France Self Guide 6 Day Castle Tour
2023-07-19
Many girls dream of fairy tales in their hearts: in their youth, they imagined themselves as princesses from fairy tales, living in a magnificent castle with their beloved prince. Although today's castles in world are hardly inhabited, their majestic dynamics can be felt even standing to side. France self-guided tour, spend two days in Paris first, then go to Chambord, Blois Royal Castle, Chenonceau Castle, Amboise-Ambois Castle and tours to visit beautiful castles one by one, start your journey. Tour of a castle in France!
Day 1-2: Paris
Eiffel Tower
You hear a lot of classic dialogue of Eiffel Tower flipping upside down and then flipping upside down. Friends who come with their partners may want to try this intricate sweet kiss and record that unique romantic moment. In good weather, many tourists go out on grass in front of Eiffel Tower to have a picnic, and they can also buy tickets to observation deck of Eiffel Tower to get a bird's eye view of entire city. Paris. If your budget for trip is sufficient, it is recommended to go to restaurant in tower to dine surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre is first of four largest museums in world. Even if you ask yourself that there is no artistic atmosphere here, magnificent classical and modern buildings here are worth a visit. The Louvre was once residence of Louis XVI. Now Louvre combines luxurious palace architecture of 13th century with glass pyramid of 20th century, as if observing historical changes of France. The museum has a collection of 35,000 items, including European painting and sculpture from 13th to 19th centuries, Monroe Lisa's Smile, The Goddess of Victory, and Goddess Venus, known as Three Treasures. The Louvre, must-see works of art.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe can be called one of must-see sights that you must visit and photograph when you arrive in Paris. The building of Arc de Triomphe has more than 160 years of history and was built to commemorate victory. war. In addition to standing in front of Arc de Triomphe to take a photo, you can also take elevator or climb stone stairs to Arc de Triomphe and enjoy unobstructed views of Notre Dame de Paris, Eiffel Tower and other scenic spots from above. In addition, tourists can also visit small museum inside Arc de Triomphe, which displays 77 different Arc de Triomphes from around world, as well as several interactive games.
Champs Elysees
The Champs Elysees is one of busiest streets in Paris and street of soul of Paris. It runs through all of Paris, from Place de la Concorde to east and Arc de Triomphe to west. Near it are most important sights of Paris. The streets are lined with restaurants and cafes full of French flair. , as well as various international brands. If you only have one day to visit Paris, then Champs-Elysées will be your first choice of attractions.
Notre Dame Cathedral
If you've seen The Hunchback at Notre Dame, you won't be unfamiliar with Notre Dame de Paris, because Notre Dame de Paris is scene for story of masterpiece The Hunchback at Notre Dame, painted great French writer Victor Hugo. This Catholic church is a Gothic building and has more than a century of history. The magnificent murals and pink stained-glass windows around deserve close attention, and if you come to church at night, you can appreciate another beauty under spotlights.
Concorde Square
Place de la Concorde is largest and most beautiful square in Paris with beautiful landscapes, beautiful fountains and impressive monuments. But behind beauty is a sad story, Place de la Concorde is well known for being a guillotine during French Revolution in 18th century. In more than two years, about 200 people were executed here, including Louis XVI and Queen Mary, which is why it is also known as Guillotine Square. However, Place de la Concorde has only enchanting scenery, most of beautiful scenery of Paris can be seen from square, including Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, the Champs Elysees, etc., which are very spectacular.
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Galeries Lafayette Paris, founded in 1893, is most famous shopping temple in France and largest department store in Europe. Although clothes and accessories at Faye are beautiful, its architectural style is also attractive. The department store has a high domed stained glass roof that has been listed as a Parisian monument and can be considered one of most important classical sights in Paris. The department store is divided into three sections, women's clothing, men's clothing and delicacies, as well as household goods. There are so many goods that it is impossible to look at them all day.
Day 3: Château de Chambord
Chambord is located 1.5 hours from Paris. Driving along Loire River, you can see that kings and nobles of France built hunting palaces here one after another. Chambord is largest and most majestic castle among castles of Loire Valley, a palace built by King Francis I for hunting. Built during Renaissance, palace is filled with charm of traditional French architectural art of royal family, in 1981 it was inscribed on World Cultural Heritage List and is considered a national treasure by French. Among them, most famous place in Chambord is double spiral staircase designed by da Vinci. Two sets of independent staircases lead to three floors of castle. People standing on both sides of stairs may meet, but never meet. It is said that this was done in order to avoid disputes between queen and king's mistress. The castle is immersed in lush greenery, and occasionally several carriages slowly pass through it, as if turning back time and transferring people to medieval France.
