Sometimes we come out of the Chateau of Chenonceau and see something surprising. One day in early November it was three hot air balloons sailing over. I wonder what you will see when you visit?
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. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.
Most of the chauffeured tours we offer include your chateaux admission tickets, but our walking tours and a few of the chauffeured tours do not. We will always make it clear when you need to buy your tickets.
In the case of Chenonceau, you need to buy them at least a few days before your tour, as they operate a timed entry system. The time on your ticket refers to the time you enter the interior of the chateau, not when you enter the grounds. We recommend getting a ticket for half an hour after you arrive.
Make sure you buy your ticket from Chenonceau's official site, not an agency selling tickets. The official source of tickets is https://chateaudechenonceau.tickeasy.com/fr-FR/accueil. If you buy from anywhere else, including the Tourist Office, what you have is a voucher, not a real ticket. It means you will still have to call in to the ticket office at Chenonceau and exchange your vouchers for tickets with an entry time. This wastes time and means on busy days you might miss out on your preferred time slot, thus disrupting the tour you've booked with us.
The Chateau Royal d'Amboise has an impressive Neapolitan nativity scene which it puts on display every December.
Neapolitan nativity figurines are still made and collected today, but their peak was in the second half of the 18th century. Each figure, piece of scenery or accessory may be made of several different materials, including glazed terracotta, wood, wire armatures wrapped in fibres, metal, wax and embroidered textiles. They are famous for their level of exquisite detail and are held upright by spikes on their feet pushed into a cork display base. The Amboise collection reflects the tradition of showing highly detailed scenes of working life around the actual nativity scene. Curiously, it is these foreground trades, merchants and working figures which are really the stars of the show, with the Holy Family receding into insignificance right at the back.
Ever since displaced Ukrainians have been fleeing their country due to the Russian invasion we have been helping to support a number of Ukrainian families in both practical ways like finding them accommodation and employment, but also offering a bit of respite in the form of group outings and gatherings. We organised a couple of shared picnics in the summer, and just before Christmas we arranged with the Chateau of Chenonceau to bring a group of 45 Ukrainians to see the magnificent decorations inside. The Director, Mme Laure Menier very generously offered the group free entry and they had a wonderful time.
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| Slava Ukraini! |
We are very pleased to be doing our small bit to help people in difficult circumstances. We are particularly grateful to the Chateau of Chenonceau for their kind gesture and warm welcome.
Happy New Year!
We wish you good health, good food and good company throughout, with at least one trip to France, of course!