Loire Valley Travel Guide

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Loire Valley
Le Chateau d' Amboise
Renowned for its fine wine, sumptuous châteaux and Renaissance intrigue, the valley of the Loire is rich in both history and architecture. Like the River Loire, this vast region runs through the heart of French life. Its sophisticated cities, luxuriant landscape and magnificent food and wine add up to a bourgeois paradise.

Historic towns and magnificent chateaux line the valley, including the striking Chateau d'Usse, which inspired the Sleeping Beauty fairytale as well as the Disneyland castle. Loire Valley was for a long period, until Henri IV moved his court to Paris, the home of Royalty and the intellectual capital of France. The towns of Tours and Angers, both on the river, act as good bases from which to explore the area and its many delights. Although there are train and bus services to most towns they are limiting for tourists and it is best to hire your own transport to fully explore the region. Consider renting a bike; this is wonderful and easy cycling country.




Attractions

Le Chateau d' Amboise

Amboise

On the banks of the Loire, 20 miles (32km) east of Tours, is the Renaissance town of Amboise, a popular holiday destination. Both historic and beautiful, Amboise attracts tourists by the busload, but this doesn't detract from its charm. It has been the...  see full details



Angers © Moyogo/Denis Jacquerye

Angers

The holiday destination of Angers straddles the Maine River, towards the west of the Loire Valley, and is a popular base from which to explore the local sites and the surrounding châteaux country. Angers is a busy regional centre and university city with an...  see full details



Blois © Wolfgang Meinhart

Blois

Much of the historic ambience of medieval Blois remains preserved in its white-washed houses and narrow cobbled alleys, but modernity has impacted quite severely on this, the noble former seat of the dukes of Orléans. Tourists still flock to Blois on holiday to visit...  see full details



Château d'Angers © Wikipediastar/Kauczuk

Château d'Angers

A kilometre-long wall, studded with 17 circular towers, surrounds this vast medieval fortress. Visitors can tour Château d'Angers, including the courtyard, prison, ramparts, windmill tower, 15th century chapel, and royal apartments. The overriding reason however for coming here is to see the 328-foot (100m) Tapestry...  see full details



Château d'Ussé © ell brown

Château d'Ussé

The Château d'Ussé overlooks the Indre River, built by Charles VII in the mid-15th century. The fairytale castle passed through the hands of many nobles, and was said to have inspired Charles Perrault to write the story of Sleeping Beauty. It subsequently inspired Walt...  see full details



Chateaux de Chambord © Chateaux de Chambord

Château de Chambord

Eleven miles (18km) east of Blois, the vast Château de Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley. It was commissioned by François I, who wanted to outshine the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, and the result is a spectacular Renaissance masterpiece with...  see full details



Château de Chenonceau © Günther Eichler

Château de Chenonceau

Only a few miles outside Tours, on the River Cher, the Château de Chenonceau is probably the most celebrated of the many châteaux in the Loire valley. It was used as a mill in the Middle Ages and bridges the whole width of...  see full details



Fontevraud Abbey © Wantedpixel

Fontevraud Abbey

Built in the 12th century, Fontevraud Abbey is thought to be the site of the graves of King Henry II of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, their son King Richard I, however it is not known exactly where their bodies are interred....  see full details



Orléans © Calips/GIRAUD Patrick

Orléans

At one time the second most important city in France after Paris, Orléans is today a modest and attractive city well worth a day visit to explore its cobbled streets. Chief attractions are the magnificent neo-Gothic Orléans Cathedral, the House of Joan of Arc,...  see full details



Puy du Fou

Puy du Fou

Puy du Fou is a historical themepark in western France, attracting over 1.5 million visitors a year, making it the second most popular paid attraction in the country. The experience is akin to being on a giant interactive movie set as different historical scenes...  see full details



Château de Saumur © ltdan

Saumur

Saumur is located at the confluence of the Loire and Thouet rivers in Loire Valley. The region is known for producing world-renowned wines, and also produces mushrooms in an interesting undergrounds process viewable to the public. Saumur is home to the Château de Saumur,...  see full details



Tours

Tours

Located at the junction of the Loire and the Cher Rivers, the holiday destination of Tours is a great base for exploring the valley. The town was badly bombed during the last war and many buildings were replaced with ugly apartment blocks. Tours...  see full details



Château Villandry © Ebeisher

Villandry

Five miles (8km) outside Tours is the tiny village of Villandry and its wonderful château. The château is best known for its gardens that are open between February and November. It is not your standard ornamental garden; between the vine-shaded paths and ornamental box...  see full details


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