The Fairytale Chateau Experience
All Inclusive weekly rate from €3950 per person
50% off discount for 2nd person, shared occupancy
ITINERARY
May 10 - 17th, 2027
Step into the pages of a storybook during an unforgettable week exploring some of the Loire Valley’s most romantic and enchanting castles. From graceful Renaissance palaces reflected in still waters to turreted castles said to have inspired Sleeping Beauty, each day reveals a different chapter in the history, beauty and legends of France.
Throughout the week, you will stay with us at Château de La Croix Boisée, sharing wonderful meals, relaxed evenings and the pleasures of life in the French countryside. Our deliberately small group allows the experience to feel personal and unhurried, with time to appreciate the architecture, gardens and stories that make each château unique.
As with all Château Love Retreats & Experiences, excursions, most meals, drinks at the chateau, and transportation are included but never mandatory.
DAY ONE - WELCOME TO LA CROIX BOISEE
Arrive at Château de La Croix Boisée and settle into your room before taking time to discover the château, gardens and spa. In the evening, we’ll gather for welcome drinks followed by a beautiful yet informal welcome dinner together. It’s the perfect beginning to our week in the Loire Valley.
Day 2 — Château de Chenonceau
Built gracefully across the River Cher, Chenonceau appears almost to float upon the water, its pale-stone façade, elegant arches and formal gardens reflected below. Known as the Château des Dames, it was shaped by remarkable women including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici, who transformed it into a magnificent setting for royal life and celebration. With its flower-filled rooms, riverside gardens and extraordinary gallery spanning the river, Chenonceau is one of the Loire Valley’s most romantic and dreamlike castles.
Day 3 — Château d’Azay-le-Rideau
Standing on a small island in the River Indre, Azay-le-Rideau is a beautifully proportioned Renaissance château surrounded by water and romantic parkland. Built during the reign of François I, it gracefully combines French architectural traditions with the Italian Renaissance style then sweeping through the royal court. Its delicate turrets, steep slate roofs and exquisite reflection inspired Honoré de Balzac to describe it as a “faceted diamond set in the Indre.”
Day 4 — Château and Gardens of Villandry
Overlooking the peaceful Cher Valley, Villandry is surrounded by magnificent terraced gardens filled with clipped box, flowers, ornamental vegetables and tranquil pools. Completed around 1536 by Jean Le Breton, finance minister to François I, it was one of the last great Renaissance châteaux built in the Loire Valley. Its magical gardens—including the famous Garden of Love—unfold beneath the château like intricate embroidery and are especially fresh, colourful and enchanting during spring.
Day 5 — Château du Lude
Rising above the River Loir, Château du Lude is surrounded by elegant terraces, parkland, formal gardens and a historic kitchen garden. Originally a medieval fortress, it was transformed over the centuries into a magnificent residence combining medieval, Renaissance and classical architecture. Still privately owned and inhabited, its beautifully furnished rooms, romantic towers and lived-in atmosphere create the captivating impression that its owners have simply stepped away and invited us to explore.
Day 6 — Château du Clos Lucé
Step into a world where dreams and ingenious inventions meet at Château du Clos Lucé, the charming home where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years and even shared a secret passageway with the king. With its warm pink brick, pale stone and graceful turrets, this intimate château feels like a storybook hideaway in the heart of Amboise. We’ll discover Leonardo’s extraordinary world, art studio, and inventions before wandering through exquisite gardens where his imaginative creations bring a touch of wonder to the landscape. It’s an enchanting chapter in our fairytale week—a place to slow down, dream a little and rediscover the joy of curiosity.
Day 7 — Château d’Ussé
What’s more “fairytale” than a trip to see the real castle that inspired Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty? Ussé brings the famous story to life through scenes hidden within its towers, making it the perfect finale to our week among the fairytale castles of the Loire Valley. Rising above the Indre Valley at the edge of the ancient Forest of Chinon, Château d’Ussé is a vision of white towers, pointed slate roofs and elegant terraces surrounded by gardens attributed to André Le Nôtre. Originally a medieval fortress, it evolved over several centuries into a refined private residence filled with tapestries, paintings and period furnishings.
Day 8 – Au Revoir