1. The Loire Valley, a must-see in France

Ophorus team is pleased to announce that the Loire Valley is now open as a destination.

This iconic region is home of French royal history and exploring the area is exploring an unique heritage.

Our team visiting the Loire Valley !

best things to see & DO IN LOIre VALLEY FRANCE

Indeed, the part of most interest to visitors includes the Loire Valley Unesco world heritage site, the most famous Renaissance Castles, ("Châteaux" in French) and several of the most attractive towns.

The Chenonceau Castle

Many of the famous Castles of Loire Valley date from the 15th to 17th centuries when the region was much loved by many of the French Kings and noblemen. They competed to build ever more elaborate and luxurious Châteaux. 

Château de Chambord is defititively the most sumptuous of the Loire Châteaux and a good example of a sign of luxury from the Renaissance period. 

Over a century of construction was necessary to complete this masterpiece. Your visit at the Castle will show you that everything was built without moderation.

Example of tapestry at the Chambord Castle

BEST Loire VALLEY food and WINES

Another highlight of a visit to this part of France is the oppportunity to enjoy and discover fine food and drink and especially the wines of the Loire Valley. Food and wine enthusiasts will certainly love this region !

Considering the sheer diversity of high-quality wines produced throughout the region, the Loire Valley should be at the top of every wine lover’s bucket list. The local wines flourish in a unique cultural landscape, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site from Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Maine et Loire) to Sully-sur-Loire (Loiret).

With over two thousand years of history, the Loire Valley vineyard area is made up of a mosaic of different climates, soils, geographical features and locations – all of which contribute to the diversity of the Valley’s wines.

Most of Loire Valley Wines are from a single grape variety. From Chenin to Cabernet through Sauvignon and melon de Bourgogne, 24 grape varieties make their diversity.

Opt for our full-day wine tour to discover and learn more about the local varieties of wine !

Regarding the food, there are plenty of well-known specialities for the cuisine of Loire Valley. Rillettes de Tours, poached eggs au Chinon, saupiquet nivernais, pâté berrichon with eggs, chicken en barbouille, nougats de Tours, Chinon peaches, sabayon de golden, prune candies, and dried pears are a good selection of this amazing cuisine. Local markets are also great places to experience traditional foods. The market in Amboise for example, offers a huge range of delicacies from the region.

Be sure to find time to relax and enjoy these local specialities during your lunch break, since they are just as important an attraction of the region as the great Loire Valley castles!

2. Loire Valley France tours & activities

Our day trips & wine tours in the Loire Valley are already available online, and our dedicated team is ready to assist you in choosing the best day tour option for your next escape.

Our small group day trips from tours

Our shared tours departing from the city of Tours, include the visit of the main Castles of the destination such as Chateau de Chenonceau & Chateau de Chambord. We also operate a unique wine tour that will have you visit vineyards and wineries of the Chinon and Bourgueil Loire Valley wine producing regions. All tasting fees are included on our tours & tastings of local wineries. 

End of year decoration at the Château de Chenonceau

our private day trips from tours

We also offer private options that will let you discover the area more privately and at your own pace. This is the perfect option for those who are looking for a fully customized solution.

For the adventurers, and those who are looking for a singular experience, our team will certainly suggest a Loire Valley Château Private VIP Hot Air Balloon Flight that will have fly over the most beautiful Loire Valley castles! A perfect experience if you are celebrating your honeymoon in France for example.

All our departures are from Tours city center, but the Loire Valley is just an hour and a half train ride from Paris, making it the ideal destination for a day trip or weekend getaway while in the French capital or around.

Click here to find out more about our small group tours in the Loire Valley.

And if you are ready to plan your escape in the emblematic Loire Valley destination, please be sure to : 

Take advantage of our WINTERSPECIAL22 promo code and get 10% off.

See you soon in France !