Gastronomic Loire Valley ~ Chateaux Winter Wonderland ❄️
Dec 9 - 17, 2026
Welcome to Noël aux Châteaux — An Exclusive Holiday Journey Through the Heart of the Loire Valley!
Join Coral Miles, Oxford‑educated historian, and Shelley Wiseman for a carefully curated Christmas journey through the Loire Valley. This small‑group itinerary combines the region’s most important châteaux with seasonal experiences, local gastronomy, and comfortable accommodation at the family‑run Les Jardins Haute Couture.
The programme balances guided visits, hands‑on experiences, and free time in historic towns and Christmas markets. Highlights include decorated châteaux, truffle hunting, festive cooking workshops, wine and spirits tastings, concerts, and regional dining. Travel is fully escorted, with private transfers throughout.
Designed for travellers who value history, food, and a relaxed but well‑organised pace, Noël aux Châteaux offers a clear, immersive introduction to the Loire Valley during the Christmas season.
Day 1 : Wednesday, December 9th
Arrival, Welcome & Floral Christmas Workshop
Guests will be met by Coral at Paris X Airport. The group will then travel together by high-speed TGV to St‑Pierre‑des‑Corps (near Tours).
On arrival, a private minibus will transfer the group through the Loire countryside to Les Jardins Haute Couture, the family-run guesthouse that will be your base for the week.
After settling in, we’ll enjoy a light lunch and welcome aperitif while Coral presents the week’s programme and practical details. The remainder of the early afternoon is deliberately kept free, allowing time to rest, unpack, or recover from jet lag.
At around 4:00 p.m., you’re invited to take part in a guided Christmas wreath and floral workshop. Using seasonal greenery and flowers, each guest creates a wreath or table arrangement to decorate their room or the house during the stay.
In the evening, we will gather for a welcome dinner at Les Jardins Haute Couture.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Experience: Christmas wreath and floral workshop (from 4:00 p.m.)
Day 2 : Thursday, December 10th
Festive Cooking Lesson & Langeais Castle
After breakfast, the morning will be devoted to a festive cooking lesson with Shelley and Coral, focused on a traditional French Christmas menu. You will participate in preparing several dishes while learning techniques and seasonal variations commonly used for Réveillon meals.
Festive menu:
Canapés: foie gras and salmon gravlax
Starter: scallop vol-au-vent
Main: guinea fowl or pheasant with seasonal vegetables
Dessert: chocolate bûche de Noël
The festive menu will be enjoyed together over lunch, with remaining dishes reserved for later meals.
Mid-afternoon, we’ll travel to Château de Langeais, one of the Loire Valley’s most important medieval sites. The château combines a fortified exterior with richly furnished interiors and is decorated for the Christmas season, offering insight into royal life at the end of the Middle Ages. It is also known as the site of the marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany.
We’ll return to Les Jardins Haute Couture for a relaxed evening featuring board games, informal live music, and a tasting of handcrafted spirits from the family-owned Maison Miles distillery, accompanied by savoury and sweet canapés.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, light dinner
Experiences: Cooking lesson; visit to Château de Langeais; spirits tasting
Day 3 : Friday, December 11th
Amboise & Leonardo da Vinci & Christmas Market
After breakfast, we’ll depart for Amboise, a former royal capital of the French Renaissance. The morning will begin with a guided visit to Clos Lucé, the residence where Leonardo da Vinci spent the final years of his life under the patronage of King Francis I. The house and gardens present models of Leonardo’s inventions alongside exhibitions on his artistic and scientific work.
Late morning and lunchtime will be free to explore Amboise’s Christmas market and town centre. You may browse food stalls and artisan stands or choose from a range of cafés and restaurants for lunch.
In the afternoon, we’ll meet up to visit the Royal Château of Amboise, a major royal residence overlooking the Loire River. The visit includes the chapel of Saint-Hubert, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried. Seasonal decorations provide context for how the château was used during winter court life.
Return to Les Jardins Haute Couture in the early evening for a relaxed dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4: Saturday, December 12th
Chinon: Morning Truffle Hunting, Medieval Charm & Christmas Market
After breakfast, we’ll head into the surrounding countryside for a private truffle hunt led by a local specialist and a trained truffle dog. You will learn all about truffle cultivation, identification, and harvesting techniques used in the region.
Following the hunt, we’ll enjoy a wine tasting featuring local Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, paired with a charcuterie lunch from a local butcher. Truffles collected during the hunt will be used later in the week during a cooking workshop.
In the afternoon, we’ll travel to Chinon, a historic town dominated by its medieval fortress. The Christmas market fills the old town with food stalls, crafts, music, and seasonal entertainment. You will be free to explore at their own pace or take the lift or steps up to the Royal Fortress of Chinon, associated with the Plantagenet dynasty and Joan of Arc.
