Spring and summer stays at Chambord in the Loire Valley, with festivals and exhibitions at the Chateau de Chambord
The construction of the Chateau de Chambord was started by François I, king of France from 1515 until 1547: a palace rising from the Sologne marshlands with a double helix staircase inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. Its construction was completed under the reign of Louis XIX, the Sun King and was the venue for several royal sojourns, hunting parties and festive entertainment. On this holiday you stay for four nights at the Relais de Chambord inside the private estate of the chateau and we suggest that you time your stay to coincide with one of the many exhibitions, festivals and cultural events that will take place at the chateau in the spring and summer months this year. 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. 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
Ghirlandaio and Botticelli.
From autumn 2025 to summer 2026. Chambord brings together for the first time two treasures of the Italian Renaissance: The Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist from Botticelli’s workshop and The Virgin and Child in Mosaic by Davide Ghirlandaio. This coupling highlights the influence of Florentine workshops and the artistic prominence of the Loire Valley.
Exhibition Solaris – Robert Charles Mann
From 20 March until 21 June 2026. This exhibition is the result of an artistic residency at Chambord, where primitive pinhole cameras were installed for several months to capture the sun’s path from winter solstice to the summer solstice. The resulting images, called solargraphs, offer a unique vision of the chateau and its landscapes through time and light.
European Days of Crafts
11 and 12 April 2026. This is a free cultural event aimed at showcasing artisanal skills through workshop visits, demonstrations, open doors, meetings with artisans, discovery workshops, lectures and guided tours.
Equestrian Show – Chambord, History on Horseback
From 4 April until 27 September and from 17 October until 1 November 2026. This is an immersive creation by Mario Luraschi, master of equestrian shows, in collaboration with the Cavalcade company. The performance recounts five centuries of the chateau’s history through cavalry scenes, haute école dressage, spectacular stunts and video projections.
The 15th Chambord Festival
4 July until 11 July 2026. Concerts in the French gardens and the chateau courtyard, featuring top-level artists, solo performers, ensembles and orchestras. The programme combines classical repertoire, contemporary music, and musical collaborations. High-quality musical moments in an exceptional heritage setting.
Stars at the Chateau by Hugo Marchand
16 and 17 July 2026. The Paris Opera étoile dancer founded an association of the same name with the mission of contributing to the diversity of local cultural life throughout the country and highlighting historic monuments in the regions.
Lovely holiday - thanks. Particularly enjoyed our guide who was fabulous.Mr B, November 2025
Holiday price guide From £1,350 per person.
From about
£1,350
Holiday Code FRBR21
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
Spring and summer stays at Chambord in the Loire Valley, with festivals and exhibitions at 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. 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 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 arrives in 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 From £1,350 per person.
From about
£1,350
Holiday Code FRBR21
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
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Additional information This holiday is suggested as being 4 nights. 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 From £1,350 per person.
From about
£1,350
Holiday Code FRBR21
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
• 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. 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
Spring and summer stays at Chambord in the Loire Valley, with festivals and exhibitions at the Chateau de Chambord
Lovely holiday - thanks. Particularly enjoyed our guide who was fabulous.Mr B, November 2025
Holiday price guide From £1,350 per person.
From about
£1,350
Holiday Code FRBR21
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
• 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. 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
Spring and summer stays at Chambord in the Loire Valley, with festivals and exhibitions at 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.
