France
A river lined with medieval castles and painted caves, then the valley of the kings of France and its Renaissance châteaux
France
A journey far from Paris and the Côte d'Azur: the Dordogne, whose river winds between medieval castles perched on limestone cliffs and caves adorned with cave paintings over seventeen thousand years old, including Lascaux, then the Loire Valley, UNESCO-listed, where the kings of France had some of Europe's most refined Renaissance châteaux built, from Chambord to Chenonceau.
When
April to June | Sept to Oct
Price
From 2 600€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
6 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-2
The first chapter unfolds in the Dordogne, whose valley concentrates one of the highest densities of medieval castles in France, perched on limestone cliffs overlooking the river of the same name, along with an exceptional set of caves adorned with prehistoric cave paintings, including the Lascaux cave, discovered in 1940 and nicknamed the "Sistine Chapel of prehistory" for the quality of its frescoes, over seventeen thousand years old.
Day 1
Château de Beynac and the river by canoe
A visit to Château de Beynac, a medieval fortress perched over one hundred and fifty metres above the river, then a canoe descent of the Dordogne between cliffs and stone villages.
Day 2
Lascaux IV and prehistoric cave art
A visit to the Lascaux IV facsimile, a faithful reconstruction of the original cave closed to the public since 1963, discovering prehistoric frescoes among the best-preserved in the world.
Days 1-2
The road to the Loire Valley, UNESCO World Heritage listed and nicknamed the "garden of France," where kings Francis I and Henry II had some of Europe's most refined Renaissance châteaux built. Château de Chenonceau, built spanning the Cher River and contested in the 16th century between Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici, and Château de Chambord, whose double-helix staircase is said to be attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, rank among the architectural jewels of this royal valley.
Day 1
Château de Chenonceau on the Cher
A visit to Château de Chenonceau, built on five arches spanning the Cher, whose gallery suspended above the river was the stage for a famous rivalry between two French queens.
Day 2
Chambord and its double-helix staircase
A visit to Château de Chambord, the largest of the Loire châteaux, whose double-helix staircase allows two people to pass each other without ever seeing one another, a feat attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
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