🎄 Christmas magic settles into the Loire Valley castles once again ! ✨
From Saturday the 30th of November until Sunday the 5th of January, seven of Loire valley's castles, those being Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Langeais, Loches and Villandry all celebrate the holiday spirit ! Dressed in their best Christmas attire, each of them will allow you to explore a different ambiance, that shall marvel young and old alike !
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Christmas delights
This year, gingerbread is given pride of place, and that means you'll be taken into an unforgettable sensory experience. Delicious and spicy, it lends itself to a thousand variations that transport young and old into a world where sweet dreams come true. Finely decorated biscuits, fairytale houses and life-size characters bring the rooms of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau to life. A new festive decor featuring tables lavishly decorated with unusual arrangements, exquisitely decorated Christmas trees and floral arrangements will inspire wonder and stimulate the imagination. This richly staged event celebrates the warmth and friendliness of winter celebrations, bringing back sweet and savoury memories of childhood.
Animations :
Late-evening opening : Saturday the 7th of December - From 5.00p.m to 8.00p.m
Our tourist offices sell discounted tickets for this tourist site for 12 € (instead of 13€ on site)
Christmas myths and legends : Christmas fit for queens !
To mark the 900th anniversary of the birth of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Royal Fortress of Chinon invites you to a festive medieval Christmas revisited by artists and craftsmen who celebrate the queens of the Middle Ages.Floral creations, tableware and photographs are all in the spotlight.For the occasion, the Royal Fortress of Chinon is once again decked out in its finest finery to evoke the atmosphere of a royal Christmas!
Animations :
Late-evening opening : Saturday the 28th of December - From 5.00p.m to 8.00p.m
Our tourist offices sell discounted tickets for this tourist site for 9 € (instead of 10.50€ on site)
Christmas lights
Built at the end of the Middle Ages, the Château de Langeais is a fortress that reveals to visitors a warm and intimate residence, sumptuously decorated and furnished. The Christmas period is an invitation to discover it under the sign of light, with a multitude of candles, lanterns, garlands and lighting effects.Some of the rooms will be enhanced by scenic displays created by Christopher Lacassagne (Compagnie Quart de Soupir) : they will immerse visitors in the magic of light, while echoing the décor and the permanent collection of the château, creating a link between heritage and Christmas festivities. Visitors to the Château de Langeais can look forward to an atmosphere that is by turns dreamlike, dazzling and gentle, playing on all the dimensions of light.
Animations :
Late-evening opening : Friday the 27th of December - From 5.00p.m to 8.00p.m
"Make your lantern" workshop : From Sunday the 22nd of December to Tuesday the 31st of December (only Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays), and from Thursday the 2nd of January to Saturday the 4th of January. From 11.00a.m to 1.00p.m, and from 2.00p.m to 5.00p.m
Make your own lantern inspired by the castle's very own decors : fleur-de-lis, stoat tails... This is a family-friendly activity ! From 7 years old, no booking required, limited number of places available
Thematic visit :
Léon the dragon's stories : From Thursday the 26th of December to Sunday the 29th of December, at 11.30a.m, 2.30p.m and 3.30p.m. Duration : 45 minutes, for children from age 4 to 8
Our tourist offices sell discounted tickets for this tourist site for 11 € (instead of 11.50€ on site)
During Christmas, nature settles inside the castle
Every year at Christmas, Villandry summons Mother Nature to display her decorations in every room! Fir trees richly decorated with hundreds of animals, large plant decorations filled with birds, deer, fawns and squirrels: from the dining room to the bedrooms, via the kitchen and right up to the attic, transformed into a snowy forest, the Carvallo family offers an immersion in a real plant fairytale.In 2023, the Moat room will be given an extra touch of refinement, while the 2nd children's room will feature a parade of musical bears.In the dungeon, the François 1er room is sublimely decorated with hanging plants and animals in warm shades of bronze and gold.
Animations :
Late-evening opening - Saturday the 14th of December, from 5.00p.m to 8.00p.m
Discover the castle as night falls !
