Things to do when it's raining! Loire Valley, France.

What can you do when it rains?

Here, as elsewhere, there will always be the chance of a shower or two. The rain is even welcome to water the “garden of France”, to fill up the phreatic zones and to make sure the rivers keep flowing. Whatever happens, rest assured: your holiday in Touraine won’t be spoiled by two or three hours of rain. Here are a few ideas to keep you busy…

…starting of course with the visits to the châteaux (where you can, for example, explore the interiors with the help of a Histopad) and museums, or the spas (where you might well get wet, but at least it is your decision!).

The Grand Aquarium of Touraine

Talking of water, how about beginning at the Aquarium of Touraine? You can see three ecosystems, with freshwater fish from the River Loire, freshwater fish from the Tropics and, of course, sea fish. And if a few raindrops are still falling after the visit, then you can continue with a trip to the Conservatoire de la Confiserie d’Amboise sweet factory, less than 10 km away.

Aquarium de Touraine. Loire Valley, France. What to do when it rains

The Aquarium of Touraine

Find shelter in a cave

Troglodyte caves are especially well adapted for maturing wine. A wide range of visits to the caves are available, including with the children: a long tour of the Saint-Roch Blanc Foussy cellars or the Maison Laudacius, a Rabelaisian staging in the Cave de la Sibylle and even an odyssey through the vintages in the Caves Ambacia!

Do you like games? Then head for the Chai Pierre & Bertrand Couly or the Cave de Vouvray for an escape game on a wine theme.

Escape game at the Vouvray cellar. Loire Valley, France. Things to do when it's raining!

Escape game at the Cave de Vouvray

Manual activities

On this theme, in Touraine, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a wickerwork workshop on offer, for instance, at the Art Centre around wickerwork and Plume et Brin d’Osier. But in another area of creation than wickerwork, the ceramics workshops organised at Ana Céramiques near Vouvray are also much appreciated. And what can we say about the cooking lessons at Cook N’Go and Tours à Table? Yum!

It’s also worth noting that during the school holidays, regular workshops are on offer at the Grand-Pressigny Prehistoric Museum (drawing with flint, jewellery making, pottery, etc.) and at the Château de Gizeux (a stained-glass window workshop, traditional bread baking).

Wicker workshop at Plume et brin d'osier

Grand-Pressigny Museum

Ana Céramiques

A fun break!

Like many towns, Tours can boast a whole host of leisure facilities which are great places to take refuge during rainy weather. It is up to you to see what you prefer: