Bordeaux and the Loire
Day 1–Sunday
Leaving Saturday evening, you will land in Bordeaux around noon. Our hotel is the Mercure Cite Mondiale*** located downtown Bordeaux, a short walk from the shops, museums and restaurants. Take a 2 hours nap or spend your afternoon walking the streets of this old city. The stock exchange square, the 15 century “Grosse Cloche” gate, the “Grand Theatre”, the 18th century district etc…
After many years of noisy and dusty road work everywhere, tramway lines were created, historical buildings restored, old warehouses along the river renovated and now occupied by restaurants, shops and art galleries. Bordeaux is a lively and pleasant city.
A welcome dinner -with Bordeaux wines- will end the day.
Night in Bordeaux.
Day 2–Monday
The most famous vineyards of the world are yours for a day in Medoc.
9:00 am departure for a drive on the “Route des Chateaux” for Margaux, Cos d’Estournel, Talbot, Latour, Laffite-Rothschild, Palmer, Gruaud-Laroze, Rauzan-Segla, Beychevelle, etc.
Our first stop will be for Chateau Margaux one of the five first Grands Crus classés (or Cos d’Estournel - St Estephe) for visit and tasting.
Lunch in Pauillac.
Afternoon visit and tasting to Chateau Mouton-Rotschild (Pauillac) another one of the five “Premier cru” of Medoc. ( or Branaire Ducru, Grand Cru of the Saint Julien appellation.
Coming back in Bordeaux around 4:30pm you will have time to do some shopping in the pedestrian streets or visit a museum (Beaux Arts, Arts Decoratif, Aquitaine etc..)
Dinner on your own. Night in Bordeaux.
Day 3–Tuesday
At 9:00am, en route for Saint Emilion, the kingdom of Merlot challenged by Cabernet Franc!
The Chateau Angelus (1er Grand cru of Saint Emilion) will open his doors for visit and tasting.
After lunch in the village, you will meander in the streets of the charming Saint Emilion village for a guided visit of the monolith church, carved in the rock between the years 800 and 1100 as well as the 7th century cave, refuge of the monk who founded the city.
The afternoon visit will be the Clos de la Madeleine (grand cru classé), tasting takes place in their spectacular cellars, dug in the rocks. This Chateau could be replaced by Beausejour-Becot, La Gaffeliere or Trotte Vieille.
Dinner on your own.
Last night in Bordeaux.
Day 4–Wednesday
Specific climate, regular morning fog, lots of work and centuries of knowledge: all these elements are necessary to produce the exceptional wines of Sauternes-Barsac.
We will end our Bordeaux experience at the Chateau d’Yquem, for the most splendid natural sweet wine of the world.
Lunch on the road and afternoon drive to the Loire Valley.
The hotel Diderot, a simple and charming hotel in the heart of Chinon, family owned and run, will be our home for the next 3 nights.
Welcome dinner in Chinon, with Chinon wines of course.
Day 5–Thursday
Before our daily drinking, we will visit the castle of Azay-le-Rideau the most romantic and harmonious of the region.
After lunch we plan a brief stop by the Chateau d’Usse, still occupied by its owner’s since it was built in the XV century. Its exceptional and imposing presence inspired Perrault for his “Sleeping Beauty” novel.
In the spring, summer, fall or even winter, the gardens of the Chateau de Villandry are a “must be seen”.
Back in Chinon, the welcoming family de Bonnaventure working the same land since the 13 century will present us the production of their domain, the Chateau de Coulaine.
Dinner on your own.
Night at the Diderot.
Day 6–Friday
En route for one of the most famous castle of the region: Chenonceau. Built, owned and cared for by women during its entire history, this spectacular castle has an obvious feminine charm and beauty.
Lunch in the small city of Amboise where we will admire the oldest “royal castle” (King’s property) of the region. Built in the 14 hundreds, it introduced the Italian renaissance style into the Loire valley.
The great Leonardo de Vinci spent his lasts years there as Francois 1er mentor and is buried in the garden.
To take care of our thirst after all this, we will stop by the Vigneau-Chevreau domain in Vouvray to taste their superb whites, bubbly and still, dry and sweet, in their cellars dug in deep caves.
Dinner in Chinon with local wines.
Day 7–Saturday
After enjoying the weekly open market of Saumur (if weather permits) we plan to take a glass of bubbly for aperitif at Bouvet-Ladubay and learn everything about the Methode Champenoise.
After lunch, we will stop by the castle of Saumur built in the 14th century by the Duke of Anjou towering above the old city and the Loire River.
A guide/historian will help us to resuscitate Alienor d’Aquitaine in the beautiful 11 century Abbey of Fontevraud. Twice Queen (France then England) and mother of two kings, Alienor’s life is a fascinating novel set in the 12 century.
If time permits, bottles of Saumur Champigny will help us to finish the day at the Domaine des Roches Neuves ou Domaine des Sanzay for a presentation of these superb reds.
Dinner on your own.
Last night in Chinon.
Day 8–Sunday
On our way back to Paris, we will stop by the chateau de Cheverny to visit this occupied and fully furnished house, only partially open to the public.
Lunch on the road.
Saved for last: Chambord, the most spectacular castle of the Loire valley. Build in the 1520′s by Francois 1er, it is the largest of the Royal castles.
A 2 hours drive will bring us back to the Charles de Gaulle airport for a night at the Novotel**** where Froggytravel services end.
Day 9–Monday
Morning departure for the US, arrival home the same day in the afternoon.