Our tourist offices sell discounted tickets for this tourist site for 12€ (instead of 13€ on site)
Chenonceau, a Christmas made of porcelain
Nostalgic for her native Florence, Catherine de Medici recreated her reminiscences of Medici grandeur at Chenonceau: graceful galleries spanning the river, like a Ponte Vecchio in the Loire Valley, and an Italian garden, the perfect setting for her aviary. When she came to France with her birdwatchers, she loved to let her colourful birds fly free in the solemnity of the great black and white chequered gallery.The Château de Chenonceau and Bernardaud, a French porcelain manufacturer founded in 1863 in Limoges and still family-owned, are working together to perpetuate the heritage, excellence and French art of living in the purest refinement of a ‘Porcelain Christmas’.The Bernardaud collections, created using a unique expertise handed down through five generations, are set against the enchanting floral displays created by the château's famous workshop and its scenographer, Meilleur Ouvrier de France.
Animations :
Late-evening opening - Thursday the 26th of December from 5.00p.m to 8.00p.m
Our tourist offices sell discounted tickets for this tourist site for 16€ (instead of 17€ on site)
Christmas and childhood dreams : a trip to toy wonderland
From the old toys of princes and princesses to the most recent creations, from the Mélodica to the iconic Playmobil castle and Corolle dolls, all the idols of our generations have gathered in the decorated flats of the Royal Château d'Amboise. Their cheerful presence revives the great characters of Amboise, and offers them amusing journeys back in time: the Spider King Louis XI faces a Spiderman figurine, Leonardo da Vinci tries his hand at a construction game, and Louis-Philippe pilots an electric train.The atmosphere is festive, with traditional Christmas trees and decorations.Come and join them!
Animations :
Late-evening opening on Saturday the 21st of December, from 5.00p.m to 8.00p.m
Our tourist offices sell discounted tickets for this tourist site for 15.40€ (instead of 16.40€ on site)
Fairytales in the Cité royale : Hansel & Gretel
Every year, the Royal City of Loches presents an interpretation of a folk tale. This winter, the settings and world of one of the Grimm brothers' most famous fairy tales, Hansel and Gretel, will take centre stage in the royal dwelling: the forest, the candy hut, the witch's treasure, etc. An immersion in the story of the fairy tale in which visitors themselves become actors.
Animations :
Late-evening opening - Friday the 29th of December from 5.00p.m to 8.00p.m
Thematic visits :
A tale, but which one ? Sundays from the 3rd of December to the 17th of December, and everyday from the 23rd of December to the 7th of January at 11.00a.m, 2.15p.m and 3.30p.m
Comfortably seated in a fairytale decor, come listen to the revisited fairytale of Snow-White, Cinderella, and The Sleeping Beauty.
Duration : 35 minutes
Price : Same as a regular ticket
For families with children from 3 to 12 years old
How did winters used to be in the Middle Ages ? - At the dungeon, from Monday the 23rd of December to Monday the 6th of January, every Thursday and Saturday at 11.00p.m
Come and learn about life in a castle during the winter months. How did medieval man adapt to this period? How was Christmas celebrated in the Middle Ages?
Duration : 1 hour
Price : Same as a regular ticket
For families with teenagers (over 12), only accessible through booking (maximum 20 people). Outdoor visit, bring warm clothing
Our tourist offices sell discounted tickets for this tourist site for 9.50€ (instead of 10.50€ on site)
Remember to book your pass for a 3-, 5-, or 7-castles visits !
Not only does your pass come with discounted tickets, but it also allows you to get discounts in many of our partners' shops (souvenir/local shops, leisure activities,....). There are 3 passes available :
- 3 castles entries pass : 41€
-5 castles entries pass : 61€
- 7 castles entries pass : 77€
Your pass will be valid for the entire duration of the operation "Christmas in the land of chateaux".
Acheter vos pass dés maintenant
We've always got one in store for you !
Find the list of châteaux tickets for sale at our tourist offices
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau : 12€ in our offices, 13€ on site
Forteresse royale de Chinon : 9€ in our offices, 10,50€ on site
Château de Langeais : 11€ in our offices, 11,50€ on site
Château de Villandry : 12€ in our offices, 13€ on site
Citée royale de Loches : 9,50€ in our offices, 10,50€ on site
Château de Chenonceau : 16€ in our offices, 17€ on site
Château d'Amboise : 16,40€ in our offices, 15,40€ on site
So how does this work exactly ?
According to the pass you chose, you can visit 3, 5, or 7 of the 7 castles that take part in the operation (only one access for each site)
Just show your pass (card or dematerialised) to each of the site you want to go to, or to our partners' shops. Each pass is nomative and personal. It is valid from the 30th of November until the 5th of January and expires once you've reached the number of visits it includes.
Where can you get a pass ?
You can buy them from our tourist offices, or on the dedicated website.
