During the hundred years war between the French and the English the Loire valley was a frontier zone, so many castles transformed into fortresses. When peace came during the midth century, they were remodelled as pleasure palaces for the aristocracy.
Besides castles and spectacular scenery, several lively towns and cities, each with their own charms, add appeal — from Nantes, a thriving cultural hub in the west, to the ancient cathedral town of Tours, the main town in the valley, and Angers with its busy nightlife.
The Loire valley is often referred to as the garden of France too, thanks to the superb produce - top restaurants in Paris get their fresh ingredients here. Once there it pays to hire a car, but cycling is a great way to explore too. Loire a Velo cyclingloire. At every turn in the road, it seems, a magical chateau appears. Chambord , the largest of the Loire chateaux, is a white-limestone masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, begun by King Francois in and completed a century later by Louis XIV.
Great gardens Some of the chateaux gardens are destinations in their own right. It was established by Prince Albert de Broglie in , and he still cultivates over varieties of heirloom tomatoes here, which are sold fresh and as preserves labourdaisiere. With its mass of turrets and chimneys, the Chateau de Chambord — commissioned by Francis I and conceived by Leonardo da Vinci — is perhaps the most iconic.
To admire its magnificence you need to take your time: 60 of the rooms are open to visitors. In the grounds, you can even experience the inventions of this visionary engineer by walking on a paddle steamer or crossing a swing bridge! But did you know? Not all the chateaux of the Loire are built on the Loire itself. And the photogenic Chateau de Chenonceau sees its gallery in the waters of the Cher. And the gardens restore the spirit of an era during which refinement was also expressed in the landscape.
Because when you talk about the chateaux of the Loire, you talk about the art of gardens. The Chateau de Villandry is well worth a visit for its magnificent terraced gardens. As for the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire , it stands out with its international garden festival, which gives a carte blanche to landscape designers from around the world. Coming to the Loire Valley means extending the adventure to Nantes. Beyond its Chateau of the Dukes of Brittany, Nantes is also bursting with unique modern creativity.
Numerous tasty dishes are accompanied by a rich choice of wines. Nantes is a whole destination in itself! After the culture, soak in the nature: go for a walk in the Parc de la Gloriette, the green heart of nearly hectares about acres south of the city. Among the wines of the Loire, Sancerre occupies 3, hectares acres of vineyards on the left bank of the river, along the Cher.
The vineyards here have been awarded the label «Vineyards and Discoveries», a guarantee of quality hospitality in wine tourism. It is up to you to choose among the 15 or so winemakers who love to share their passion from generation to generation. Since , from April to October, this international festival puts the art of Loire Valley gardens in the spotlight, held in the hectare 24 acre park of Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Go there to fill up on ideas, discover new landscape creations from around the world and dream about experimental gardens. From its rocky promontory, the fortress has had a strategic location since ancient times!
This stronghold has been the setting for many territorial wars and historical events. Today, we can discover the fortress via an "escape game," in the footsteps of a secret chapel.
Study your grimoire and get started! Overall, there are actors in costumes, 60 fighters and stuntmen and 15 horses that will bring unforgettable moments to life in the midst of fireworks, flames and fountains. Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur, Vouvray, Muscadet—these are just some of the various appellations of the Loire Valley, scattered over kilometers miles between Blois and Nantes. From a bird's eye view, the landscape looks so different!
The balloon brings a breath of new sensations. Flying over the castle of Chenonceau or Chambord in tranquility, glide above the sandy shores of the Loire, and glance over the vineyards stretching out to the forests teeming with wildlife.
Swimming is supervised by lifeguards in summer, and many activities are offered: canoeing, stand-up paddling, peddle-boating—perfect for a break en famille! Hundreds of thousands of species are exhibited—take your time to discover the giant greenhouses, explore the tropical jungle, climb into the static air balloon or even discuss the blooms with park's gardners.
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