Christmas in the Land of Castles - Royal City of LochesSeven of the Loire’s greatest châteaux are celebrating the spirit of the festive season through ‘exceptional tour routes, and events: it’s “Christmas in the land of châteaux”, in Touraine. Marvel at each of these seven monuments, which tackle themes emblematic of Christmas celebrations: toys, lights, delicacies, porcelain, tales, legends, and winter nature.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, en Touraine.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Chenonceau, en Touraine.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château royal d'Amboise, en Touraine. 
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Langeais, en Touraine.Christmas in the Land of Castles is a great success during the school holidays. If you can, come and admire the tour routes from the first two weeks of December!
Discover several monuments thanks to Christmas in the Land of Castles passes, sold online and at Touraine Tourist Offices.
Turnkey breaks are also prepared by the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office:
– 2 days / 1 night, and visit 3 châteaux,
– 3 days / 2 nights, and visit 5 châteaux,
– 3 days / 2 nights, and visit 7 châteaux.
On the transport front, REMI (Réseau de Mobilité Interurbaine de la Région) is offering two passes for unlimited travel, with reduced fares at certain sites on presentation of your transport ticket, as well as an offer for 15-25 year olds:
– Pass Rémi Découverte (Région Centre Val de Loire): 45€ for 2 days or 60€ for 3 days, for a group of up to 5 people;
– Pass Rémi Découverte Plus (Centre Val de Loire and Ile de France regions): 95€ for 2 days or 120€ for 3 days, for a group of up to 5 people;
– Carte Rémi Yep’s for 15-25 year olds (Centre Val de Loire region), which entitles you to a free ticket on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Christmas pass in the land of castles
During the event, they give you special rates to visit the castles (3 castle pass: €41 / 5 castles: €61 / 7 castles: €77), and offer discounts from several partners (grocery shops, activities…).
Christmas in castle country
Marche Noel Tours F LafiteChristmas celebrated in the city centre of Tours
While the Christmas market allows you to get your presents ready for the festive season, the winter village will immerse you in a festive and gourmet atmosphere.
Imagine a giant Christmas tree covered in thousands of decorations, sugar sculptures adorned with multicoloured sweets, dozens of candles playing a game of light and shadow, a huge Provençal crib filled with scenes and characters, refined tables worthy of a fairytale, an enchanted forest… From late November to early January, immerse yourself in the wonderful world developed by these Loire Valley châteaux.
After one, two or three visits, a spirit of collecting quickly takes hold, with one discovery irresistibly beckoning another!
These Christmas in the Land of Castles tours are accessible every day, including outside school holiday periods. For even more magic, come and admire them at nightfall (dates to be confirmed):
– Château d’Azay-le-Rideau: Saturday 6 December;
– Château de Villandry: Saturday 13 December;
– Château royal d’Amboise: Saturday 20 December;
– Château de Chenonceau: Tuesday 23 December;
– Château de Langeais: Friday 26 December;
– Royal fortress of Chinon: Saturday 27 December;
– Royal city of Loches: Sunday 28 December.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château royal d'Amboise.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château royal d'Amboise.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château royal d'Amboise.From the old toys of princes and princesses to the most recent creations, from the Melodica to the iconic Playmobil castle and Corolle dolls, all the idols of our generations have come together in the decorated flats of the Royal Château d’Amboise. Their cheerful presence reanimates the great characters of Amboise, and offers them amusing journeys back in time: the spider-king Louis XI faces a Spiderman figurine, Leonardo da Vinci tries his hand at a construction game, or Louis-Philippe piloting an electric train. The atmosphere is festive under the Christmas trees and traditional Christmas decorations. So come and join them!
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château royal d'Amboise.
Christmas in the land of castles -Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.This year, gingerbread is in the spotlight, promising an unforgettable sensory experience. Delicious and spicy, it lends itself to a thousand variations that transport young and old into a world where sweet dreams come true. Finely decorated biscuits, fairy houses and life-size characters bring the rooms of the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau to life. A new festive decor made up of tables richly furnished with unusual arrangements, deliciously decorated fir trees or plant compositions will spark wonder and stimulate everyone’s imagination. This rich setting celebrates the conviviality and warmth of winter celebrations, awakening sweet and savoury childhood memories in everyone.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Chenonceau, en Touraine.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Chenonceau, en Touraine.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Chenonceau, en Touraine.
Noel Chateau De Noël au pays des Châteaux -Château de ChenonceauNostalgic for her native Florence, Catherine de Medici recomposes her reminiscences of Medici grandeur at Chenonceau: graceful galleries spanning the river, like a Ponte Vecchio in the Loire Valley and an Italian garden, the perfect setting for her aviary. When she came to France with her birdwatchers, she loved to let her colourful birds fly free in the solemnity of the great black and white chequered gallery. For Christmas, they will land delicately on the large ceremonial table… The Château de Chenonceau and the maison Bernardaud, a French porcelain manufacturer founded in 1863 in Limoges and still family-owned, together perpetuate heritage, excellence and the French art of living in the purest refinement of a “Porcelain Christmas”. The Bernardaud collections, created using a unique expertise handed down through five generations, match the magical floral settings of the famous château workshop and its Meilleur Ouvrier de France scenographer.