Address: Chateau, 41250 Chambord, France
Castle opening hours: every day except January 1st, January 31st and December 25th. From October to March from 10:00 to 17:00, from April to September from 9:00 to 18:00.
Ticket price: 11 euros for adults, 9 euros for discounts (youth from 18 to 25 years old, team of more than 20 people), free for children under 18 visiting with parents.
Day 4: Château Royale de Blois
The Royal Castle of Blois is located in center of Blois. Throughout history of France, 7 kings and 10 queens have lived here in succession, demonstrating greatness of royal power everywhere. The castle is majestic, refined and solemn, and four wings of palace courtyard are more integrated with a variety of architectural styles, comprehensively showcasing history and art of castles of Loire Valley. Luxurious appliances and luxurious halls do not betray glory of royal family of that time, so Royal Castle of Blois enjoys reputation of a French museum. There are as many as 35,000 exquisite artistic treasures in various palaces of castle. Paintings and sculptures of 14th-16th centuries.
If you want to learn more about unknown side of Royal Castle of Blois, we recommend that you take part in a visit to castle (Visite Insolite). The guide will take you through enclosed areas of castle and explain secret of castle in English along way.
Address: 6 Place du Château 41000 Blois
Opening hours: January-March and November 4-December 9:00-12:30, 13:00-17:30, April-June and September 9:00-18:30, July-August 9:00- 19:00, October-3 November 9:00-18:00.
Tickets: €9.5 adults, €7.5 discounted tickets (only EU students, teachers and family groups), €4 teenagers aged 6-17, free children under 6 years.
Day 5: Chenonceau Castle
Chateau de Chenonceau is most beautiful castle in France. This elegant and airy castle combines styles of Gothic and early Renaissance architecture. In addition to main castle, most attractive part of Chenonceau is its 60-meter embankment above river, this is both a corridor and a bridge, hence saying about a castle on water. The water of river Cher flows through opening of bridge below castle, reflecting its unrivaled beauty in world. Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), great French writer of 19th century, called castle of Chenonceau only castle in world with a bridge, as ethereal above fog. Maybe because mistresses of castle were all favorite concubines of kings. The castle was designed according to principles of female beauty, in which there was no arrogance and grace and luxury were added.
Address: Chenonceau, Blair, Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Loire Valley, 37150, France
Opening hours: The castle is open all year round, from November 12 to March 31 next year from 9:30 to 17:00, April-June and September from 9:00 to 19:00, July and August 9. :00-20:00, October-11 November 9:00-18:00, weekends and holidays 9:00-19:30.
Tickets: €11 for adults, €8.5 for teenagers aged 7-18, €8.5 for students (EU student ID required).
Amboise Castle, Amboise
Amboise Castle Amboise is located in small town of Amboise, home to French kings from Charles VII to Francis I. Despite being destroyed during Revolution, castle still houses a collection of exquisite arts and crafts from Gothic period before Renaissance. But most famous person of this castle is not owner of castle, but writer and artist Da Vinci, who has sympathy for owner of castle. Invited by king of France, Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years here, and there are even legends that he finally died in arms of King Francis I of France. After his death, da Vinci was buried in chapel of St. Hubert next to castle, which attracted many tourists to pay tribute to an ancestor.
Address: Château royal d'Amboise, 37400 Amboise, France
Opening hours: open all year round, closed on 1 January and 25 December. January 09:00-12:30, 14:00-16:45, February 09:00-12:30, 13:30-17:00, March and November 2-15, November 4 Monthly and June 09:00-16:00 18:30, July and August 9:00-17:00, September-1 November 9:00-18:00.
Ticket price: 10.5 euros for adults, 9 euros for students, 7.2 euros for teenagers 7-18 years old.
Tours Tours
Tours is capital of Indre-Loire department in France and an ancient French city. People here are said to speak pure French with least accent. The city of Tours has many famous scenic spots, such as French Garden (le Jardin de la France), Central Garden (le Jardin Public Central), Jean Jaurès Square in city center, Gothic Cathedral of Saint Gadian. and more. If you are still interested in castles, you can visit Villandry Castle (Château de Villandry), Candlelight Castle (Château d'Azay-le Rideau) and Angers Castle (Château de Langeais) to complete your tour of group of castles.
A car tour can give you a different travel experience, plan your itinerary to France!