- |
- TRAVEL
- |
- Europe
- |
- French Europe
- |
- France
- |
- Loire Regions
VALLEY OF CHÂTEAUX
Two of the official regions of France, Centre-Val de Loire and Pays de la Loire comprise the land around the Loire River and its tributaries, known for its chateaux, vineyards, and orchards.
The fertile land of the Loire Valley is not only rich in agriculture but also in history, as it was once the hunting grounds of royalty. Chateaux and country homes remain here in abundance as historical artifacts to be treasured. Chenonceau, Chambord, Amboise, Blois, Saumur, and Nantes Château des Ducs de Bretagne are a few of the notable chateaux in the region.
*Note: AMG Inspired is reader-supported. When you click and buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Please help support content for this site. Contact AMG Inspired for direct contributions.
Regions + City Préfecture (Department)
- Orléans, region capital (Loiret)
- Chartres (Eure et Loir) + Châteaudun
- Blois, Chambord (Loir et Cher) + Chaumont-sur-Loire
- Bourges (Cher)
- Châteauroux (Indre)
- Tours (Indre et Loire) + Amboise, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau
- Nantes, region capital (Loire Atlantique, historically part of Brittany) + St-Nazaire, Châteaubriant
- La Roche sur Yon (Vandée)
- Angers (Maine et Loire)
- Laval (Mayenne)
- Le Mans (Sarthe)
Centre-Val de Loire
Château de Chaumont
Photo by Ali Giaudrone
Centre-Val de Loire
The city of Orléans, known for the Siege of Orléans during the Hundred Years War heroine, Jean d’Arc (Joan of Arc), is strategically located on the Loire River. The cities of Tours and Nantes are located further downstream before the river empties into the Bay of Biscay at the Atlantic Ocean.
The iconic Gothic cathedral in Chartres towers above the skyline of this city in the Eure-et-Loir department of Centre-Val de Loire.
Pays de la Loire
Château de Nantes
Photo by Serinus on Pexels.com
Pays de la Loire
The majority of Loire Valley châteaux in the region of Pays de la Loire are found in the Maine-et-Loire department. Loire-Atlantique, historically part of Brittany, is home to Château des Ducs de Bretagne. Emulsified beurre-blanc sauce, originating in Saint-Julien-de-Concelles, often tops the department’s abundant seafood.
Photo Gallery
Read More
All About France
Loire Valley Explored
Exporing Touraine in the Loire Valley
The city of Tours and Château d’Artigny was a good starting point for our self-guided driving tour throughout the Loire Valley of France. Our day’s agenda took us through the region of Touraine, to Château de Chenonceau and Château d’Amboise. We first arrived at Chenonceau, one of the loveliest and most romantic of all the chateaux… From there, we headed off to the town of…
Chateau d’Artigny
Upon leaving Chartres, France, we headed off to Château d’Artigny near Montbazon, a few miles away from the city of Tours. Sitting along the Indre River in the heart of the Loire Valley, this near-replica of the 18th-century château at Champlâtreux was completed in 1928. We called it home for a few days while we took in the local sites. However, this…
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.