France - Loire Valley

This remarkable region is dominated by the legendary and breath taking river Loire.

From early spring to late autumn, natural splendours abound in the valleys of the Loire and its eastern tributaries, the rivers Indre, Cher, Beuvron, Sauldre, and Allier that give their name to the regional departments.

The Loire, which runs through the region's major towns of Tours, Blois and Orléans, is France’s longest River and completely bisects the region.

Blois and Orléans have been named the second and third best places to live in France.

The history of the Loire Valley is written in its architecture.

For centuries the halls, turrets, and gardens of a thousand châteaux have been the setting for romance, politics, and intrigue.

Among the best-known châteaux are Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois, and Villandry, but enchantment awaits in lesser-known examples also: Chaumont-sur-Loire, Talcy, Château de Beauregard, Château de Chamerolles. In Ussé you can find the inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty.

The region has always had a reputation for bourgeois prestige, attracting artists, poets and writers throughout the centuries. In the 13th century, Orléans had the distinction of being France’s intellectual capital.

Centre is also home to two of France's great cathedrals, at Bourges and Chartres. The latter contains some of the best examples of stained glass in France, fashioned by the same master-craftsmen who later constructed the magnificent windows of King Louis IX's Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.

Not to be missed are the region's many chateaux. These are said to be the most beautiful in existence. The region is also awash with many diverse and delicate flowers attracting botanists the world over.

The valley of the Loire produces 22 fine wines, including Bourgueil, Sancerre, Valençay, Vouvray, Montlouis, and Menetou-Salon. Among the region's excellent cheeses are Crottin de Chavignol, Selles-sur-Cher, and Sainte-Maure de Touraine.

The region is completely unspoiled by tourism or industry. Many Parisians have already chosen parts of the Loire Valley for a second home.

The Indre and Cher regions tend to offer very good value with some of the cheapest property in the whole of France located here.