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Regions à la carte
Western France - Loire Valley
Loire
Valley region at a glance |
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 Major city:
Orleans,
Tours
One hour from
Paris by TGV train
Lush Loire river valley
Historical castles of the French royalty
Perfect landscape for biking, barging or ballooning
The Loire Valley is rich
with meandering streams, majestic oaks, quiet roads, and
lush green countryside. Its royal châteaux and pastoral
villages grace its overwhelming natural beauty.
Easy access from Paris, breathtaking architectural
masterpieces, tiny discoveries hidden in the gentle folds
of the landscape, accommodations from delightful to
sumptuous, the excitement of great food and wine, sports
and leisure activities make this an ideal spot for an
unforgettable holiday. Visitors can delight in the hotels
and inns on picturesque cobblestone streets and take day
tours to the many points of interest just minutes from
every major Loire Valley town.
The patchwork fields, cool forests and lazy rivers of the
Loire Valley invite the active vacationers to walk,
cycle, windsurf, sail and canoe in the gentle
countryside. Tennis players and golfers will find first
rate facilities throughout the region. Visitors can drift
leisurely over the châteaux and countryside in a hot air
balloon or enjoy the spectacular sights from while
floating along on a houseboat or barge.
Fairs, festivals, pageants and concerts fill the Loire
calendar from spring to autumn. Sound and light
productions at Amboise, Chenonceau, Blois, Valençay and
Azay-le-Rideau bring royal chateau history and tradition
to life.
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Places of
interest |
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Amboise |
Chateau overlooking the river, Clos
Lucé and Leonardo da Vinci Museum with scale
models of his inventions |
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Azay-le-Rideau
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Renaissance chateau |
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Blois |
Chateau with architecture from
Middle Ages to Neo-Classical periods, City Hall,
St. Louis Cathedral, Anne of Brittany Pavilion |
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Chambord
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Renaissance chateau and its park and
terraces, grandiose creation of François I |
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Chartres |
Cathedral with famous stained glass
windows |
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Chenonceau |
Chateau with great gallery and
bridge |
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Cheverny
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Delightful privately owned chateau |
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Chinon |
Old town, Pavillon de l'Horloge,
Joan of Arc Museum, Church of St. Maurice |
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Langeais |
Chateau and tapestry collection |
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Loches |
Old town, chateau and it
fortifications |
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Orléans |
Holy Cross Cathedral, House of Joan
of Arc |
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Tours |
Renaissance and Neo-Classical
mansions, Cathedral of St. Gatien, museums of
archeology, modern art |
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Vendôme |
Tour St. Martin, La Trinité |
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Villandry |
Famous renaissance gardens |
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Vouvray
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Wine cellars |
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Technical
tourism and sports |
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Arts and crafts, wicker, china,
stained glass, tin soldiers, wine cellars and
vineyards, food processing industries (Poulain
Chocolate).
The numerous wine areas include Sancerre,
Reuilly, Vouvray, Touraine, Bourgueil and
Montlouis. Most wine cellars can accommodate
groups of up to 40 persons with two-week advance
notice.
Ballooning, cycling, golf, horseback riding,
water sports.
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Cuisine |
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Freshwater fish such as
salmon, perch and trout are regional favorites.
Mushrooms from the local caves and wild duck,
pheasant, hare, boar, deer and quail are also
classics. Goat cheeses or chèvre such as the Crottin
de Chavignol, Valençay, Pouligny-Saint Pierre,
Sainte-Maure and Selles-sur-Cher
are a particular specialty of the region. The
famous French upside-down apple pie known as the
"tarte tatin"
also comes from the Loire Valley.
Loire Valley wines are earthy, flinty Sancerre,
both the outstanding white and the lesser-known
red; the light red Chinon;
and the lightly sparkling Vouvray
are all good choices. Most Loire wines, even the
reds, should be served chilled.
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