Travel to te heart of Renaissance, to Château d'Ambroise, with its tower wide enough to ride up in a coach! Next door, at Clos, donated by François 1 er to Leonardo da Vinci, you will find 44 replicas of his major inventions. A historic chef, master craftsman of France, serves excellent Renaissance lunches. A few km away, discover the famous Château de Chenonceau, with its magnificent covered gallery crossing the Cher river. The monumental Château de Chambord, the largest of the Loire Valley castles, cannot fail to impress, with it 365 chimneys. Nearby, admire the Château de Cheverry, the most beautifully furnished of all the Loire castles.

Loire wines are gaining momentum, now is the perfect time to get to know them better. Compare the Chenins Blancs, starting with the nearby Jasnières, during a tasting in the impressive troglodyte caves, extending for miles into the hillside, and further south, the famous Vouvray, at the excellent producer Huet, or in the underground rotunda near Rochecorbon, where you can also sample a sparkling Chenin and even order the sweet Vouvray of your birthyear! Countess de Vanssay can organize tastings for you at the best Cabernet Franc producers in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur. And don’t miss the very rare Romorantin grape, near Cheverny.

The biggest endurance race in the world. A 24-hour saga during which legends are forged with the most powerful and furious productions of the automobile industry.

Le Mans Classic, the unmissable event for vintage car enthusiasts, brings together the most beautiful cars having competed on the track. At the Le Mans 24-hour museum, rediscover the history of this race and of its’ legendary drivers.

Or are you passionate about racing and want to improve your performance, driving and precision techniques? We can organize driving sessions at the wheel of different Porsches, on the legendary Bugatti Circuit or on Maison Blanche Circuit. Advance notice essential, this is exceptional.

Just 20 km from Château de la Barre, take the less travelled road, far from any tourist noise, to explore the charming, yet quite unknown little Loir Valley (without the "e"): Its vineyards, its thousand-year-old forests, its troglodyte villages, its magnificent gardens, its Romanesque chapels with medieval frescoes. Visit the Trinity Abbey in Vendôme, the St Gilles Chapel (11th century) in Montoire, Lavardin, classified among the most beautiful villages in France, Trôo, the Manor of Court poet Ronsard in Couture, and the Renaissance castles of Poncé and Courtanvaux.

There are a few small gourmet restaurants hidden in one or the other village that are definitely worth a visit ...

Halfway to Paris, Chartres Cathedral, the first and the largest classical Gothic cathedral in France, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its 13th century, stained glass windows constitute one of the most remarkable collections in France. A must visit!

The superb and vast Cité Plantagenêt, birthplace of King Henri II of England, in the historic heart of Le Mans, is surrounded by Gallo-Roman walls among the best preserved in the world. Its Gothic St. Julien cathedral shows Celtic, Roman and Roman remains, and traces of polychromy can still be seen. Almost car-free, beautifully restored, it is a unique filming location: most historical films take place here.

In our region, each village is home to a secret talent, which we look forward to sharing with you. In Poncé, come see Nicolas at work, a glassblower worthy of Murano, trained at Lalique and Baccarat, and influenced by Biot. At La Chârtre-sur-Loir, have a belt or another luxury item crafted for you by a real saddler, Hervé Noiras, trained at Hermès. One of the best Boule furniture restorers has taken up residence at Château de Fretay, and we can organize visits to her workshop, and even small internships. In Tresson, admire the mansion built by stonemason Guillaume Chausson, entirely himself, in the pure Renaissance style.