Excursions on the Loire river

12 excursions available

Chateau de Brissac

We'll leave by coach for a visit to the Château de Brissac, located about nine miles from the city of Angers. Known as the tallest royal residence in France, it contains 204 rooms, monumental staircases and never-ending hallways. Acquired by René de Cossé in the 16th century, Château de Brissac is still owned by the Cossé-Brissac family. Its park contains some magnificent shady spots under centuries-old trees, and the castle's spectacular decorations and the breathtaking Belle Époque theater are definitely not to be missed! At the end of our visit, we'll discover the castle cellars and enjoy a wine tasting*. Afterwards, we'll return to the ship. PLEASE NOTE Times are approximate. The order of the visits can change. Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes. *Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation. Closed on Tuesdays, replaced by The Chateau de Serrant : We’ll leave by coach for a visit to the Château de Serrant, located about twenty miles from the city of Angers. This large, imposing, and luxurious castle puts three human talents on display: the architect, builders, and artists. Serrant is known for its unique collection of furniture and lavishly decorated rooms. The library contains over 12,000 old books, and the rooms overflow with precious objects, tapestries, paintings, and rare furniture—including an exquisite ebony cabinet conserved for more than 300 years inside the castle. The entire collection in the library was listed as a French Historical monument in 2001. The vast, well-equipped kitchens also live up to the extravagance of the castle and give insight into the refined, very comfortable life that bustled here during the 1900s. The gardens surrounding the castle add to the ambiance of this marvelously authentic château. After our excursion, we will return on board the ship.

4h00Experience

Included

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Visit of Rully Castle and wine tasting

In the afternoon, just a stone’s throw from Santenay, you will set off to discover an exceptional château – a place where history and terroir blend in perfect harmony. Nestled between vineyards and hills, this centuries-old château stands as a living witness to Burgundy’s rich past. With its stone walls, grand architecture, and sprawling gardens, it immerses you in the soul of a region where heritage and winemaking have walked hand in hand for generations. During the visit, the château’s owner will warmly welcome you. Passionate and eager to share his expertise, he will guide you through the various rooms of the estate, revealing its secrets and recounting the fascinating story of the family and the land. You will also explore the surrounding vineyards, discovering traditional cultivation methods and the unique features of the Burgundian terroir, known for producing exceptional wines. The visit will conclude with a wine tasting, featuring a carefully curated selection chosen for their quality and character. You will savor wines that are emblematic of the region, offering a beautiful expression of the local terroir, all in a warm and convivial atmosphere. Duration: 2 hours PLEASE NOTE Please wear comfortable walking shoes The order of visits may be subject to change Timings are provided for information only

Authentic

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Guided tour of Nantes and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany

You'll discover the small streets of the medieval Bouffay quarter and the beautiful Flamboyant-style Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul. We'll visit the île Feydeau and its exceptional buildings dating back to the 18th century, and then on to the quays. After, you'll discover the shopping districts created in the 18th century around the Théâtre Graslin and the Passage Pommeraye. We'll continue our tour to the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. The last castle before the river reaches the ocean, this Breton monument with its outstanding 15th to 17th century buildings will transport you back in time. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.

4h30Authentic

Included

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The Muscadet Region

We'll pass through several villages that are testimony to the strong winegrowing identity in the region. We'll travel to La Chapelle Heulin and stop at the Château Cassemichère (or similar site). This exceptional site invites you to discover its history-filled vineyards, visit its cellars and taste* the dry, light, fruity and aromatic wine. We'll continue towards Clisson, a charming medieval city with 15th century vestiges and a slight Italian feel. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. *Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.

5h00Authentic

Included

Day trip to the Puy du Fou

More than just a theme park, the Puy du Fou is a series of spectacular shows with fantastic scenery and atypical pageantry recounting the thrilling adventures of the knights, soldiers, and war heroes who shaped France's history. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. The day excursion to Puy du Fou is guaranteed from 25 participants. Below this number, an authentic excursion will be offered.

10h00Authentic

Included

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Guided tour of Angers

4h00Authentic

Included

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Guided tour of Saint Nazaire

We'll begin our visit with the Escal'Atlantic, which ingeniously retraces the history of Norman and French ocean liners through a unique experience. Then we'll continue on to the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, one of the largest and well-renowned in Europe. Once the birthplace of the most outstanding French transatlantic liners, today it is the construction site for elegant cruise ships. While following a tour especially designed to better understand the complexity of constructing these truly modern floating palaces, you'll discover the immensity of this site (267 acres), the stunning logistics, and the advanced technology required to build the ships. PLEASE NOTE This excursion must be booked in advance through your travel agency. Each passenger will be asked to produce a valid passport in order to book the excursion and gain access to the shipyard. The shipyard tour is only accessible to children aged 4 and over. The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.

4h30Authentic

Included

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Guided tour of Angers

Angers was the capital of the historical Anjou province and is distinguished not only by its legacy, but also by its modern nature. Angers, particularly rich during the Renaissance, was home to the House of Plantagenet. The immense walls of the famous Château d'Angers contain the extraordinary Apocalypse Tapestry. We'll visit the 13th century castle and discover the Apocalypse Tapestry*, part of one of the most important collections of medieval tapestries in the world. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. *Site closed on January 1st, May 1st, November 1st and 11th, and December 25th.

