Private Tours LOIRE Loire Valley : Middle ages
Tour suggéré en Normandie : THE MIDDLE AGES IN THE LOIRE VALLEY
These programs are given as an example, they can be modified depending on the pick up location and on your interests.
TOUR 1 :
Chambord / Blois / Amboise
TOUR 2 :
Chenonceau / Azay-le-Rideau / Villandry
THE MIDDLE AGES IN THE LOIRE VALLEY
A visit to the historic town of Angers, with its black and white ramparts will take any visitor back to the 12th Century during which period this town moved to the forefront of the European scene. Indeed, the Count of Anjou, Henry II Plantagenet, succeeded to the throne of England following his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine. Although born in Le Mans, Henry was buried in the Abbey of Fontevraud with his wife and son, Richard the Lionheart. In the 13th Century, a new cathedral was consecrated in the town of Chartres and shows exceptional workmanship in its stained-glass windows, ornate religious statues and its labyrinth. It was at the Chateau of Chinon that a young Joan of Arc met Charles VII before she helped him to succeed to the throne of France.
Advised ToursTOURS :
Tours is a town which has a very nice mix of both old and modern. The atmosphere can change as quickly as you can turn a street corner. From the commercial centre it is only a short walk to the old town around the Saint-Gatien Cathedral. The cathedral itself shows this mix of old and new with the old Chateau de Tours on one side and the Art Museum opposite. Inspired by the example of Bishop Saint-Martin, Tours became a Christian town in the 4th Century AD. In a Basilica to the west of the city centre, Saint-Martin‘s grave is the third oldest pilgrimage centre in the world.
CHARTRES :
After its destruction in the Great Fire of 1194, Chartres Cathedral was rebuilt in only 25 years and has remained intact despite numerous conflicts over the ages. As well as its beautiful construction and design, this “Bible in Stone” has one of the most complete and remarkable sets of stained-glass windows to be found anywhere in Europe. This Cathedral that also possesses a unique and mysterious labyrinth has been a World Heritage site since 1979. The city, pilgrimage site to the “Virgin’s Veil”, still presents evidence of the old town with its cobble-stone streets and timber-framed houses.
FONTEVRAUD :
Founded in 1101, the sumptuous Benedictine Abbey of Fontevraud houses the burial graves of Henry II Plantagenet, the Count of Anjou and King of England, as well as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their son, Richard the Lionheart. You will be very impressed by the architecture of this abbey, notably the domed ceiling of the church itself and the striking Romanesque kitchens built in the Byzantine style. A visit to this abbey is simply something magical that you will never forget.
ANGERS :
Once owned by Geoffrey of Anjou, father of Henry II Plantagenet, the Chateau of Angers is situated in the very heart of the town giving amazing views down on to the River Maine. A visit to this chateau is all the more impressive when you see the Tapestries depicting “The Scenes of the Apocalypse”, made in the 14th Century and inspired by the “Book of Revelations” of Saint John in the New Testament. The town has not lost its old charm and still has its narrow, winding medieval cobble-stone streets lined with timber-framed houses.
LE MANS :
The town of Le Mans still shows its exceptional rich history spanning 7,000 years. The Gallo-Roman walls with their coloured round towers are the first things you will see upon entering the old medieval heart, birthplace of Henry II Plantagenet, King of England. The old city with its wooden framed houses lining the narrow, winding cobbled streets run right up to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Saint Julian. Despite this, this town is better known today around the world as the site of the famous 24-hour race of Le Mans.
SAUMUR :
The Military Cavalry School, founded in 1814, and its world renowned horse-dressage school, the Cadre Noir, make Saumur the town it is today. However, the name Saumur probably also evokes the palate as it produces some of the most famous white wines found today. Moreover, the largest production of mushrooms in France is undertaken in huge caves found in this region. However, Saumur is still an old town dominated by its 14th Century Chateau, which truly has the appearance of a fairytale castle.
CHINON :
Sited on the River Vienne, this medieval fortress was built by the Plantagenet and is still looking down on the well-preserved old town to this day. The Chateau was host to King Charles VII and his entourage when he visited Chinon during the Hundred Years War. It was here in the great hall that he met Joan of Arc before she set out on her divinely-inspired crusade to rid France of the English. Lovers of French food will be delighted with the choice of regional specialities on offer around this region which is famous for the quality of its cuisine using locally produced truffles, asparagus, goat’s cheese and pears along with a glass of Chinon red wine.
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