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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 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.

Regions + City Préfecture (Department)

♦ Centre-Val de Loire

  • 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

♦ Pays de la Loire

  • 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

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

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 departement. 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.

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All About France

Loire Valley Explored

France

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…

France

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…

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