Christmas magic in the land of châteaux

Christmas in the land of the châteaux is a route linking seven of the most famous Loire châteaux with a focus on the iconic themes of the Christmas season. Each château will feature a different theme, but all will share the same aim: to enchant children and grown-ups!

Special Christmas deals

To see several monuments, Christmas passes are available online and from Touraine Tourist Offices. With special rates in the châteaux during the event (3-châteaux pass: €41 / 5 châteaux: €61 / 7 châteaux: €77), they also offer discounts with our partners.

The Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office has also prepared a number of stays dedicated to this event:

• 2 days / 1 night, visiting 3 châteaux
• 3 days / 2 nights, visiting 5 châteaux
• 3 days / 2 nights, visiting 7 châteaux.

Public transport, don’t forget that Rémi (the region’s public transport network) has two unlimited travel cards with discounts on some of the sites on presentation of your card, as well as special rates for cardholders aged 15 to 25:

• Rémi Discovery Pass (Centre-Loire Valley region): €45 for 2 days or €60 for 3 days, for a group of up to 5 people
• Rémi Discovery Pass Plus (Centre-Loire Valley and Ile-de-France regions): €95 for 2 days or €120 for 3 days, for a group of up to 5 people
• Rémi Yep’s Card for ages 15 to 25 (Centre-Loire Valley Region), giving you free admission on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Extra-large Christmas trees, Christmas delights, well-plenished dining tables…

Imagine a giant Christmas tree covered with over 2,300 decorations, sculptures made of sugar with multi-coloured sweets as a finishing touch, dozens of candles playing on the light and shadows, a huge Provençal nativity scene filled with scenes and figures, refined dining tables straight out of a fairytale, an enchanted forest… From the end of November to early January, each of these châteaux in the Loire Valley will be creating its own world. After one, two, three visits, you will soon have the collector’s spirit, with one discovery irresistibly calling for another!

The visits are organised every day, including outside school holidays. A great surprise has even been added to the “Christmas in the land of the châteaux” programme with an exceptional evening opening and a chance to enjoy the Christmas visit until 8 pm at nightfall:

• Château of Azay-le-Rideau: Saturday 7 December;
• Château of Villandry: Saturday 14 December;
• Royal Château of Amboise: Saturday 21 December;
• Château of Chenonceau: Thursday 26 December;
• Château of Langeais: Friday 27 December;
• Royal fortress of Chinon: Saturday 28 December;
• Royal City of Loches: Sunday 29 December.

Royal Château of Amboise => “Christmas, dreams of childhood: in the land of toys”. From the vintage toys of princes and princesses to the very latest models, from Melodica to the iconic Playmobil castle via Corolle dolls, all the idols of our generations will be there in the decorated apartments of the Royal Château of Amboise. Their joyful presence will bring back to life the great figures of Amboise and take them on fun journeys through time, with the spider-king Louis XI facing up to a Spiderman action figure, Leonardo da Vinci trying out a construction set and King Louis-Philippe driving an electric train. There will be a festive atmosphere around the Christmas trees with the traditional Christmas decorations. So come and join them!

Christmas in the land of chateaux – Azay-le-Rideau

Château of Azay-le-Rideau => “Christmas delights”. Each year, gingerbread has pride of place, the promise of an unforgettable experience for the senses. It is generous and spicy, comes in thousands of variations and takes children and adults to a world where their sweet dreams are a reality. Finely decorated biscuits, magical houses and life-size figures bring the rooms of the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau to life. New festive decorations featuring dining tables richly laden with original compositions, delightfully decorated Christmas trees or plant compositions to enchant and stimulate the imagination of each visitor. The rich staging celebrates the conviviality and warmth of winter festivities, reviving in each of us the sweet, delicious memories of childhood.

Château of Chenonceau (prior booking required for the visit) => “Chenonceau, a Christmas in porcelain”. In Chenonceau Catherine de’ Medici, feeling nostalgic for her native Florence, recreated her memories of the greatness of the Medici: gracious galleries spanning the river, like a Ponte Vecchio in the Loire Valley, and an Italian-style garden, the perfect setting for her aviary. She came to France with her bird-catchers, and liked to let her colourful birds fly free in the solemn atmosphere of the large gallery with its black-and-white-draughtboard floor. For the Christmas holidays, they will delicately decorate the ceremonial dining table… The Château de Chenonceau and Maison Bernardaud, a French porcelain workshop founded in 1863 in Limoges, and still a family firm, are together upholding French heritage, excellence and lifestyle in the purest refinement of a “Christmas in Porcelain”. The Bernardaud collections are made with unique skills handed down for five generations and will match the magical floral staging by the famous château workshop and its designer, a winner of the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” contest.

