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The Loire Valley

The historic heart of France the Loire Valley is noted for its Chateaux, widely considered to be the most beautiful in the world. Unspoilt by industry or mass tourism the region has much natural beauty with pleasant undulating woodlands, lakes, rivers, orchards and fields of sunflowers.

The Loire is the longest river in France (1000kms), the last wild river in Europe, and has been designated a World Heritage area by UNESCO.

Along with its architectural treasures and history, the Loire valley is rich and fertile farming country, crisscrossed with tributaries from the Loire, forested and famous also for its food and wine.

To visit the Chateaux of the Loire is to take a step back in time to past centuries of French aristocratic life. No other stretch of river can boast so many royal residences, with over 120 fairytale castles and mansions perched on its banks.

From the mountains of central France to the coast of Brittany - the Loire is vineyard country, and total wine production makes it the third largest AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) viticultural area in France. It is the largest white wine region in France and the second largest for sparkling wine.

The Loire Valley is great riding country and cycling and a wonderful way to explore the countryside. You can hire horses for an hour or a day to suit all levels of expertise and there are golf courses, and good fishing in the rivers. Village fetes, festivals, concerts and theatre are held throughout the year.

Towns of the Loire Valley
Amboise is worth a visit for its château, lovely old buildings and very good food shops. Leonardo da Vinci was brought here to work on the château and spent the last years of his life and died, in the 15th century manor house of Le Clos-Lucé, just outside the town where many of his inventions are on display today.

Blois is a busy market centre for the thriving agricultural area surrounding it, but is known mainly for the massively magnificent château of Chambord nearby. Further south is Valençay, where you should taste the wine and visit the château with its spectacular formal gardens.

In Chartres you will find the Cathedral of Notre-Dame which is among the best preserved of the major French cathedrals, with its extensive examples of sculpture and stained glass. It was a major site of pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin Mary, to whom the cathedral is dedicated.

Orléans, and its association with Joan of Arc is at the most northerly point of the Loire River and there is more than enough here to keep you busy for several days. It is also the centre of its own wine producing area, and you can visit some of the surrounding villages to taste.

Tours, in the 15th century, was the capital of France. Now the medieval old quarter of the city has been blocked off for pedestrian use and is full of cafes, boutiques and galleries.


Perhaps no region of France (with the exception of Paris) is regarded as so typically French as the valley of the Loire. The choice of self catering accommodation and the plethora of hotels housed in the chateaux and stately homes along the river means that you can experience the spirit and style of the French Renaissance, where for almost two centuries; this valley was the home of French kings.

Photo: Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire, near Orléans