Our tour guide was excellent, giving us real insight into the lives of the kings and queens who lived in these castles. We visited d'Amboise on our tour, which was a favorite of Leonardo da Vinci. He is buried here. I am a huge da Vinci buff so this was a thrill for me. The town surrounding the castle is just what you expect a quaint French town to be, and there was plenty of time for shopping, lunch, or just relaxing at an outdoor bistro. Chenonceau is a must see. Google a little history before you visit, and you will appreciate it even more. There is even a hedge maze! This tour is quite a long bus ride from Paris, but worth it. Awesome.