4h00Authentic

Included

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The Abbey of Fontevraud and the Château of Ussé

Departure by coach towards the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. Founded in 1101 by the itinerant preacher Robert of Arbrissel, this abbey is unique in its kind: from its very beginnings, it welcomed a mixed community of monks and nuns, placed under the authority of an abbess. Inspired by the Rule of Saint Benedict, life at Fontevraud was governed by prayer, poverty, and penance. Thanks to the support of Fulk V, Count of Anjou and future King of Jerusalem, the abbey rapidly expanded and became the center of an influential monastic order, the Fontevrist Order, which spread as far as England and Spain. Fontevraud is also famous for being the necropolis of the Plantagenets: it houses the tombs of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their son Richard the Lionheart, emblematic figures of 12th-century Anglo-French history. Over the centuries, the abbey experienced periods of prosperity and decline. During the Hundred Years’ War, it nearly disappeared, but was revived in the 15th century under the guidance of five abbesses from the Bourbon dynasty. In the 17th century, Gabrielle de Rochechouart, sister of Madame de Montespan and abbess of Fontevraud, strengthened ties with the royal court: Louis XV even entrusted the education of his younger daughters to the Fontevrist nuns. After the French Revolution, the abbey was closed in 1792 and converted into a prison until 1963. Today, it is a major cultural landmark, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The visit will end with a tour of a wine estate and a tasting of Saumur wines. Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, continuation to Rigny-Ussé for a visit of the Château d’Ussé. Built between the 15th and 16th centuries, this castle embodies the fairy-tale architecture of the Renaissance with its fortified towers, elegant turrets, and refined spires. It is said to have inspired Charles Perrault in creating the setting for Sleeping Beauty, and today features a staging of the tale inside its towers. Still inhabited, the château offers a true immersion in history and legend, with furnished rooms, mannequins in period costume, and formal French gardens. Return on board at the end of the afternoon. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.

10h00Authentic

Included

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The Châteaux of the Loire Valley

We'll leave by coach for the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. Built on a small island in the middle of the Indre River, the château as it is today was built under Francis I by Gilles Berthelot, a wealthy financier who wanted to incorporate its medieval past alongside the latest architectural styles of the Italian renaissance. The chateau is a French national monument and possesses all the refinement found in the French Renaissance. We'll continue on to Chinon, where you'll discover an ancient underground quarry that has been transformed into a wine cellar. As we stroll through the impressive tunnels, you'll learn about the secrets of the most renowned Chinon wines. We'll finish with a wine tasting. After lunch, we'll visit the Château de Chinon. Overlooking the town, the castle was the site of key events involving the Hundred Years' War between England and France. We'll return on board for dinner. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.

10h30Authentic

Included

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The Loire Valley Châteaux

Departure by coach towards the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre River, the structure as it stands today was erected during the reign of Francis I by a wealthy financier, Gilles Berthelot, who sought to combine Italian innovations with French architectural art. Listed as a historic monument, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau embodies all the refinement of an early French Renaissance château. Upon arrival, admire the monumental and innovative grand staircase with its straight ramp, a true architectural treasure. Your visit will also lead you to the beautifully restored Biencourt Salon, a testament to 19th-century French sophistication and lifestyle. Be charmed by the ambiance and decoration reminiscent of aristocratic residences of the 19th century! Philippe Lesbahy’s bedroom, the lady of the house in the 16th century, will immerse you in a purely Renaissance atmosphere. This space showcases the craftsmanship of the period, including reed weaving—a unique curiosity of Azay-le-Rideau used for aesthetically insulating walls. Here, the refined interiors have been recreated through extensive restoration work based on archival records, as evidenced by the reproduction of the bed textiles, hand-embroidered with gold and silver threads. Continuation to Villandry for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a stroll through the gardens of the Château de Villandry: spread across three levels, they combine aesthetics, diversity, and harmony. Then, visit the Château de Villandry. Through its furniture, décor, and ambiance, it stands as a living testimony to French heritage. When Jean Le Breton acquired the Villandry estate, the building was a medieval fortress. The defensive architecture was softened, opened to the outside, and enriched with Renaissance decorative elements. In the 18th century, the Marquis de Castellane settled in Villandry, undertaking extensive renovations to transform the building into a comfortable, warm, and luminous residence, characteristic of the art of living of that era. Joachim Carvallo and Ann Coleman saved the estate, which had fallen into disrepair by the late 19th century, and launched a restoration campaign to return it to its Renaissance state. Henri Carvallo, the current owner of Villandry, continues his ancestors' legacy by balancing the preservation of this unique heritage with enhancing the estate for the enjoyment of visitors. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate.

11h00Authentic

Included

Street art tour in Angers

Have you noticed decorated walls dotting the cityscape? Drawings, mosaics, and art forms from the tiniest to the grandest formats? That's known as street art, created in public space and often without official permission. Who are the artists? How do they do it? Join us for an original guided tour to discover Angers from another angle. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. The street art tour in Angers is guaranteed from 25 participants. Below this number, an authentic excursion will be offered.

3h00Authentic

Included