Of course, there are castles. The Loire Valley was the haunt of the French nobility from the 10th centurye century and has hundreds of them, the best known of which make travelers from the four corners of the world dream: Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau… But beyond these obvious facts, we find a gastronomy well connected to its time and green spaces that bear witness to the French art of living.
The Loire Valley is booming, observes Pauline Bernard, hotel operations director. “We are seeing a renewed interest in the region, especially since the pandemic, where we have seen a Parisian clientele arriving who wanted to escape the city, while remaining nearby. » With the price of houses remaining affordable, while they have skyrocketed elsewhere, the region also attracts young families looking for an authentic, but lively, living environment.
Located in the heart of France, less than 200 kilometers from Paris and four hours from Lyon, the Valley is a cultural hub spread out along the Loire, the river from which it takes its name. It has its source in more than 1000 years of history forged mainly during the Renaissance. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the one nicknamed the “Valley of the Kings” once proved to be an idyllic place to promote the kingdom and today retains all its panache.
The region has nearly 300 castles which are mainly concentrated in the Centre-Val de Loire. Of the lot, around a hundred are open to the public.
Faced with this density of monuments to visit, the strategy is often to choose the best known – several have also been renovated with millions in recent years. Others, less popular, nevertheless deserve to be discovered with their charms and secrets.
But another approach, and the one we favored, is to select them for their garden side, because the opulence of these exceptional places is displayed both outside and in their buildings. The region has more than a hundred gardens open to the public which often offer guided tours. Several have preserved a historical aspect, others cultivate a contemporary style: the majority of them are landscaping and horticultural treasures.
On the gourmet side, the terroir is rich and good restaurants are easy to find. In addition to crisscrossing the river’s hillsides and lingering in its towns and villages, we will extend the scope of discoveries to the south of the valley, in Berry, to get off the beaten track. The countryside is home to some gems, including small private castles, a large national park, evocatively named vineyards and lush natural spaces.
This trip was organized in collaboration with Atout France. Part of the costs of this trip were paid by the Val de Loire Regional Tourism Committee and Air Canada, who had no right to review the content of this report.
Visit the Val de Loire website
Visit the Loire gardens website
The Loire by bike
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE VAL DE LOIRE SITE
A 900 km cycle route along the Loire allows you to discover the region by bike.
A 900 km cycle route along the Loire allows you to discover the region by bike. Companies that own the Accueil Vélo brand rent different types of bikes (all-road, electric or tandem) and accessories for a ride of a day or more. The La Loire à vélo organization offers different itineraries and turnkey stays, in addition to a list of different accredited rental services.
Visit the Loire by bike website