LOIRE VALLEY Mediaeval art and architecture between Tours, Orléans and Bourges

7  days | £3160 per person with Eurostar |  19 - 25 April 2027

Highlights of French Gothic

The gentle landscape of the Loire and Petit Loir Valleys – pastel skies and white limestone buildings – is the setting for our exploration of mediaeval and Renaissance art and architecture in an area famous for its innumerable châteaux. However, this Art Pursuits study tour will focus on an equally rich – though unjustly often overlooked – religious heritage, ranging from the ninth to the sixteenth centuries and including exceptional ensembles of sculptures, wall painting and even mosaic. At its heart, the abbey of St Benoît-sur-Loire houses the relics of St Benedict, founder of Western monasticism. His presence brought with it an intellectual and spiritual gravitas, which, in the Romanesque period, inspired the flowering of church architecture in the area such as Loches. In the later Middle Ages, the Loire valley became a favourite spot for the pleasure palaces of the French aristocracy. It is still a place for the discerning connoisseur of the good life, with a distinctive local cuisine and the fine wines of the Loire, including Samur and Chinon.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Eurostar from London to Paris and onward to Tours by TGV. Check in to our hotel in the centre for welcome drinks and our first meal together.

Day 2

By coach through the tranquil Vallée du Loir. The chapel of Saint-Gilles in Montoire-sur-le-Loire is adorned with graceful Romanesque murals. Continue to the troglodyte village of Trôo and cross the river to the modest church of Saint-Jacques des Guérets, celebrated for its late twelfth-century wall painting. Nearby, picturesque Lavardin – ‘l’un des plus beaux villages de France’ – has preserved its mediaeval appearance, with a Gothic bridge and grandiose ruined fortress. Lavardin’s village church of Saint-Genest is embellished with primitive historiated capitals and decoration from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries.

Day 3

A day on foot around the city of Tours. The cathedral was constructed slowly, from the 13^th to the 15^th centuries, and as such provides a potted history of French Gothic styles. It also boasts a fine range of stained glass.

Day 4

St-Benoit-sur-Loire has been a major place of pilgrimage since the relics of St Benedict were brought here from Montecassino in 673. In addition to its elegant architecture, the church boasts sculpture from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries. Nearby lies the Oratory of Germigny-des-Prés, built in 806 for Bishop Theodulp, Charlemagne’s close adviser, who had his county residence in the area. Despite later alterations, this little church preserves fragments of wall paintings and stucco reliefs. La pièce de résistance is a magnificent apse mosaic – sole survivor of this art form from the Carolingian era.

Day 5

Check out and coach to the citadel of Loches for an evocation of mediaeval times. A Carolingian foundation – it is hard to beat; the Norman castle keep is one of the most imposing of all of France. The collegiate church of Saint-Ours is remarkable for the mythical beasts carved on the archivolts of its main portal. The skyline of St-Aignan-sur-Cher is dominated by a huge collégiale (in addition to the obligatory château). While the church features some fine twelfth-century capitals, the crypt is an artistic jewel featuring sumptuous murals. Notre Dame la Blanche at Selles-sur-Cher is famed for the rich narrative Romanesque frieze running round its east end. Continue to Bourges and check in to our hotel for the next two nights.

Hôtel Oceania l’Univers Tours

Hôtel Oceania L’Univers Tours is an historic hotel in the heart of Tours, France, dating back to 1846 and combining classic Belle Époque charm with modern design and facilities. It is located just a few minutes’ walk from Tours train station and the city’s main attractions. Blending historic architecture with modern comfort, the property offers a stylish and central stay in Tours.

Hôtel de Bourbon – Mercure Bourges

Hôtel de Bourbon – Mercure Bourges is a charming hotel set in a beautifully restored former 17th-century abbey, just a short walk from the historic centre of Bourges and the train station. Surrounded by a leafy park, the hotel blends heritage architecture with contemporary comfort, offering modern rooms, a bar lounge with terrace, and a partner restaurant located in the abbey’s former chapel. The hotel provides a peaceful and elegant stay.

With Eurostar: £3160

Join Direct: £3010

Single Supp: £400

Deposit:  £450

Departure Dates:

19 - 25 April 2027

Duration:

6 nights / 7 days

Your Holiday Includes:

• Return travel with Eurostar from London to Paris, and TGV train from Paris to Tours, returning from Bourges
• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel Oceania l’Univers Tours
• Two night's bed and breakfast Hôtel de Bourbon – Mercure Bourges
• Private coach transfers and excursions
• Three evening meals and two lunches
• Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
• Services of the Tour Lecturer and Tour Manager
• Detailed programme and study notes
• All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff
  

Tour Lecturer

Dr Richard Plant

Richard is an architectural historian specialising in the Middle Ages, with a strong interest in the modern. After reading English at Cambridge, he obtained an MA in the History of Art and a PhD on English Romanesque and the Holy Roman Empire at the Courtauld. He went on to teach at the Courtauld, as well as at University College and Queen Mary College, London, where he taught both medieval and modern architectural history. He was formerly the Deputy Academic Director at Christie’s Education and has published on English and German architecture.



Travel Information

The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.

Art Pursuits use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.

Stamina

Please note that most of our tours involve a large amount of walking, across uneven ground and often without the opportunity to sit down for at least half an hour. We ask that clients inform us if they have difficulties before booking to avoid any issues whilst on tour.