timjstark

Hello,

We are going to spend 5 relaxing days this summer in Amboise (after spending some time in Paris). We are choosing not to have a car and are not intent on seeing all the chateaux (chateaus?) as we have been to quite a few on previous trips (Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord, Chenonceau ect.). Previously we based ourselves in Tours, but this trip is mostly just to hang out, perhaps do a bit of bicycling, and soaking up the ambiance of France.

However, we were thinking of perhaps taking a day rail excursion from Amboise. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is Chinon a worthwhile trip or are there other towns that would be worthwhile visiting?

Any tips will be appreciated.

By the way, because of tips from this wonderful forum, we are staying at the Manior les Minimes in Amboise!

LarryJ

I think Amboise is a very good choice for the kind of trip you want. I go there every two or three years. There is a lot to do there. Besides the grand Chateau be sure to visit Leonardo da Vincei's mansion, "Clos Luce" which is just a few minutes walk up the hill past the grand "Chateau Amboise". The Loire River cuts the town in half and you might like walks along it, fishing, canoeing etc. There are lots of charming shops and restaurants as well.

The daytrip to Chinon is one I took last summer and enjoyed it. There is of course the old Chateau ruins on the hill above the town, lots of nice cafes, restaurants etc. This is where St. Jean of Arc was born. I would have suggested a short train ride to Tours and then cross the street from the train station take the bus to the door of the Chateau Villandry but maybe you have already been there, done that.

Have fun,

Larry J

Travelnut

It seems that when I was dinking around on sncf.com for timetables, that it was a train and then a bus to get to Chinon from Amboise...
But we know that Amboise is connected to Tours by rail - so figure out where you can go by rail from there and you've got a daytrip.
Or you could try going the opposite way to Blois.

nonnafelice

We're recently back from Amboise (my trip report is at: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34622843 )

We had a car, but I think you could easily bike from Amboise to Montrichard, which we found a nice town. We also very much enjoyed the tour of the Monmousseau wine caves there.

Also a good train excursion might be to Bourges, with its magnificent cathedral. I don't know the best way from Amboise, but I know the train does go there.

Do you know Ina Caro's book "The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France"? Much of that book is about the Loire Valley, and I found it gave fascinating background for many of the places we visited, and made our time there much more meaningful.

vedette

A little historical clarification. Jeanne d'Arc was not born in Chinon. She was born in Domremy, far to the east in Lorraine. She journeyed to Chinon to meet with the Dauphin (shortly to be king) Charles. It was there that she was made commander of his forces.

cmcfong

Gosh, it tickles me just to think of someone seeing and experiencing Manoir de Minimes for the first time. Please pat the adorable Olga for me and have a glorious trip.

Michel_Paris

You might want to look at the tourism web sites for the Loire region. I know the last time I went, I happened to be in Chinon when the were having their festival and found it to be fun and interesting (people dressed up in medieval costumes, strong man,etc..) The french are big on festivals

http://www.anjou-tourisme.com/script...anjou.asp?lg=2

http://www.francekeys.com/english/re...la_loire.shtml

timjstark

Thank you all so far for the great responses!

LarryJ

To Travelnut,

You can get to Chinon from Amboise by train, no need to mess with buses for this trip. I did it last summer.

To Vedette,

Thanks for the correction on St Joan of Arc. I really knew... (really) that she was not born there but I keep remembering that great statue of her in Chinon on the horse and keep wanting to make Chinon her birthplace. One thing's for sure; she died in Rouen, another great daytrip if in Paris.

I wouldn't base myself there but Chinon made a really nice daytrip for me last year. Might go there to fish someday as I watched people catching a lot of fish in the river right in the middle of town.

Larry J

Sue4

I loved Amboise when I was there a couple of years ago. I stayed at the Manoir les Minimes for 3 nights, and would have loved to stay longer. I was in the Loire Valley area for about 12 days and had a car. But before I decided to rent the car I checked out all sorts of train possibilities to various places, and there are many. I think Chinon would be a fine daytrip- I stayed there a couple of nights and loved the town and chateau - much history there. Blois would be another possible easy daytrip from Amboise (quicker than getting to Chinon)- and the chateau is quite interesting. Have a great trip!

timjstark

Thank you all for the great responses...and thanks to "nonnafelice" for your great photos! My wife and looked at them and got truly fired up for our trip.
Thanks again!

nonnafelice

Hi, Tim,

I'm glad you and your wife enjoyed our pictures.

I hope your time in Amboise includes a Sunday, so you can spend the morning at its truly amazing market. I think the "brocante" (or secondhand market), which we were also lucky to catch, is only once a month, but I believe the food and flower market is every week. It was an unexpected highlight of our trip.