Christmas in the Loire Valley at Chambord, staying in the grounds of the Chateau de Chambord.
The Loire Valley is a captivating region throughout the year but the magnificence of the Chateau de Chambord is truly enhanced in the festive season. The decoration inside the chateau offers a timeless spectacle whilst outside hundreds of trees are festooned with lights, creating a magical tableau. The chateau offers a variety of entertainment throughout the period with a magic show from 20 December until 3 January, with three performances a day, decorations inspired by the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, a festive Christmas village featuring a carousel and activities every weekend in December with parades, traditional games, Renaissance dances and chocolate painting. The chateau is closed only on 25 December and 1 January. With our holiday here you stay within the estate at the 4-star Relais de Chambord, originally constructed as the stables for the chateau. Afternoon tea is included on arrival or on another day, depending on your arrival time. On Christmas Eve, chef Joseph Viola has designed a 5-course menu including an amuse-bouche, starter, fish, meat, cheese and dessert. Wine pairing can be bought at Euros 55 per person. One Christmas Day at lunchtime there is a 4-course cosy lunch with starter, meat or fish, cheese and dessert. Wine pairing can be bought at Euros 30 per person. You have days to unwind in the cosy hotel, enjoying views of the chateau; you can take part in the activities and spectacle of the chateau itself; and you can use your hire-car to explore the region perhaps visiting the nearby town of Blois or the Chateau de Cheverny, that is also open on 25 December and 1 January. This suggested holiday includes travel by train from London to Tours via Paris, but it can also take place as a self-drive holiday with your own car, or as a fly-drive if it is easier to fly from your local airport to Paris and then have the use of a hire-car.
Highlights
Chambord
Lovely holiday - thanks. Particularly enjoyed our guide who was fabulous.Mr B, November 2025
Holiday price guide Price per person and includes 4 nights’ bed and breakfast based on two people sharing a Superior double room.
From about
£1,890
Holiday Code FRBR20
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Christmas in the Loire Valley at Chambord, staying in the grounds of the Chateau de Chambord.
We suggest that you take a Eurostar from St Pancras at 08.01, arriving in Paris at 11.19. Then there is a fast, direct train from Montparnasse at 14.16 which arrives at Tours St Pierre des Corps at 15.13. We recommend Tours as the arrival point even though Blois is closer to the hotel just because the trains to Tours are faster and more frequent and the hire-car office is open later.
You have three whole days at the Relais de Chambord in the Loire Valley to relax, enjoy the magic of the Chateau de Chambord, just across the park from the hotel, its festivities and activities, and perhaps explore the region. Blois on the River Loire, with its own castle too, is about 20 minutes away by car. Blois holds a winter festival, ‘Des Lyres d’Hiver’, a Christmas market in the Place Louis XIII, there is ice skating and the castle is illuminated. The Chateau de Cheverny is about 20 minutes’ drive to the south of Chambord and is also open on Christmas Day and 1 January. During your stay we include an afternoon tea, a 5-course dinner on Christmas Eve and a 4-course lunch on Christmas Day. At the Relais du Chambord, treat yourself to an Anne Semonin spa treatment, and make use of the steam room and jacuzzi for relaxation.
Return your hire-car to the station at Tours St Pierre des Corps in time for your train which we recommend to be at 13.44 which reaches Paris Montparnasse at 14.41. Transfer across Paris (metro or taxi) in time for the Eurostar at 17.12 which reaches London at 18.30. Other timings are possible.
Lovely holiday - thanks. Particularly enjoyed our guide who was fabulous.Mr B, November 2025
Holiday price guide Price per person and includes 4 nights’ bed and breakfast based on two people sharing a Superior double room.
From about
£1,890
Holiday Code FRBR20
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Our prices include
● Eurostar from London to Paris return
● TGV fast train from Paris to Tours St Pierre des Corps return
● Hire of a group C car from Tours St Pierre des Corps station for four days
● 4 nights’ bed and breakfast at the Relais de Chambord
● Afternoon tea on arrival or on another day
● Christmas Eve 5-course menu
● Christmas Day 4-course menu
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Additional information This holiday is suggested as being 4 nights to include Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Additional nights can be added at any point on this itinerary. Timings can vary depending on the day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Lovely holiday - thanks. Particularly enjoyed our guide who was fabulous.Mr B, November 2025
Holiday price guide Price per person and includes 4 nights’ bed and breakfast based on two people sharing a Superior double room.
