CHRISTMAS IN THE LAND OF CASTLES
DISCOVER ALL THE CHÂTEAUX OF THE VAL DE LOIRE IN DECEMBER
From December 2, 2023 to January 7, 2024, 7 of the Loire’s greatest châteaux will be celebrating the spirit of the festive season with exceptional tours and events: it’s “Christmas in château country” in Touraine.
The castles of Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Langeais, Loches and Villandry are offering events, shows and tours on the theme of Christmas in castle country.
A great way to spend a few days in Touraine in December or during the Christmas vacations.
Once you’ve visited one, you’ll want to see them all, so different and enchanting are they! These trails are open every day, even outside school vacations.
Discover 7 wonders of the Loire Valley
in all their finery for the festive season. The Royal Château of Amboise, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Chenonceau, the Royal Fortress of Chinon, Château de Langeais, the Royal City of Loches, Château de Villandry… are all waiting to offer you unforgettable moments. Admire the fairy-tale decorations, fun activities and glittering towns. Treat yourself to a charming getaway!
And that’s not all: for Christmas in the Land of Castles, you can enjoy an exceptional evening, admiring the castles’ illuminations until 8pm, under the starry sky (last entries at 7pm in some castles).
Château d’Azay-le-Rideau: Saturday, December 7 ;
Château de Villandry: Saturday, December 14;
Château royal d’Amboise: Friday, December 21;
Château de Chenonceau: Tuesday, December 26;
Château de Langeais: Wednesday, December 27;
Chinon royal fortress: Thursday, December 28 ;
Cité royale de Loches: Friday, December 29.
Azay-le-Rideau
“Christmas delights. This year, the spotlight is on gingerbread, promising an unforgettable sensory experience. Delicious and spicy, it lends itself to a thousand variations that transport young and old into a world where sweet dreams come true. Finely-decorated cookies, fairy-tale houses and life-size characters bring the castle’s rooms to life.
Château de Villandry
“At Christmas, nature invites itself to the château. After triumphing from spring to autumn, nature is reborn once again in the heart of winter, this time inviting itself into the Château’s interiors.
Chenonceau Castle
“Chenonceau, a porcelain Christmas. Nostalgic for her native Florence, Catherine de Médicis recomposed her reminiscences of Medici grandeur at Chenonceau: graceful galleries spanning the river, like a Ponte
Royal fortress of Chinon
“Christmas myths and legends: Christmas for queens. As part of the 900th anniversary of the birth of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Royal Fortress of Chinon invites you to a festive medieval Christmas revisited by artists and craftsmen who celebrate the queens of the Middle Ages.
Château de Langeais
“A jewel box of lights. Built in the late Middle Ages, the Château de Langeais is a fortress that reveals to visitors a warm and intimate residence, sumptuously decorated and furnished.
Royal City of Loches
“Tales from the Cité Royale – Hansel and Gretel. Each year, the Cité royale de Loches presents an interpretation of a folk tale.
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In addition to these 7 châteaux, many other events take place in Touraine during the Christmas season. These include, of course, the Christmas market in Tours, the Magic of Christmas in the Val d’Amboise, and the Christmas circus in Luynes. And other monuments round off the program.
Discover the Château d’Artigny during the festive season, with its magnificent staircase and its sumptuous rooms originally designed by the famous Belle Epoque perfumer François Coty: you can identify the personalities of the 1920s on the large painting decorating the dome of the Rotonde on the first floor, relax on the cozy sofas of the bar or admire the view of the Indre valley from the terrace. Discover the 25-hectare park, sauna, hammam and jacuzzi in our Espace Détente.
