Loire - New - Curated Touring

Loire valley, France

Highlights

Explore the regal Loire Valley, a perfect patchwork of stunning chateaux, idyllic countryside, medieval towns, and world-class vineyards

Delight in completely private, off-hours visits to the greatest chateaux in the world: Amboise, Chambord, Chenonceau, and Villandry, including their exquisitely landscaped gardens

Embark on extraordinary private visits to vineyards – led by sommeliers, vintners, and owners – to sample the staggering biodiversity of Loire wines

Enjoy Half-day trips to the towns of Bourges and Tours, as well as exploration of the Loire riverscape by hot-air balloon

Savor private dining and tasting events with top Michelin-starred chefs, chocolatiers, and cheesemongers, all set in historic medieval and Renaissance venues

info@curatedtouring.com

Meagan green labunski, Ph.D.

Meagan received her undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Ph.D. at Duke University. She has taught students at Duke, Texas A&M University, and Baylor University. Her research has been supported by a number of distinguished fellowships and institutions, including the U.S. Fulbright Commission, The Getty Research Institute, and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation. Although her primary area of expertise is art and architecture in Medieval and Renaissance Italy, she enjoys teaching a variety of topics and periods, including European Modernism, post-war American painting, and Scotland in the Middle Ages.

Meagan lives in Austin with her husband, three young children, two dogs and a slightly cranky hedgehog. She spends her free time playing tennis, reading, hiking, and painting. She is a lover of Giotto, a great admirer of Bernini, and an enthusiast for all things Ravenna. For Meagan, few things taste better than homemade pasta all’uovo, warm Ligurian focaccia, or a bright Valpolicella. Pastries are her love language.

Matt Woodworth, Ph.D.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in Art History at Brown University, Matt completed his Master’s degree at the Courtauld Institute of Art (London) and then his Ph.D. at Duke University. Matt has taught students at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) and also at Duke. His research has been supported by numerous prestigious foundations, including the Society of Architectural Historians, the Kress Foundation, and the Paul Mellon Centre for British Art. While his own research focuses on Gothic architecture in England, other favorite subjects include ancient Rome and Egypt, early Art Deco, and the stained glass of American artist Rowan LeCompte (1925-2014).

Matt has recently moved to Austin, where he currently resides with two chickens, neither of which are his. He has discovered the delights of Tex-Mex and is currently on a quest for The Perfect Taco. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, concerts, and getting in really dorky debates about Latin grammar and etymology. After years of traveling the world, he still thinks that the best meal on Earth is local dim sum on a Sunday morning. He has very strong opinions about where one should and should not eat gelato in Italy.