Plus 15% at the royal fortress of Chinon, plus 25% at the royal city of Loches, plus 50% at the royal castle of Amboise… Operation Christmas in the land of castles only ends this Sunday, January 5, 2025 but already, the number of entries for the month of December makes your head spin.
After an already record year in 2023 with + 47% visitors compared to the previous year, the 8e edition promises to be that of a new success. “In terms of attendance, we are reaching the levels of the high summer season”compares Caroline Darrasse, the communications manager of the Château de Chenonceau. For this last weekend before the Christmas lights go out, there were still many visitors.
“People come back every year”
“It’s stunning”enthuse Élise and Alexis, in front of the abundant decorations of the Château de Villandry. With their two children, they visited their third site on Friday after Chenonceau and Amboise, without any weariness. “We received a pass at Christmas”explains this family from Charente. These packs of three, five or seven entries offered by the tourist offices of Touraine seem to have contributed to the success of this season. “The passes worked very well this yearconfirms Catherine Daniélou, the communications manager for the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. Compared to last year, we sold three to four times more. »
The decorations installed for Christmas in the land of castles are particularly appreciated by families, like here, at the Château de Langeais.
© (Photo NR, Hugues Le Guellec)
The groups were also there, even more numerous than during the previous edition. “We saw French retirees, foreigners, from the beginning of December, noted Samuel Buchwalder, communications manager at the royal castle of Amboise. This is proof that the promotional work carried out by the Touraine departmental tourism agency is bearing fruit. »
If a large proportion of visitors come from outside the department, the people of Tourange also seem to appreciate the formula. At the Château de Villandry, they represent “perhaps a third of the visitors, believes Eugénie Bonnet, the reception manager. Many come with family and bring relatives from elsewhere. »
This is the case of Isabelle, who came that day with her grandson Charlie. “Azay and Villandry are particularly good for children, it allows them to discover the castles from another angle”she appreciates, already planning to visit other castles participating in the operation next year.
Proof that Christmas in the land of castles is now anchored in the landscape of the tourist offer, the increasing number of visitors who return each year. “We make a different castle every year”illustrious Béatrice and Philippe, motorhome drivers from Indre, who come especially for this Christmas period “because the settings are magical”. And even a few aficionados “come back to the same castle from one year to the next to see the new decorations”noticed Eugénie Bonnet in Villandry.
An “emulation” between the castles
“There is now a real expectationestimates Catherine Daniélou, in Azay-le-Rideau. This pushes us to maintain a high level of quality. » Rather than competition, it is a real “emulation” which carries the seven castles participating in the operation in Indre-et-Loire. Each year, exchanges between the different sites fuel the preparations. “The collective pushes us”welcomes Samuel Buchwalder, in Amboise. Where the theme of the next edition is already almost decided. “We are going to work on it now and from May-June, we will start designing the route”he projects. For an even more magical Christmas in the land of castles in 2025… And frequented?
As soon as the decorations have been removed at the beginning of January, the castles are already starting to prepare for the next edition. Here, the installation of the sets at the royal city of Loches.
© (Photo NR, Julien Lucas)
Sunday January 5, 2025, like every first Sunday of the month from November to March, the Azay-le-Rideau castle will be open free of charge to the public, from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (last access to the castle one hour before closing).
