It is in the Loire Valley that the French language acquired its
reputation.
The royal court developed and promoted the French literature along
with a standardized version of the French language.
For that matter, Francis I became known as the « Father and
Restorer of Letters ».
Several French writers traveled to the Loire Valley among
which:
• Voltaire (1694-1778)
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
• Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880)
• Alexandre Dumas (1824-1895)
• Victor Hugo (1802-1885)
• Hippolyte Taine (1828-1893)
A member of our staff can pick you up wherever you want.
Then you will discover the treasure of the Val de Loire Valley on a 9-
seat comfy minibus.
The castle of Saché is a 12th-century little manor totally surrounded by extensive beautiful grounds.
The famous French writer Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) used to go to this romantic parc as it was his inspiration for his writings.
It was also for him a way to escape the Parisian creditors and publishers.
With the writing case, the quills, the drawings and the letters, his
cramped room seems to bear until today, the traces of his stay there.
La Touraine is a getaway and a source of inspiration that keeps forever many secrets.
Honoré de Balzac was born in Tours on May 20 1799 and he made several attempts to become a politician and a businessman but, fortunately for French literature, these attempts were unsuccessful.
Lunch in a typical french restaurant in city center of Chinon.
Francois Rabelais ( 1494-1553) was born at the end of the 15th century in this house made out of tuffeau stones.
The house is really charming and typical of the area.
The writer makes this house and the gardens, the perfect setting for the adventures of the giants in his novels.
The museum traces the most important moments of Rabelais’ life and tells you more about the new ideas that emerged during the Renaissance period.
His tremendous piece of work gathers and tackles many different themes, from cultural, religious and legal subjects to medical subjects.
Rabelais was very curious when it came to science and he endeavored/strived to understand the mysteries of life.
Prieuré saint Cosme, house of Pierre de Ronsard
This unique place was Pierre de Ronsard’s home.
Discover the writer’s world, his poetry and his main novels.
He was nicknamed « The prince of poetry ».
He worked under the rules of Francis I, Charles IX and Henry III.
He continued to write poetry but he went to live at Prieuré Saint-Cosme not far from Tours where he grew medicinal herbs, flowers and vegetable in his garden.
At the end of this « literature day », the Val de Loire staff will bring
you back to the departure place.
