Guide to the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley: France's Royal Gardens

The Loire Valley lies to the southwest of Paris and makes up 'Centre Val de Loire' region of France. The Loire, the country's longest river (1,020 km), runs from the Massif Central to the Atlantic coast and provides what many regard as a north-south climatic divide. The region was once France's royal and intellectual capital and is rich in history and architecture.

Architectural Splendour

Picturesque villages alternate with towns rich in art and history, while Romanesque and Gothic styles dominate the façades and decoration of the religious monuments. The Loire is lined with magnificent Châteaux which combine with the luxuriant landscape and fine food and wines.

Historical Significance

As France's intellectual capital in the 13th century, Orléans attracted artists, poets and troubadours to the Royal Court. Kings planned the political and cultural renaissance of the country from here so that the Loire Valley became the setting for many important events in France's history.

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

The medieval court never stayed in the same place for long, this led to the building of superb Châteaux and religious sites all along the Loire River. The Loire Valley has seven sites listed on Unesco World Heritage: Saint-Etienne Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral and the Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes.

The Royal Residence of Chambord is a Château that defies superlatives. It symbolises the success of Renaissance architecture and the political power of King François the 1st. With its keep, corner towers, double-helix staircase, some 440 rooms and 356 fireplaces, it remains an absolute masterpiece. Other famous Châteaux include Chenonceaux and Villandry, both known for their splendid gardens, and Azay-le-Rideau recognised by its fairytale turrets.

Regional Composition

Historically, the Centre region is made up of the three provinces of 'l'Orléanais', Berry and Touraine which in turn compose six departments. Tours and Orléans have become the Loire visitor's capitals because of their central location, their culture and their superb cuisine.

Amboise and Blois are other attractive towns and popular stops. The small town of Beaugency is well worth a detour. If you go to Amboise, you can visit the tomb of Leonardo Da Vinci who spent his last days here and is buried in a chapel in the grounds of the Clos Lucé manor (in Amboise).

Climate and Agriculture

The Loire Valley has a temperate climate with short but sometimes cold winters and long summers. It is primarily an agricultural region, with rolling farmlands of grain mixed with woods, lakes and river valleys such as the Loir (not to be confused with the Loire), the Indre, the Creuse and the Cher.

Wine and Local Foods

The Loire Valley is also home to no less than 19 AOC wines; sparkling Vouvray, Red Chinon, Bourgeuil, Sancerre are the most famous wines. There is an abundance of local food specialities; goats cheese from Sancerre, green lentils from Berry, fouaces from Touraine and the famous Tarte Tatin (caramelised apple pudding).

Parks and Outdoor Activities

The Loire Valley is home to three regional natural parks: Loire-Anjou-Touraine, la Brenne and Perche which gives an indication of the region's luscious and varied countryside. Indeed with its wealth of lakes, rivers, woods and valleys, the region provides a perfect setting for all kinds of sports and activities.

Adventure Awaits

You can follow cycling itineraries covering 300 km around the Chateaux of Blois and the Loire River. Fishing, boating and other water sports are widely available on the many lakes. Golfers can practice their swing on the idyllic greens and fairways of the Loire Valley's 30 golf courses. Alternatively, you can take the kids to Tintin's castle (at the Chateau de Cheverny) or visit one of the region's 100 museums and monuments.

Accessibility and Popularity

The region is popular due to the excellent access from Paris (TGV train in less than an hour), it already has favour with some well-known personalities; Mick Jagger from the Stones owns a French castle near Amboise, Gérard Depardieu was born in the region, Patrick Viera, the former footballer and coach, is from Dreux and Jude Law's parents own property here. So it comes as no surprise that property prices are not the cheapest, especially in the more scenic areas.

Getting to the Region

The Loire region is easily accessible and is well-served by major roads and motorways. If travelling from the UK, you can fly into Tours or drive from the coast in around four hours by motorway. You can also take the Eurostar to Paris where there are good connections to the TGV fast trains. From the USA, the easiest way for American buyers is to fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, and embark on a train from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz or Paris Montparnasse, depending on your destination in the region.

Facts and Figures

• Capital city: Orléans
• Population: 2.6 million (around 3.9% of France's total population, of approx. 67 million).
• Area: 39,151 sq. kilometres (15,116 square miles), about 7.1% of France's total area.
• Density: About 66 inhabitants per sq. kilometre, below France’s national average of 106.

Tourism Information

• Number of Tourists per Year: Approximately 8 million.
• Highest Peak: The region is fairly flat, the highest point is Signal de Vaujoux (472 meters).
• Average Sunshine Hours per Year: Around 1,800 hours
• Châteaux: 300–400 châteaux, notable examples include Château de Chambord (Loir-et-Cher), Château de Chenonceau (Indre-et-Loire) and Château de Cheverny (Loir-et-Cher).
• Most Famous Landmark: Château de Chambord
• Golf Courses in the Region: Around 30 golf courses

Getting to Centre Val de Loire

The main cities are Orléans, Tours, Blois, Bourges, and Chartres. They can be accessed using the road network (motorways, national and departmental roads), the train network, or by air. Here's a list of the region's airports and main train stations.

Airports

• Tours Val de Loire Airport
• Châteauroux-Centre Airport
• Bourges Airport

Main Train Stations

• Orléans Station
• Tours Station
• Blois-Chambord Station
• Bourges Station
• Chartres Station

Regional Tourist Hotspots

• Château de Chambord
• Orléans
• Tours
• Chateau de Blois
• Bourges
• Chartres
• Azay-le-Rideau
• The Sologne region
• The Beauce region
• The Brenne Regional Natural Park

Regional Nature Parks

• The Brenne Regional Natural Park
• Parc naturel régional de la Brenne
• Parc naturel régional du Perche
• Parc naturel régional Loire-Anjou-Touraine (shared with Pays de la Loire)

UNESCO Sites in the Region

• The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes
• Chartres Cathedral
• Bourges Cathedral

Economic Information

• Economic Strength: Centre-Val de Loire is known for its diverse economy, with strengths in agriculture, tourism, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
• Gross Domestic Product: Approx. €80 billion (2022), around 3-4% of France's total GDP.
• Economy: Services 65% (tourism, healthcare and education),industry 30% (manufacturing, including automotive and aerospace, and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics) and agriculture 5% (cereal crops, livestock farming and viticulture)
• Unemployment Rate: Approximately 7.0% (France’s national rate = 7.2%)
• Universities and Grandes Écoles: Notable institutions include the University of Orléans, University of Tours, and the University of Bourges.
• Regional Specialties: Centre-Val de Loire is renowned for its wines, particularly from the Sancerre and Vouvray regions. The region is also famous for its goat cheeses, such as Selles-sur-Cher and Crottin de Chavignol. Traditional dishes like andouillette (saussage), rillettes (pork pâté), and Tarte Tatin (apple tart) are other notable specialities. Additionally, the region is known for its asparagus and saffron.