Today, we’ll visit the fabled and enchanting Château of Chenonceau. Its history was intrinsically influenced by a succession of remarkable women, including legendary rivals Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers. The chateau’s furnishings, painting collection, and gardens are exceptional. We’ll begin with a flower-arranging demonstration by Jean-Francois Boucher, who has been honored as a meilleur ouvrier de France and is responsible for the château’s magnificent floral installations.
Our tour of the romantic chateau will focus on its exceptional restored interiors filled with period furnishings and a masterpiece painting collection. Your exclusive walk through the remarkable renaissance gardens will be led by Nick Tomlan, who designs their plantings and recently landscaped the contemporary Russell Page-inspired walled garden.
Our unique Loire wine and cheese-tasting lunch will be hosted at the privately owned Chateau de Civray, by its owner, Countess Diane, and will be led by young cheese monger and sommelier Geoffrey Nivard. Until recently, Geoffrey worked for a famous London cheese shop supplying Buckingham Palace with French cheese! Passionate about his native region, Geoffrey’s tastings are both entertaining and informative.
Mid-afternoon, we travel east to check into our chic 4-star home base for the next three nights. Le Relais de Chambord overlooks Chambord – the Loire’s largest chateau and is situated within a walled park the size of Paris.
You can pamper yourself at the spa (additional charge not included. Reservations required), bike across the park, stroll along the Cossan river, or relax over a tea or cocktail on the hotel terrace with its magnificent view of the Chateau.
Tonight’s casual dinner will be in the Relais’s clubby bar.
