In short order, there were boxwood gardens endlessly receding toward vanishing points, moats graced with swans, parades of delicate cone-top towers, frescoes, and fancywork ceilings. In 1519 Charles V of Spain, at the age of 19, inherited the Holy Roman Empire, leaving François and his New France out in the cold. • The Loire Valley wine region is situated on the banks of the Loire river, the longest in France.

See all photos. Luxury Chateau based Accommodation in the Loire Valley. The cities of Angers and Saumur with their rich built heritage, the sumptuous chateaux of the Loire valley and the famous Fontevraud abbey are some of the opportunities on offer to visitors of the Maine-et-Loire. It's a chance to stop by one of the many cellars and sample a glass of Anjou or Touraine wine. Rough Guides writer Ellie Aldridge explores the Loire valley and out Loire valley map shows you the best places to stop and sip. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. The valley was hotly disputed by France and England during the Middle Ages; it belonged to England (under the Anjou Plantagenet family) between 1154 and 1216 and again during the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453).

I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. These postcard staples, like Chenonceau and Chambord, seem to be strung like pearls across a countryside so serene it could win the Nobel peace prize. Visitors can enjoy a mild climate while exploring the Loire Valley vineyard. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Virtual visit. So it’s understandable that towering slopes would be fortified early on and that towns would arise at strategic bridgeheads. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. The famous Tours Cathedral is a 10-minute drive away. All for good reason. Your IP: 77.95.0.34

But why did the Loire become so prized for its châteaux?

Here life proceeds at a pleasingly genteel pace, and—despite the delights of the 1,001 châteaux that await—you should, too.
Between two visits, what could be nicer than some outdoor activity, like hiking, a horse ride or a canoe-kayak trip down the Loire or the Cher! Whether you want to climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, sip wine in Burgundy, or indulge in... A fairy-tale realm par excellence, the Loire Valley is studded with storybook villages, time-burnished towns, and—bien sûr—the famous châteaux de la Loire.

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The Indre-et-Loire is renowned for its prestigious castles, among which the majestic Royal Château d'Amboise and the romantic Château de Chenonceau, but also for its fine wines from the Touraine vineyards.

But Val de Loire is above all known for its world-famous castles, which have all made their mark on France's history. With magic at every curve in the road, Cinderella's glass coach might be the optimal way to get around. With the wars of the 15th century fading, the Loire Valley, long known as "the Garden of France," became a showplace of new and fabulous châteaux d'agrément, or pleasure castles. Tours and its museums, Blois and its royal castle or Orleans and its Place du Martroi, to name but a few, are sure to delight lovers of culture and old buildings.

Queen Claudia hired only the most recherché Italian artisans: Chambord's famous double-helix staircase may, in fact, have been Leonardo da Vinci's design (he was a frequent houseguest when not in residence in a manor on the Amboise grounds). This family-run hotel is a 10-minute drive from the centre of Tours and provides free Wi-Fi access throughout the property. Have You Tasted France’s 15 Most Iconic Drinks. Fodor's Essential France

For centuries, the Loire River (France’s longest) was the region's principal means of transportation as well as an effective barrier against invading armies—and there were a lot of the latter. Open map. The 600-mile stretch of the Loire River valley and its tributaries make up one of France’s top wine regions.
Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Although the Loire Valley is home to more than 300 châteaux, this guide focuses on the best of the local châteaux, most of which are situated in a département called Loir-et-Cher. The towns, meanwhile, are not to be outdone and are brimming with architectural treasures from the medieval and Renaissance eras. Guide of the Loire Valley Tourism, holidays & weekends in the Loire Valley.

• The Loire Valley (French: Vallée de la Loire, pronounced [vale də la lwaʁ]), spanning 280 kilometres (170 mi), is located in the middle stretch of the Loire river in central France, in both the administrative regions Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire.The area of the Loire Valley comprises about 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi). The guest rooms at Hotel Italia are…, © Copyright 2003-2020 France-Voyage.com - All rights reserved. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store.