Visiting a Wine Boutique in the Loire Valley

Sometimes visiting a winery isn't possible on a tour for reasons of time or availability. But we can nearly always take you to a wine boutique, where you can learn about a variety of local wines, taste them and buy them. 

The Neapolitan Nativity Scene at the Chateau Royal d'Amboise

At Christmas time every year the Chateau Royal d'Amboise sets up its impressive Neapolitan  nativity scene.

Neapolitan churches have featured nativity scenes at Christmas time since at least the 11th century. At first the figures were made of polychrome painted and carved wood and were life size, stood in front of a painted background. After the 16th century the size had begun to reduce and the background began to be increasingly three dimensional panoramas of the City of Naples. With the 18th century Enlightenment and the Baroque style, the figures were put into secular locations, in wealthy private homes, and an attention to detail and hyper realism became a hallmark.

Ask Me Anything in the Loire Valley!

The chapel at the Chateau de Chenonceau is decorated in the most spectacular style at Christmas time. In December 2021 it was a large hanging wreath, suspended from chains coming through a neat hole in the ceiling. My clients wanted to know if the hole was original, or had been drilled in modern times just for the Christmas decorations. I was pleased to be able to tell them that the hole is entirely original, and would once have been how the rope for the bell was fed through so it could be rung. If you like to know small details like that, contact us and book a tour.

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.