Loire Valley Day Trip from Paris

Explore the Historic Castles of Chambord and Chenonceau!

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From Our Customers…

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Chambord, Chenonceau, and More Loire Valley Tour Itinerary

See the Loire Valley’s two most spectacular châteaux in a single day. Chambord – the valley’s largest castle with its Leonardo da Vinci historical connection – and Chenonceau, situated gracefully across the River Cher. Between castles, enjoy lunch and wine tasting at a private family estate hosted by the resident countess. After your touring day, you’ll be just one hour from Paris by TGV, you’ll be back for a late dinner.

Your adventure begins at Gare Montparnasse, where you’ll catch the train to Tours. Upon arrival, a friendly guide awaits at the tourist office—just a two minute walk from the train station. Then it’s off to explore magnificent castles, gorgeous landscapes, and centuries of tradition.

Note: Our small-group Loire Valley tours from Paris often sell out, so we recommend booking early to secure your preferred date.

Famous Loire Castle Stops on this Tour

You’ll see two of the Loire Valley’s most renowned castles on this day trip: Chambord and Chenonceau. With a quick, one-hour ride on the TGV from Paris to Tours, you’ll still be back in the city in time for a not-too-late dinner!

Chenonceau Castle

Chenonceau stands on the site of a medieval mill along the River Cher. Destroyed and rebuilt multiple times from the 11th to 16th centuries, it’s best known for its arched bridge connecting the château to the opposite river bank. After Versailles, it’s the most visited castle in France.

Lunch in the Loire Valley

Enjoy lunch at the privately owned Château de Villesavin, a tranquil, family-held estate once built by Jean le Breton. You’ll explore its authentic rooms and beautiful grounds, then sit down for a great lunch paired with locally produced Loire wines. Often hosted by the resident countess, you’ll feel like the estate’s guest for a day.

Chambord Castle

After lunch, travel to Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire. The design is officially credited to architect Phillipe Delorme, but some believe Leonardo da Vinci may have directly influenced its architecture. Originally built for King François I as a hunting retreat, Chambord remains a masterpiece of Renaissance design.

Back to Paris

At day’s end, you’ll be dropped off at the Tours rail station for the one-hour TGV ride back to Paris in time for a late dinner.

Day Trip to the Loire Valley from Paris – Chambord, Chenonceau and More Map

Loire Valley Tours from Paris FAQ’s

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More Loire Valley Day Trip from Paris Information

Sometimes, last-minute or peak-season TGV rail prices run higher than those listed here. We’ll always reach out before finalizing if that’s the case. If you’re not buying your rail tickets through Link Paris, please wait to confirm exact train times with us first. We deliver e-tickets as a PDF to print at home or download to your phone for easy travel.

Check out our other Loire Valley tour and trip options.

Cancellation and Refund Policies

Due to the small group aspect of all of our tours, our cancellation policy is as follows. More than 7 days before tour date – 100% refundable; from 7 to 3 days before tour date – 50% refundable; less than 3 days – non-refundable. If cancelling please contact us as soon as possible to ensure we can credit you properly.

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Why we love the Loire Valley – There are so many castles in the “Valley of the Kings”.  My favorite is Cheverny. It is among the smallest, but houses a literal battalion of hunting dogs that you can see on property.  Chambord’s sheer size is also amazing. When I was there, there was a giant Rolling Stones tongue logo carved in the lawn.  Very cool – John

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