Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau

Follow the D37 out of central Tours and, 17 km later across the Loire’s flat alluvial plain and the poplar‑lined banks of the Cher, Villandry comes into view. Reimagined by Dr. Joachim Carvallo from 1906, its terraced gardens unfold in geometric panels: an ornamental kitchen garden, a reflecting water garden, a yew maze and tight boxwood parterres. Sixteen kilometers further southwest, Azay‑le‑Rideau mirrors itself in the River Indre, a Renaissance jewel begun around 1518 under financier Gilles Berthelot. Two landmarks, two eras, both obsessed with perspective and the art of Loire‑valley living.

Your driver collects you at your hotel in Tours, keeps the Mercedes on standby and times each leg so you never worry about parking or queues. Explore Villandry at your pace, then slip along the scenic back road via Savonnières to Azay‑le‑Rideau while he handles the wheel and logistics; at Azay, linger for the shop or a coffee by the water mirror. Around Tours, our private chauffeur knows the quickest access points, can pre‑book entry slots when needed, and will swap the order to chase the best light or avoid crowds.