Leisures :

For times indicated: Way outward journey, by car, with moderated pace, without being mistaken...

The Castles :
5-10 min : Château de Montpoupon (hunting museum, charming natural site)
5-10 min : Château de Chenonceau (romantic, the most popular, - balloontrips)
20 min : Château de Loches (a town castle, Logis Royal dungeon)
20 min : Château d’Amboise (the most beautiful sound and light)
40 min : Château de Chaumont (Garden festival from June to October)
50 min : Château de Valençay (animations/costumed, the kitchen museum of the chateaux)
50 min : Château de Blois (in the heart of the town)
1 heure : Château de Villandry (well known gardens)
1 heure : Château d’Azay le Rideau (original furniture, son et 1umiere)
1 heure : Château de Cheverny (balloon flight, museum of TINTIN)
1 heure 15 min : Château de Langeais (feudal, charming)
1 heure 30 min : Château de Rigny-Ussé (Sleeping Beauty chateau)
1 heure 30 min : Château de Chinon (Joan of Arc stayed here, lovely town, famous wine)
1 heure 30 min : Château de Chambord (largest, deer rutting in Sept)

These are the most well-known chateaux of the region. There are many others, more "modest" but having their own special "atmosphère" to delight you.... Montrésor, with its picturesque village, La Bourdaisière with its gardens, and tomato festival, Luynes (private but occasionally open), Semblançay (son et lumiere), Valmer (lovely gardens), Grand Pressigny (archaeological site), Richelieu built by the famous cardinal - but there are many others which you can discover.

The Gardens :
Most of the chateaux have magnificent gardens, (Chenonceaux, Villandry, Ia Bourdaisiere,…) but here are some more, just to whet your appetite...

1 hr 45 min : Prieure Notre Dame d'Orsan in the Cher District, with its medieval gardens.
(A little further to got but well worth a visit. Charming and magical : our favourite)
30 min : Chateau de Valmer at Chancay,
35 min : 2 lovely parks at Tours : Jardin des Prébandes d'Oé, Botanical Gardens,
40 min : Prieuré de St. Cosme at la Riche near Tours. Famous for its roses especially
Rose Ronsard, in homage to the poet, who used to live at St. Cosme,
40 min : Chateau de Chaumont Festival of Gardens (curious),
40 min : Park and garden of Le Manoir des Basses Riviere at Rochecorbon, (Tours).

For the Children (and...) :
10-15 min : Montrichard, Beach pedalos playground, etc…
20 min : Chisseaux (near Montlouis), aquarium of Touraine
20 min : Amboise, Mini chateaux, Fou de l'âne (donkeys), Clos Luce, models of the
fabulous inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, Musée de la Poste.
20 min : Bourré, (near Montrichard) Mushroom caves, ideal visit on a hot day
30 min : Saint Agnant, Zoo Park of Beauval, superb open-air zoo
35 min : Tours, Grevin museum, exhibitions in Chateau, Saturday flower market, etc
40 min : Vouvray, Ecomuseum
1 hr : Azay le Féron, Animal park de la Haute Touche
1 hr 30 min : Vilaines les Rochers, Basket work,
1 hr 30 min : Poitiers, Futuroscope

You might go cycling, make some walks in the meadows and woods around, watch roe-deers, squirrels and many birds round the gîte, or even visit the very close vine growers…