Christmas at Chenonceau Castle
Christmas at Chenonceau Castle
Christmas at Chenonceau Castle
Christmas at the Château de Chenonceau
Christmas at Chenonceau Castle
Christmas at the Royal Fortress of Chinon
Christmas at the Royal Fortress of Chinon
Christmas at the Royal Fortress of Chinon
Christmas at the Royal Fortress of ChinonTo mark the 900th anniversary of the birth of Aliénor d’Aquitaine, the royal fortress of Chinon is celebrating Christmas by paying homage to women. Queens, designers, artists and photographers take centre stage! Géraldine Leclerc, floral designer, and Véronique Chauvet, decorative artist, have come up with an enchanting trail combining history, poetry and nature, dedicated to Chinon’s two iconic queens: Aliénor d’Aquitaine and Marie d’Anjou. The royal dwellings are transformed into a fairytale setting thanks to refined plant compositions, immersing visitors in the magic of Christmas festivities. This immersive tour offers a real journey back in time, evoking a sumptuous Christmas banquet in the time of Eleanor, and Marie d’Anjou’s love of birds and sacred music. To complete and enrich the Christmas journey, the Clock Tower is hosting the photographic exhibition “Debout les Reines!” . This project highlights women of today who, through the art of photography, are reclaiming their power and reinventing themselves as modern “queens”.
Christmas in the land of castles -Château de Langeais
Christmas in the land of castles -Château de Langeais
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Langeais.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Langeais.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Langeais.Built at the end of the Middle Ages, the Château de Langeais is a fortress that reveals to visitors a warm and intimate residence, sumptuously decorated and furnished. The Christmas period is an invitation to discover it under the sign of light, thanks to the many different ways in which it is decorated: a multitude of candles, lanterns, garlands and lighting effects. Some of the rooms will be enhanced by scenic designs created by Christopher Lacassagne (Compagnie Quart de Soupir): they will immerse visitors in the magic of light, while echoing the château’s décor and permanent collections, creating a link between heritage and Christmas celebrations. Visitors can look forward to an atmosphere that is by turns dreamlike, dazzling and gentle, playing on all the dimensions of light.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Langeais.
Noel au pays des châteaux. Château de Langeais.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Château de Langeais.
Noël au pays des châteaux. Cité royale de Loches.
Christmas in the Land of Castles - Royal City of Loches
Noël au pays des châteaux. Cité royale de Loches.Every year, the Royal City of Loches offers an interpretation of a folk tale. This winter, the settings and world of one of the Grimm brothers’ most famous tales, Hansel and Gretel, will take place in the royal dwelling: the forest, the candy hut, the witch’s treasure, etc… An immersion in the story of the tale in which visitors will become actors themselves.
Noel Chateau Villandry Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2033 17
Noel Chateau Villandry Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2033 80 1
Noel Chateau Villandry Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2033 11After triumphing from spring to autumn, nature is reborn once again in the heart of winter, this time inviting itself into the interiors of the Château de Villandry. The fir trees are decorated, the fire crackles in the fireplace, the table is laid… As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, reindeer, fawns, owls or even squirrels and foxes happily take over the living room, dining room, bedrooms or even the kitchen, in richly decorated fir trees, real plant decorations and even an incredible enchanted forest!
Christmas at the Château de Villandry
Christmas at the Château de Villandry
Christmas at the Château de VillandryIn addition to these 7 châteaux, many other events liven up the Christmas festivities in Touraine, starting with the Santa Claus village at the fortress of Montbazon.
White, rosé or red, the wines of Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Chinon, Montlouis-sur-Loire or Vouvray go beautifully with festive menus: consider bringing backa few bottles from the Loire Valley at the end-of-year open days of several tourist cellars.
For the aperitif, opt for Loire fish terrines on toasted bread, sold in several épiceries fines. For dessert, let yourself be tempted by the “Tourangelle” log, skilfully crafted by several bakeries. A light almond and hazelnut biscuit, topped with vanilla cream, Tatin-style apples and salted butter caramel… yum!
Envy of chocolates? In Amboise, don’t miss out on those from Maison Bigot in Amboise. As for Touraine’s black truffles, you’ll find some at the Halles de Tours, but also at the truffle market in Marigny-Marmande.
As for the village of Villaines-les-Rochers, basket-makers craft original wicker decorations for your Christmas tree. Another good address is Les Courants d’Art, a grouping of art craftsmen and second-hand dealers in Beaulieu-Lès-Loches.
Christmas at the Royal House in Loches
