During the Christmas period, the Loire Valley becomes a veritable fairytale: many châteaux are decked out in fairytale decorations, offering special events, and some even open up areas that are usually closed to celebrate the magic of the festive season. 🎄 Christmas in the Land of Castles - Must-See Events 🏰 Chambord Castle Enchanting lights, giant Christmas trees, family entertainment A grandiose atmosphere in a royal setting 🏰 Château de Cheverny Spectacular decorations, Christmas trees, festive table, warm atmosphere Children's activities and a visit to the world of Tintin 🏰 Blois Castle Renaissance decorations, costumed entertainment, light shows 🏰 Chenonceau Castle Christmas floral decorations in every room, elegance and refinement Ideal for a romantic visit 🏰 Château d'Amboise Royal and historic Christmas atmosphere Workshops, nativity scenes, magnificent views over the Loire 🏰 Langeais Castle Medieval Christmas, ancient traditions and period decorations 🏰 Clos Lucé (Amboise) Leonardo da Vinci's house decorated with sobriety and creativity 🧒 Bonus: Family activities Christmas markets in Blois, Tours and Orléans Beauval ZooPark decorated for the festive season Ice rinks, merry-go-rounds and street shows near the châteaux 📍 Tip: These châteaux are all less than 1h30 from your Sologne gîte, perfect for magical winter excursions! Must-see châteaux 🎯 In the immediate vicinity of the Sologne : Château de Chambord The emblem of the French Renaissance, François I's architectural masterpiece. Huge park, trails, boat rides, entertainment in season. Château de Cheverny Elegant and furnished, famous for having inspired Moulinsart in Tintin. Superb grounds and Tintin exhibition. Château de Blois Located in the town centre, rich in royal history, superb sound and light show in summer. Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire Known for its International Garden Festival, a place of art and botany. 🌿 In the Loire Valley (accessible from the Sologne): Château d'Amboise Panoramic view over the Loire, Leonardo da Vinci's tomb. Clos Lucé (Amboise) Last home of Leonardo da Vinci, interactive museum on his inventions. Chenonceau Castle The elegant, romantic "ladies' castle" built on the Cher. Château de Sully-sur-Loire An impressive medieval fortress, often less visited. 🚴‍♀️ Sports and outdoor activities 🌲 In the heart of nature (Sologne forests and lakes) : Hiking and mountain biking Numerous signposted trails through forests, moors and ponds. Horse riding Numerous riding centres - Sologne = land of horses! Canoeing on the Loire and Cher rivers Magnificent scenery, heritage seen from the water. Tree climbing Several parks in Sologne or around the châteaux (especially near Cheverny and Blois). Wildlife watching Deer, wild boar, birds: the stag roaring season (mid-September to early October) is very spectacular! Golf Several courses in the region: Golf de Cheverny, Golf de la Picardière, etc. 👨‍👩‍👧 Fun, cultural and family activities Beauval ZooPark Rated one of the world's most beautiful zoos - giant pandas, tropical domes, shows... 45 minutes from Sologne. Theme houses : Maison des Étangs (Saint-Viâtre) Maison du Cerf (Villeny) House of Magic (Blois) Tourist train, horse-drawn carriage rides or traditional boats on the Loire Wine tasting and local produce: AOC Cheverny, Cour-Cheverny, Touraine... Goat's cheese (Selles-sur-Cher), Sologne honey, game... Local markets and flea markets Theme parks and gardens: Parc floral de la Source (Orléans) Roquelin Gardens (Meung-sur-Loire)

Itinerary by car from Orléans Estimated road distance: 59.4 km (approximately 69 km as the crow flies) Estimated journey time: 55 to 56 minutes depending on traffic and type of road Recommended route (general) Head south-east from Orléans, taking the D2157 (formerly the RN157) from Orléans to Salbris via the Sologne. Reach Salbris, then continue towards nearby Souesmes via the local departmental roads. Arrival at the Du Côté de chez Souesmes gîte address Suggested route on departure: Poitiers. Possible route : Take the N147 / D347 towards Tours / Châteauroux / Chauvigny, then branch off towards Romorantin-Lanthenay or Salbris . Approach Salbris, then take the local roads to Souesmes, which is a short distance to the north-east of Salbris. Finally, reach 49 route de Nançay, in Souesmes.