Christmas in the land of chateaux – Chinon

Royal Fortress of Chinon => “Christmas myths and legends: Christmas of queens“. As part of the 900th anniversary of the birth of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Royal Fortress of Chinon invites you to a medieval Christmas revisited by artists and craftsmen celebrating the queens of the Middle Ages. Pride of place is given to floral creations, tableware and photographs. For the occasion, the Royal Fortress of Chinon will be adorned with its finest assets, evoking the atmosphere of a royal Christmas!

Château of Langeais => “A light display”. The Château de Langeais was built in the late Middle Ages. In the fortress, visitors can explore a warm and intimate residence, exquisitely decorated and furnished. The Christmas period is an invitation to explore it in an atmosphere featuring a wide range of different lights – a host of candles, lanterns, fairy lights and lighting effects. The rooms will be enriched by staging designed by Christopher Lacassagne (Quart de Soupir Company), taking visitors inside the magic of light, while echoing the decorations and permanent collections in the château and creating a link between heritage and the Christmas festivities. Visitors to the Château de Langeais will see, in turns, an unreal, dazzling and gentle atmosphere, playing on all aspects of light.

Christmas in the land of chateaux – Royal city of Loches – Winter holidays in France

Royal city of Loches => “The Tales of the Royal City – Hansel & Gretel”. Each year, the Royal City of Loches recounts a fairytale. This winter the setting and world of one the Brothers Grimm’s most famous tales, Hansel and Gretel, will find a home in the royal residence: the forest, the sugar house, the witch’s treasure, etc… An immersion in the history of a fairytale where visitors will also have a role to play.

Chateau of Villandry =>“At Christmas, the château opens its doors to nature”. After nature’s triumphs from spring to autumn, it is reborn at the heart of winter. And now it has been invited inside the Château de Villandry. The decorations are on the Christmas tree, the fire is crackling in the fireplace, the dining table is laid… While we are getting ready to celebrate Christmas, reindeer, fawns, owls, squirrels and foxes joyfully fill the living room, dining room, bedrooms and kitchen, with richly decorated Christmas trees, authentic plant decorations and even an incredible enchanted forest!

Along with Christmas in the land of the châteaux

Alongside the 7 châteaux, plenty of other events will be bringing Touraine to life as usual during the Christmas period. Examples naturally include the Christmas market in Tours, and the Magic of Christmas in the Amboise Valley. And other monuments are joining in the fun:

• the castle of Montpoupon, on weekends of 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22 December, from 1 to 6 pm. Be there for the arrival of Father Christmas at 3 pm and have a souvenir photo taken with your children. Enjoy hot chocolate, mulled wine and pancakes all through afternoon!
• the castle of l’Islette. Young and old alike will be enchanted by the gentle voice of the owner, Bénédicte Michaud, as she tells a tale beside the warm fireplace.
• Château Gaillard, and its magical christmas with orange trees.
•  the Chateau du Clos Lucé and its Magical Christmas,
• the Montbazon Fortress and the village of Father Christmas.

And why not grab a chance to do a bit of shopping?

White, rosé or red, the wines of Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Chinon, Montlouis-sur-Loire and Vouvray are perfect matches for your festive menus: don’t forget to bring back a few bottles of Loire Valley wines from the open days at the end of the year in several wine cellars. Loire wild fish terrines will be a big hit on toast, as will the local foie gras. You can also find tasty black truffles in Touraine, as well as saffron. At the baker’s, you will even find a local Christmas log: the Tourangelle. A light biscuit with almonds and hazelnuts, garnished with vanilla cream, tarte tatin-style apples and salted butter caramel… Yum!

In the basket-making village of Villaines-les-Rochers, local craftsmen make original wickerwork decorations for your Christmas tree. They will look great alongside traditional glass balls from the Maison Verart in Amboise. And don’t forget the chocolates, either from Maison Bigot or from Cadeau et Chocolat.