Erasmus Weekend: Wine, the Châteaux of the Loire Valley, and Da Vinci
Includes :
- Return transport by private bus
- 2** hotel accommodation
- Breakfast
- Tour leader
- Tourist taxes
- Entrance to Château de Chambord
- Wine tasting
- Visit an estate
- Amboise
Not included:
- Personal expenses
- Meals
- Entrance to the Château d'Amboise / Clos Lucé
Travel program
Gigantic castle
Double spiral staircase designed by da Vinci
History of Francis I
Stroll through the forest park
Panoramic view from the terraces
Check-in
Medieval city center
Dinner with friends
Club outing
Place Plumereau stroll
Wine tasting
Winery tour
Troglodyte cellar tour
Introduction to Loire white wines
Château royal d'Amboise
Leonardo da Vinci's Clos Lucé house
Leonardo da Vinci's tomb
Stroll along the banks of the Loire
Panoramic view of the valley
We meet early in Lyon to set off together for the Loire Valley. First stop of the day: Château de Chambord. It's one of France's most emblematic castles, with its turrets, moats and, above all, the double-revolution staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci himself. We'll give you plenty of time to visit, marvel at the French gardens, and really immerse yourself in the world of the Renaissance, at the side of King François I. It's the kind of place you see in books... but in real life, it's even better.
In the late afternoon, we head for Tours, capital of Touraine and one of the country's largest medieval cities. Cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, lively squares... The center is magnificent, especially at the end of the day. We settle into a hotel in the heart of the city, and in the evening, we all go out clubbing with the local Erasmus students. Tours is young, festive, warm and perfect for partying after a day of discovery.
After a good breakfast at the hotel, we're off to discover another of the region's riches: Loire wine. We'll stop in Vouvray, a village renowned for its delicate white wines. You'll visit a real cellar dug into the rock (in the famous tuffeau cliffs!), learn how wine has been made here for centuries... and taste, of course.
In the afternoon, we head for Amboise, a town as charming as it is steeped in history. Here, you can visit the royal Château d'Amboise, perched high above the Loire, and above all Le Clos Lucé, the last home of Leonardo da Vinci. It was here that the Italian genius spent the last years of his life, surrounded by his inventions and ideas. You can enter his world and discover models, drawings and gardens inspired by his work.
After this complete immersion in the Renaissance, return to Lyon with a wealth of memories and perhaps a bottle of wine in the bag.
Itinerary
Gigantic castle
Double spiral staircase designed by da Vinci
History of Francis I
Stroll through the forest park
Panoramic view from the terraces
Check-in
Medieval city center
Dinner with friends
Club outing
Place Plumereau stroll
Wine tasting
Winery tour
Troglodyte cellar tour
Introduction to Loire white wines
Château royal d'Amboise
Leonardo da Vinci's Clos Lucé house
Leonardo da Vinci's tomb
Stroll along the banks of the Loire
Panoramic view of the valley
Students talk about it better than we do
SELINA
Antonio
ELIZABETH 
ALESSANDRO
GRACE
AmiraMembership card
With the Erasmus Place membership card you can benefit all year round! Pssst, it's not compulsory to take part in trips!
- Reduced prices on all our trips from all our cities!
- Cancel and be reimbursed up to 48 hours before departure
- Some free or reduced-price events just for you all year round!
Unforgettable destinations!
Invited by François I, Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life in France, at the Château du Clos Lucé, near Amboise. He arrived with his notebooks, his works and even the Mona Lisa. In Chambord, he probably designed the famous central double staircase.
Did you know? Leonardo da Vinci is buried in Amboise, in the chapel of the royal chateau. His presence in France marks a strong link between Italian art and French history.
The most imposing of the Loire châteaux. You're immediately struck by its size, turrets, staircases and incredible sculpted roof. With over 400 rooms, it's a true architectural masterpiece in the heart of the Sologne forest.
Did you know? Its central, double-revolution staircase is said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci at the invitation of Francis I.
This discreet little village is famous for its white wines produced in cellars dug directly into the rock. A true immersion in the wine-making tradition of the Loire. You'll discover the secrets of wine-making, from the vine to the glass.
Did you know? Vouvray wine is one of the oldest in France. It is mentioned as early as the Middle Ages in the writings of kings and monks.