Dinner will be enjoyed together in the town centre.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Experiences: Private truffle hunt and tasting; Chinon Christmas market
Day 5 - Sunday, December 13th
Montsoreau Riverside Market, Saumur Holiday Glow & Evening Concert
After a late breakfast, we’ll depart for Montsoreau, one of the Loire Valley’s most picturesque riverside villages. Visit the Puces de Montsoreau, a well-known antique and brocante market held along the Loire, alongside a lively food market.
Lunch will be taken in a local crêperie, specialising in traditional savoury galettes and sweet crêpes.
In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Saumur, where the historic centre hosts a Christmas market with regional food, crafts, and seasonal treats. Guests will have free time to explore the town and market.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll attend a Christmas concert at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, one of France’s most important monastic complexes and burial place of the Plantagenet dynasty. Following the concert, we’ll enjoy a rare evening visit of the abbey.
Return to Les Jardins Haute Couture for a wine and cheese pairing evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Experiences: Fontevraud concert and evening access; wine and cheese pairing
Day 6 - Monday, December 14th
Chambord: Majestic Christmas
After breakfast, we’ll travel through the forests of Sologne to Château de Chambord, the largest château in the Loire Valley and a landmark of French Renaissance architecture.
Commissioned by King François I, the château is renowned for its distinctive rooftop skyline and double-helix staircase.
The visit includes the main apartments, rooftop and terraces, with Christmas decorations highlighting the scale and ceremonial nature of the building. Due to the size of the site, the visit is unhurried and includes time to explore independently.
Lunch will be enjoyed at Le Grand Saint-Michel, the fine-dining restaurant at Relais de Chambord, overlooking the château grounds.
Return to Les Jardins Haute Couture in the evening for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 : Tuesday, December 15th
Truffle Cooking Workshop, Soap Factory, Dinner Out
After breakfast, take part in a second hands-on cooking workshop with Coral & Shelley focused on truffles, using those collected earlier in the week.
The session will explore practical ways to use truffles in everyday and festive cooking.
Menu:
Truffle butter
Egg cocotte with truffle
Homemade tagliolini with brown butter, parmesan, and black truffle
Truffle-infused dessert
We’ll tuck into the dishes we prepared over lunch.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit Martin de Candre, an award-winning artisanal soap factory in Montsoreau, known for its traditional production methods and shaving soaps. The visit offers time for shopping and visiting the estate’s park and soap museum.
Dinner will be enjoyed at La Table de Mestré, the estate’s gourmet restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Experience: Truffle cooking workshop
Day 8 : Wednesday, December 16th
Chenonceau : Fairytale Chateau & Farewell Raclette Dinner
After a late breakfast, we’ll depart for Château de Chenonceau, crossing the River Cher via its famous gallery. Before the visit, we’ll enjoy lunch at Auberge du Bon Laboureur, a well-regarded gastronomic restaurant near the château.
The afternoon visit to Chenonceau will explore the château’s history as a residence shaped by influential women such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici. In December, the château is known for its annual Christmas floral installations created by professional florists. The park will also be decorated and lit for Christmas
We’ll return to Les Jardins Haute Couture in the evening for a farewell raclette dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 – Thursday, December 17th
Departure: Transfer to the station or airport for departure.
What’s Included:
Accomodations
Les Jardins Haute Couture manor house.
Most Meals
All meals are included, whether it be the gourmet dinners taken at Les Jardins Haute Couture in the evening,
or the lunch time meals in local gastronomic restaurants or picnics during our excursions.
Wine with dinner
Delicious local wine will be offered to you with your evening meals at the Jardins Haute Couture Hotel.
Cooking Workshops
Two cooking workshops with various instructors.
All Itinerary Excursions
All outings/activities as described.
Transport To/From Excursions
Transport to and from the hotel to your cooking workshops, restaurants and local excursions and visits planned during the trip.
What’s Not Included:
Airport & Train Station Transfers
Transfer to and from the Fast train (TGV) stations of ST PIERRE DES CORPS (TOURS) upon arrival/departure.
Please try and group your arrival / departure times to avoid too many journeys.
Spirits & Cocktails
There is a fantastic bar on offer at the Jardins Haute Couture hotel with delicious spirits, digestifs and cocktails on offer.
These will have to be paid for separately.
Spa Treatments & Massage
Local beautician Elena is available but needs to be booked in advance.
Lunch in Amboise
On Friday lunchtime you'll be free to visit the town center and enjoy the Christmas market .
There will be many food stands as well as lots of little cafés and restaurants.
Trip Cost:
Single Room Occupancy - €7500 cost per person
Comfortable double bedroom with ensuite bathroom for one person.
Double Room Occupancy - €6900 cost per person
Comfortable double bedroom with ensuite bathroom for a couple or 2 people sharing, either a double bed (couple) or twin beds (friends).
- Double rooms for couples (double beds that can't be separated): 2 rooms available
- Double rooms for friends or couples sharing (twin beds that can be separated or pushed together to make a double): 1 room available