
The Loire Valley, a favored land of vine-covered hillsides, small towns and magnificent chateaux is set like a series of brilliant jewels along the beautiful Loire River. UNESCO designated the entire Loire Valley a World Heritage Site in recognition of the region's outstanding natural beauty and extraordinary art and architecture.
This newest tour from ArtSmartTravel gives you a wonderful opportunity to sample all that the Loire Valley has to offer: picturesque, historic chateaux and towns, delicious world-class wines and food and the bounty of nature present everywhere in this spectacular part of France.
This newest tour from ArtSmartTravel gives you a wonderful opportunity to sample all that the Loire Valley has to offer: picturesque, historic chateaux and towns, delicious world-class wines and food and the bounty of nature present everywhere in this spectacular part of France.

Our tour begins with a stay in the heart of Paris where we will explore art and architecture, especially the sites, works of art, and history related to the Renaissance, Age of King Francois I, whose life and court gave us the most beautiful of the Loire Valley Chateaux. We'll take a day trip to the nearby Palace of Fountainbleau, Francois's lavish home and hunting lodge filled with glorious eye-popping work by celebrated Italian artists imported by the king.

From Paris we take a TGV for a short scenic ride to our home in the Loire Valley, the historic city of Tours, famous as the birthplace of Balzac and renowned for the quality of food and the purity of the French language spoken in the region. We will enjoy the life of the town, meandering the ancient streets, visiting the wonderful town markets, the exemplary Fine Arts Museum and the magnificent Gothic cathedral with fine details of sculpture and 13th c. stained glass. From Tours we will explore some of the nearby chateaux such as Chambord, Chenonceaux, and Villandry, each of which has its own special treasure of architecture, history and gardens. Our days will also include trips to Loire Valley wineries, notable for delicious Sancerre, Vouvray, Chinon and other great varietals. A special treat will be a boat tour on the Loire River itself, allowing us to see the sights from the water and learn about the important natural environment of the Loire, which is known as 'France's Last Wild River.'

If you are set for an adventure rich in history, beauty, art and architecture this trip is for you. It is not a super-luxury tour, rather a shared exploration of one of the most beautiful and interesting areas of France. Accommodations will be at a quality hotel in Tours (tba) , transportation and tours will be locally arranged in order to provide a chance to be part of the pleasant life and vitality of the Loire Valley. Touring and explorations will feature some local guides as well as Marilyn MacGregor, organizer of the tour and art historian with a deep and extensive knowledge of and love for French art and culture.

The tour is limited to 12 people. The cost of the trip, including accommodations, transportation, tours is $2900. Airfare and transportation to the hotel starting point in Paris and most meals are not included. A deposit of $500 is required to hold a place, with remaining payments due at specified intervals. More details to come soon. Please contact me with questions and requests for information.
Deposits are refundable up to 6 months before the start date of the trip