Restaurant Le 36 in AmboiseLet yourself be seduced by an exceptional meal where refined dishes awaken the taste buds and prolong the magic of an evening for two. Delicately flavoured foie gras, melt-in-your-mouth scallops, a gourmet whirlwind of bewitching flavours… Touraine’s talented chefs put all their art at the service of lovers.
Restaurant La Promenade Petit PressignyExtend the magic! What better way to do this than in an enchanting setting where luxury and romance are the order of the day? Whether you’re dreaming of a suite in a château steeped in history, a refined cocoon in the heart of the city, or unusual accommodation close to nature, Touraine is bursting with exceptional addresses. With four-poster beds, crackling fireplaces and private spas, it’s all there for an unforgettable night for two.
Hôtel du Château du Rivau
Espace bien être Les Trésorières, ToursIn Touraine, a land of castles and legends, we like to mix romance and history. So, to impress your other half at a candlelit dinner, here are a few anecdotes to slip into the conversation!
It all starts in ancient Rome, with the Lupercales, festivities dedicated to Faunus, god of nature and fertility. Between 13 and 15 February, young men went around the city whipping women with strips of goatskin to, it is said, ensure fertility and marital bliss… Charming, isn’t it? Deemed too pagan, this tradition was replaced in 495 by a new festival: that of Saint Valentine, in honour of three martyrs of the same name, by decision of Pope Gelasius I.
But it was in 14th century England that Valentine’s Day took on its romantic dimension. At the time, February 14 was believed to mark the start of the mating season for birds. Little by little, the custom of exchanging sweet cards and notes was born, a tradition that spread across Europe. As for Valentine of Terni, a priest who was beheaded in 269 for celebrating marriages despite a ban from Emperor Claudius II, in 1496 he became the paternal saint of lovers, consecrated by Pope Alexander VI.
From ancient Rome to the châteaux of the Loire, love has always known how to cross the ages… and in Touraine, it finds an ideal setting in which to flourish!
What if love could be celebrated well beyond 14 February? A stroll along the banks of the Loire, an evening by the fire, an unusual experience like an underwater dinner or a hot-air balloon flight… Every moment shared becomes a precious memory. Don’t wait any longer to treat yourself or someone else to an exceptional weekend in Touraine!
Gite Les Fougères in Savigny-en-Véron