A lively student city, Tours is perfect for an Erasmus evening. Its old center is full of charm, with cobbled streets, old facades and little squares where you'll enjoy stopping. France's largest medieval city
Did you know? Tours was the capital of France at the time of the Merovingians, long before Paris.
Amboise
A former Renaissance capital and royal residence, Amboise offers a fairytale atmosphere with its cobbled streets and château overlooking the Loire.
Did you know? Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life at Le Clos Lucé, right next to the château, where you can still visit his workshop.
Château du Clos Lucé
Leonardo da Vinci's last home, this manor house steeped in history houses his models, sketches and reconstructions of his inventions. The park is also an interactive space that brings his genius to life.
Did you know? Francis I, a great admirer of Leonardo, gave him Clos Lucé in 1516. The painter lived there until his death in 1519.
Unforgettable destinations!
Invited by François I, Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life in France, at the Château du Clos Lucé, near Amboise. He arrived with his notebooks, his works and even the Mona Lisa. In Chambord, he probably designed the famous central double staircase.
Did you know? Leonardo da Vinci is buried in Amboise, in the chapel of the royal chateau. His presence in France marks a strong link between Italian art and French history.
The most imposing of the Loire châteaux. You're immediately struck by its size, turrets, staircases and incredible sculpted roof. With over 400 rooms, it's a true architectural masterpiece in the heart of the Sologne forest.
Did you know? Its central, double-revolution staircase is said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci at the invitation of Francis I.
This discreet little village is famous for its white wines produced in cellars dug directly into the rock. A true immersion in the wine-making tradition of the Loire. You'll discover the secrets of wine-making, from the vine to the glass.
Did you know? Vouvray wine is one of the oldest in France. It is mentioned as early as the Middle Ages in the writings of kings and monks.
A lively student city, Tours is perfect for an Erasmus evening. Its old center is full of charm, with cobbled streets, old facades and little squares where you'll enjoy stopping. France's largest medieval city
Did you know? Tours was the capital of France at the time of the Merovingians, long before Paris.
Amboise
A former Renaissance capital and royal residence, Amboise offers a fairytale atmosphere with its cobbled streets and château overlooking the Loire.
Did you know? Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life at Le Clos Lucé, right next to the château, where you can still visit his workshop.
Château du Clos Lucé
Leonardo da Vinci's last home, this manor house steeped in history houses his models, sketches and reconstructions of his inventions. The park is also an interactive space that brings his genius to life.
Did you know? Francis I, a great admirer of Leonardo, gave him Clos Lucé in 1516. The painter lived there until his death in 1519.
Our charters
At Erasmus Place, the journey begins as soon as you get on the bus. It's a friendly atmosphere, where people get to know each other, have a laugh and share music and tips.
Our buses are comfortable, air-conditioned and equipped with toilets, barring major exceptions. We want you to feel at ease, even during several hours of driving. To make sure everything goes smoothly, we also have a few simple rules: respect for everyone, no inappropriate behavior, no consumption of alcohol or banned substances on the bus.
For each trip, we select quality establishments, always with a minimum 2-star rating for hotels. Whether it's a hotel or a hostel, you can count on comfortable, clean and conveniently located accommodation.
Our hotels and hostels are always located in the city center, close to places of interest and local entertainment, so you can make the most of your stay without wasting time in transport. With a few exceptions.
Rooms are shared among friends, in a relaxed atmosphere, but we respect a simple rule: men stay with men, women with women. Rooms are divided into groups of 2, 3 or 4 people, depending on the configuration of the site. If you're traveling as a couple, it's possible to have a room for two, but only by prior arrangement.
We want you to feel comfortable, surrounded and safe throughout your stay.
Each Erasmus Place trip is supervised by one or more trained Tour Leaders, who are friendly and always available. Their role is to ensure that your stay is well organized, that the group is safe and that a friendly atmosphere prevails from departure to return. They welcome you, inform you, lead the trips, coordinate the different stages of the program and listen to you throughout the trip.
Our Tour Leaders are fluent in between two and five languages, including English, making it easy to communicate with all participants, whatever their nationality. They are not certified guides like those you find in museums, but they know perfectly well the destinations they visit, the instructions for the trip, and the good tips to share. They're there to accompany you, reassure you, answer your questions, deal with the unexpected and make sure you get the most out of your Erasmus experience.
Their aim is simple: to make sure you return home with your head full of memories... and the desire to go back (alone or with us!).