Good plans when it rains! | Touraine Val de Loire

What to do when it rains

Get curious, and try out the experience of a virtual reality game room ! To do this, head for EVA in Saint-Avertin, which neighbours the sUp’Side climbing gym, Tours Kart Indoor as well as Prison Island and its trials to be completed in each cell! Also play escape games in three wineries, but also in châteaux, or in other dedicated rooms. Activate your brains for 1 hour, nice and dry!”

And since we’re talking about châteaux, you’ll of course be sheltered inside the high stone walls for the duration of the visit. Ditto for the museums. Three examples : the Musée de la Préhistoire du Grand-Pressigny, the Musée Balzac à Saché, and the Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré.

✅700 KM POUR TESTER CE KARTING | TOURS KART INDOOR

The Touraine aquarium and the Conservatoire de la Confiserie

And while we’re on the subject of water, we might as well zoom in on the Aquarium de Touraine ! Discover three distinct ecosystems, with freshwater fish from the Loire, those from the tropics, and species evolving in the sea. A few more raindrops at the end of your visit? Less than 10 km away, extend your visit to Amboise by discovering the confectionery conservatory. And stock up on sweets and other treats for the coming weeks!

The must-haves

Forteresse royale de Chinon

Sheltered in a cellar

Alongside the escape games on offer, take to the vineyards to explore caves troglodytes, particularly well-suited to ageing wine as well as for tours, including with children. Follow the long route of Grandes caves Saint-Roch or of Maison Laudacius, discover the Rabelaisian scenography of la cave de la Sibylle, or set off on a vintage odyssey in les caves Ambacia !

Manual activities

Test the agility of your fingers with a wicker weaving workshop. Basket-making is the speciality of the village of Villaines-les-Rochers, where you can practise with Le Centre d’Art autour de l’Osier, before or after visiting the Maison des Savoir Faire and the Cooperative de Vannerie. Would you rather knead clay? Opt for the initiations of Ana Céramique in Vouvray, or Charles Hair in Tizay. For plastic arts, turn to l’Hand Art. And keep in mind possible cookery classes, notably with Tours à Table, or floral art Master Classes at the Château de Chenonceau !

During the school holidays, multi-themed workshops are also regularly offered for young audiences by the Musée de la préhistoire du Grand-Pressigny (flint drawing, jewellery creation, pottery…), the château de Gizeux (stained glass workshop, baking bread the old-fashioned way), the Montlouis-Vouvray Tourist Office, Amboise Mosaïque, or the art craftsmen present at Beaulieu-lès-Loches.