53307PNO
Tours, Chenonceau, Amboise, Chartes, Paris
Routes
Opening days/times, entrance fees, etc. listed on Yellow Pages.
Chenonceau inside visit
Amboise inside visit & lunch stop
Chartres inside visit of the Cathedral
- Be aware that Amboise chateau closes over lunch time. Plan your lunch accordingly.
- In Chartres, Free toilets will be found by the coach park on rue Charles Brune.
Chenonceau – visit
On entering the grounds the Château is straight ahead beyond the trees at the end the park. The bus park and set down point is on the left. The ticket office is within the souvenir shop by the entrance gate on your left. Keep the group outside the souvenir shop while you buy the tickets inside – space is tight. Point out the free restrooms and encourage them to use while waiting. There are more inside castle grounds by the cafeteria (see below).
Bus drop-off
Take enough free guide pamphlets in English for everyone and point out that they are really worth using. Distribute tickets and take the group through the souvenir shop to the ticket gate. They will be counted through so stay at the gate until all through.
The entrance to the Château is a 10 minute walk down the drive. Keep the group together as you will need to enter together. Once inside the Chateau itself, they may disperse. On the way point out the location of the bush maze – they may want to visit this afterwards. Similarly, there is a donkey field, flower garden, and 16th Century farm reconstruction that can be visited after castle and gardens. Lunch options here are the self-service cafeteria by the Chateau or picnic tables on right before ticket gate.
The best views and famous postcard shots are from the riverside either to the left or right of the chateau in the gardens. This is also a great picnic spot. Encourage groups to cross the bridge inside the Chateau and visit grounds/take photos from the other side IF THE DOOR IS OPEN – (sometimes closed)
Arrange to meet the group after the visit back at the bus – remind them of the 10 minute walk!
BE CAREFUL OF TIMING – groups can lose track here as there´s a lot to see and do. The visit is now more in depth in virtue of recent renovations.
Amboise – visit and lunch
There is a nice picture stop to do on the other side of the river if the driver is from the area or knows the itinerary (could be tricky otherwise) and if you have no delays.
Park in the bus park and lead the group along beside the river towards the bridge. Cross just before the Chateau and walk up the small street between the chateau and church to the square below the Château. There are plenty of places for lunch, wonderful patisseries and boulangeries and specialist chocolate shops. Great souvenirs and a few boutiques. The best place to get a good photo of the Château is from halfway across the bridge.
Amboise Bus Drop-Off:
There may be some people who would like to visit Le Clos Lucé and gardens – they pay – (Leonardo da Vinci’s house, see below). Ask the group beforehand how many would like to spend their visit here and only if the bus driver is agreeable, leave them at the CLOS LUCÉ car park entrance before continuing with the rest of the group to the parking spot on the bridge. Otherwise it is a long, steep walk up from the square below the chateau. Others may wish to visit the Chateau itself – unless included, they pay €16.90 adult €10.80 under 18.
Either way, insist, that the group is back punctually at the meeting point. The square below the Château is an easier rendezvous for them than the bus drop off/pickup. They won’t have much time to shop if they visit either. This is always a balance against enjoying the streets, shops, and ambiance. On Fri & Sun, there is a riverside market 8-12.30pm – great for picnic/cheese tasting.
Chartres – visit
Designated coach drop-off is in rue Charles Brune. There are free public toilets here.
Chartres Bus Drop-off:
Walk the group up to the Cathedral – try to show them the Jean Moulin Monument on the way or return. Give some explanation of the main doorway, then lead them inside to see the windows and the Veil.
It is no longer possible to give commentary inside the Cathedral unless the group has headphones and you have the speaker microphone. You may prefer to give all commentary outside the cathedral.
The Cathedral has undergone a huge cleaning project inside.
The VEIL is on display in the LIT ambulatory at the back of the church to the left of the alter, in an upright glass and gold display case. Not the veil on the small statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by candles just behind the altar to the left.
The North Tower of the Cathedral can now only be visited with a guide and reservation. It is a very steep climb – just under 400 steps – but the views are spectacular.
The Cathedral boutique is open Mon to Sat from 10-5.30pm and 12-5pm Sun.
Opposite the Cathedral, there are toilets for a small fee inside a souvenir shop. Encourage them to explore the town. The most interesting streets are to the right of the square when facing the Cathedral.
The “Au Plaisir d´Offrir” on the left on the way up to the Cathedral (with ACIS sign) is now closed. The bakery on the corner next-door is still open, and good!
