the l’Orangerie Chateau restaurant.
Hotel
Maison du Carroir
Blois
This bed & breakfast in the heart of the Loire Valley offers a pleasant stay and friendly service from Mme Galland, who is extremely attentive. There are four large bedrooms, each with its own decor and atmosphere, as well as a pretty garden and terrace. Many of the most notable châteaux are only a short distance away.
Facilities
En suite rooms
TV
Free Wifi
Garden
Terrace
Board
Half Board
Cuisine
A gourmet breakfast is served in the garden in summer, and around the fireplace in winter. Includes bread, local cheeses, homemade mini cakes, fruit, jams and fresh juice.
11 mi
(18 km)