Saturday, 25 April 2020

A Day Trip to the Loire Valley From Paris



TGV (fast train) crossing the viaduct at Cande.  Indre et Loire, France. Photographed by Susan Walter. Tour the Loire Valley with a classic car and a private guide.
The TGV (fast train) from Paris, crossing a viaduct in the Loire Valley.

We should have been working today, but instead, we are stuck at home and our American doctor clients have cancelled their vacation. Here's what we would have been doing:

Loches market.  Indre et Loire, France. Photographed by Susan Walter. Tour the Loire Valley with a classic car and a private guide.

The clients were going to catch the fast train from Paris to Tours where we would meet them. We often do this for clients who are based in Paris rather than already in the Loire Valley. The journey only takes an hour and ticket prices are extremely reasonable if you purchase in advance. Although we don't go up to meet them in Paris, we guide the clients through the entire process of buying tickets, how to catch the train and where to get off.

View from a tower on the Royal Citadel, Loches.  Indre et Loire, France. Photographed by Susan Walter. Tour the Loire Valley with a classic car and a private guide.
View from a tower on the Royal Citadel, Loches.
Our first stop was going to be the small medieval town of Loches, rather off the beaten track, but packed with history, and on Saturdays one of the best farmers markets in the area takes place. You get to mingle with the locals and learn about all the wonderful fresh produce grown and raised in the Loire Valley. Lunch was to have been at a tiny but very popular restaurant that does beautiful food and has a rather surprising setting.

Tour Saint Antoine, Loches.  Indre et Loire, France. Photographed by Susan Walter. Tour the Loire Valley with a classic car and a private guide.
The restaurant is tucked in at the base of this tower.
Then visiting the 'must see' chateau of the Loire Valley, Chenonceau, famous as the Ladies Chateau and its glorious setting on the River Cher. We would have rounded off the day at a Vouvray winery that operates out of troglodyte caves on the banks of the Loire before getting the clients back on the train, so they are in Paris in time for dinner.

Chateau of Chenonceau.  Indre et Loire, France. Photographed by Susan Walter. Tour the Loire Valley with a classic car and a private guide.
Chateau of Chenonceau.

Wine tasting.  Indre et Loire, France. Photographed by Susan Walter. Tour the Loire Valley with a classic car and a private guide.
Wine tasting.

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.