From about
£1,890
Holiday Code FRBR20
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Our prices include
• Eurostar from London to Paris return
• TGV fast train from Paris to Tours St Pierre des Corps return
• Hire of a group C car from Tours St Pierre des Corps station for four days
• 4 nights’ bed and breakfast at the Relais de Chambord
• Afternoon tea on arrival or on another day
• Christmas Eve 5-course menu
• Christmas Day 4-course menu
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
The journey and how you get there This suggested holiday includes travel by train from London to Tours via Paris, but it can also take place as a self-drive holiday with your own car, or as a fly-drive if it is easier to fly from your local airport to Paris and then have the use of a hire-car.
Additional information This holiday is suggested as being 4 nights to include Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Additional nights can be added at any point on this itinerary. Timings can vary depending on the day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Christmas in the Loire Valley at Chambord, staying in the grounds of the Chateau de Chambord.
Lovely holiday - thanks. Particularly enjoyed our guide who was fabulous.Mr B, November 2025
Holiday price guide Price per person and includes 4 nights’ bed and breakfast based on two people sharing a Superior double room.
From about
£1,890
Holiday Code FRBR20
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Our prices include
• Eurostar from London to Paris return
• TGV fast train from Paris to Tours St Pierre des Corps return
• Hire of a group C car from Tours St Pierre des Corps station for four days
• 4 nights’ bed and breakfast at the Relais de Chambord
• Afternoon tea on arrival or on another day
• Christmas Eve 5-course menu
• Christmas Day 4-course menu
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
The journey and how you get there This suggested holiday includes travel by train from London to Tours via Paris, but it can also take place as a self-drive holiday with your own car, or as a fly-drive if it is easier to fly from your local airport to Paris and then have the use of a hire-car.
Additional information This holiday is suggested as being 4 nights to include Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Additional nights can be added at any point on this itinerary. Timings can vary depending on the day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Christmas in the Loire Valley at Chambord, staying in the grounds of the Chateau de Chambord.
About Loire Valley
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Loire Valley offers travellers a chance to explore this magnificent region, known as the `Garden of France`, traditionally the hunting grounds of the Kings of France, is renowned for its gentle countryside, vineyards, forests, rivers and numerous chateaux. At the centre of this region are the regal river Loire and its numerous tributaries, attractive historic towns and cathedral cities such as Tours, Blois and Chinon and of course the chateaux. The chateaux range from vast palaces to fortresses, from mediaeval strongholds to Renaissance delights and include the well-known ones of Chenonceaux, Chambord, Villandry and pretty Azay le Rideau. The vineyards offer great variety from sparkling Vouvray to the reds of Chinon and Bourgueil. Our `Loire Valley` covers the central region of Touraine and the more westerly region of Anjou as well as taking in a more southern part that extends towards Poitiers. The visitor to the Loire Valley is embraced by seemingly endless amusements whatever the time of year, enticing for longer stays and so well situated for overnight stops or short breaks. It is very easy to reach the Loire Valley by train, combining a holiday here with a visit to Bordeaux. Alternatively, a self-drive holiday to the Loire Valley is an excellent option, allowing you to explore the region's Chateaux by car or to combine a stay in the region with a holiday to the Dordogne region and Normandy.
Highlights of the Loire Valley
Cultural highlights include wines and wine vinegars, wild mushrooms - (visit the mushroom museum), the Troglodyte caves, and local art exhibitions.
Festivals in the Loire Valley
Son et Lumiere in the chateaux in the summer months. Summer festival in Chinon in August.
Climate of the Loire Valley
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 7.8, Feb: 6.8, Mar: 10.3, Apr: 16.1, May: 16.4, Jun: 23.6, Jul: 25.8, Aug: 24.5, Sep: 21.1, Oct: 16.2, Nov: 11.2, Dec: 7.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
