Learn About Honey in the Loire Valley

One of us is a big fan of honey, and the Loire Valley is an important honey producing area in France. Sadly, recent investigations have shown that most blended honey, the sort that is available in supermarkets, is adulterated with anything from cheap simple and widely available corn syrup to designer syrups made to order in laboratories to mimic subtle components of real honey, and which cannot be detected with current tests. But here in the Loire Valley we don't have to worry about that too much. We have numerous small scale artisan apiarists (beekeepers) and we can buy their authentic honey direct from the source. Some of them are very happy to be visited, and we can include all sorts of levels of 'honey experiences' in your tour. It could be just talking to a local apiarist and tasting their seasonal range of honey in a farmers market; it could be visiting a working apiarist and having him explain how he operates; or it could be visiting the beekeeping interepretation and education centre* for a guided tour. 

 

*They also train new and hobby beekeepers, but we can't include this in your tour. We would be happy to put you in touch with the centre, but you will need to be able to speak French to participate.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Visit a Beautiful Village in the Loire Valley

You may have heard of the 'plus beaux villages de France' (the most beautiful villages in France). This is an official certification scheme for a few hundred charming and picturesque villages throughout France. These villages are tiny, with populations in the low hundreds. They are flower filled and rustic, enticing you to explore their hidden corners. These are real villages, where ordinary people live. In the Loire Valley we offer tours of one of these villages, the aptly named Montrésor ('my treasure'). If you want to enjoy its historic church, quirky chateau and peaceful riverbank walk then let us know and we'll include it in your itinerary.

 

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Visit a Chateau in the Loire Valley at Christmas

 Seven of the historic Loire Valley chateaux participate in a campaign known as 'Christmas in Chateaux Country'. The shining star amongst these is the Chateau of Chenonceau, known for its outstanding floral decorations. This, and several of the others, are open every single day, including Christmas Day. It has become quite a tradition locally to visit either in the afternoon of Christmas Day, or the day after, but you can enjoy the decorations for the whole of December, and the first week of January. We would be delighted to tell you the stories of one of these fabulous chateaux, at the same time sharing the extraordinary decorations over the winter festive season. Just let us know what date in December suits you, and which chateau you want to see.

 

The chapel in Chenonceau, decorated for Christmas 2025.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Visit a Medieval Church in the Loire Valley

Medieval churches abound in the Loire Valley, and if you are prepared to go a little bit further, outside the UNESCO World Heritage area, into the rich and powerful old historic province of Berry, there are even more. These churches are modest in size, but they make up for that with their rare surviving decorative elements. Each one is unique and features intriguing carvings and wall paintings. They are well off the modern beaten track and are best visited with a knowledgeable local guide. That's were we come in. We can take you to one, two, or a string of village churches in an area that sees very few tourists. Just let us know and we can design you an itinerary.

 

Find out why there might be a marvellous mermaid and her monsterous male companion at the door of a village church 200 km from the coast.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Chrysanthemums in the Loire Valley

If you visit the Loire Valley in November you will notice that chrysanthemums are everywhere. The skies may be grey and the weather damp, but public gardens, balconies and florists are a riot of colour thanks to dozens of flower packed chrysanthemum balls. But why are they so popular? It's not just because they are hardy and conveniently flower at this time of year. Find out the full story when you book a tour with us in November.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel.