Chambord is not just a Chateau

Don't forget that the Chambord estate is 52 square kilometres of forest, lakes and trails. It most certainly is not all about the extravagant hunting lodge on the eastern edge. If you want to escape the crowds and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature, this is a great place.*

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

*For logistical reasons we only offer guided visits to the Chateau of Chambord to travellers staying in Amboise.

Highlights of Chambord

The great highlight of visiting the Chateau of Chambord is taking in the view from the roof. We always include this as part of our tour of this otherwise rather empty and grandiose chateau.*

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

*For logistical reasons we only offer guided visits to Chambord to travellers staying in Amboise.

Visiting Working Wineries in the Loire Valley

The wineries we include in our tours do not view themselves as tourist attractions. They are working farms, wine makers and distributors. So sometimes it is organised chaos when we visit. We think it offers a much more authentic experience, where you will be greeted by someone who really cares about the wine they produce and has a deep knowledge of the local area and its traditions.

In this photo the wine maker has enlisted the help of staff and friends to frantically pack and dispatch multiple orders to America, in advance of the recently announced tariff increase. You will encounter similar levels of organised chaos during the harvest, when the grapes are being pressed.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Vegetables at Villandry

One of the most charming things about a visit to the famous gardens of Villandry is that visitors are offered any excess produce. Learn about this and other little secrets of the Loire Valley when you take a tour with us.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Fungi Foraging in the Loire Valley

Autumn is the season for going out into the forests of the Loire Valley and foraging for fungi. Many local people are adept at finding the often well camouflaged mushrooms, and because we at Loire Valley Time Travel have lived in the area for a long time, we have picked up a lot of knowledge about wild mushrooms.

The grounds of the Chateau of Azay le Rideau can offer an opportunity for an impromptu fungi lesson. This fine crop of mushrooms are Shaggy Ink Caps, considered a great delicacy in the Loire Valley and they popped up in the chateau grounds in October during a rainy spell. Most foragers make them into risotto. If you visit at the right time you could learn how to confidently identify and cook this species which is safe to eat, as well as lookalikes that are not so edible or have interesting medicinal properties.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

The Most Magnificent Chateau of the Loire Valley

It is generally accepted that the most magnificent chateau in the Loire Valley is the unfinished royal hunting lodge at Chambord. The roofline is unquestionably stupendous and the setting suitably grand. We don't offer it as a visit in any of our standard tours for logistical reasons, but we are happy to work with clients to create a customised tour which includes it.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Wildlife Spotting in the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is home to some impressive wildlife but without a guide it isn't always very easy to see. We love nature as much as we love history and food, so we are always happy to stop for a bit of wildlife spotting when there is an opportunity. For example, in the autumn, the Red Deer stags will be roaring in the forests and fighting for the hinds. It's not safe to get too close, but if we are lucky one of these magnificent beasts will amble by.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.