top attractions in the loire valley


:/), so it’s so nice to know there are plenty of other activities to do in Loire Valley! The monastic community of the Abbaye de Fleury was dissolved at the time of the French Revolution but was re-established in 1944 by a group of Benedictine monks. Leah documents her experiences whether that's in the lap of luxury or riding through a swamp in an airboat. Thomas Bohier acquired the Château de Chenonceau in 1512, and his wife, Catherine Briçonnet renovated the medieval castle by rebuilding it in Renaissance style with a spacious central entrance hall and Italianate staircase. It is because of this extraction that the Monmousseau Enlightened Cellars exist.

Although some are still lived in, many were turned into wine caves, since they keep an even temperature. Check my list of recommended hotels and restaurants in Blois, Read guest reviews, compare prices and book a hotel in Blois with TripAdvisor. Love French wines too! The château is known for its tapestry collection, most notably the Tapestry of the Apocalypse, an important work of medieval art. As always, opinions are mine. Boasting many old palaces and burghers' houses, the old ducal city of Bourges enjoys a picturesque setting on the Yèvre and Aveyron Rivers in the historic province of Berry. The Loire is a large region that needed more than the week I had to explore.

The château was constructed by King Louis XI in only four years from 1465 to 1469. Also beyond the Cité Plantagenêt is the Eglise Notre-Dame-de-la-Couture, a former Benedictine abbey church with a Virgin and Child statue sculpted by renowned Renaissance artist Germain Pilon. Visitors are also impressed by the castle's unique spiral staircase and the grand staircase designed by Mansart, architect of the Château de Versailles. The cathedral is entered through the Romanesque south doorway, over which is a figure of Christ in Majesty, surrounded by the symbols of the four Evangelists.

Although some are still lived in, many were turned into wine caves, since they keep an even temperature. Surrounded by remnants of ancient Gallo-Roman walls and brimming with old-world charm, the historic section of Le Mans known as the "Cité Plantagenêt" (named after Geoffrey Plantagenet, the Count of Anjou, and Maine counties), is a delightful escape from the modern world. I’m swooning and I haven’t had any wine…yet! History buffs will also appreciate the town's Musée de la Résistance (at Place de la Grève), which chronicles the French resistance efforts, the Occupation period, and the Liberation at the end of the Second World War.

. Château de Chenonceau is accessible by the rapid-speed TGV train (a one-hour ride) from the Paris Montparnasse station to the Tours station.

It was not just a telling of the Bible, it was also intended as a political statement during the Hundred Years War between England and France. The Loire is such a treasure with an identity of its own. It is considered the epitome of a romantic fairytale castle and so it is hardly surprising that it should have inspired …read more, You can either explore the impressive moated castle on your own or join a guided tour. International garden designers are invited each year to produce a garden around the theme. Many of the rooms are inspired by the surrounding châteaux, which include symbolism, rather than direct representations of the castles. Inseparably bound with the history of Joan of Arc, the city owes its survival to the 17-year-old "Maid of Orléans," who helped lead the French to victory against the English when Orléans was besieged in 1429. I really liked this area of France and will return for sure. In spring local asparagus is prepared in a whole variety of ways. Since the Loire was not navigable at certain seasons, a nearly 200 km long canal was built at its side in the late 19th century. .

The woodland portion of the grounds features a four-kilometer path that traverses the forest for taking invigorating nature walks (alternatively electric golf carts are available). Accommodation: Where to Stay in the Loire Valley. . This historic gem of an old town covers 20 hectares, filled with cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and Renaissance mansions. Boasting a regal pedigree, Blois was a royal residence for seven French kings. The château's 27-hectare property includes tranquil green space and pristine forests filled with many animals. The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud could be a good addition to a tour itinerary with Saumur (14 kilometers way) and Chinon (16 kilometers away). The Benedictine abbey was founded in 1099 by an eclectic and iconoclastic preacher named Robert d'Arbrissel, considered a radical because he created a community for people of diverse social backgrounds. The first salon, called the "Garden of Love," is designed in the style of gardens found in Andalusia (with four geometric beds); each bed of flowers represents a different type of love. Thanks for the ideas , I’d like to do the hot air balloon, but the bi-plane is super cool. Artists, NaDa {Nathalie Dahon} and ReNo Menat created vignettes mimicking stained glass onto transparencies, which are projected onto the walls of the stone galleries. It’s a good idea to make sure you know a bit about the Apocalypse story before you go as you’ll get much more out of the images. The cave is called a troglodyte dwelling. Dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, the cathedral of St. Maurice is the earliest example in France of the Plantagenet style.

At the center of Vendôme is the Place Saint-Martin, and nearby is the Tour Saint-Martin, all that remains of a Renaissance church. The ruins of an old château give this picturesque village a romantic charm.

Three centuries of France's history are represented in the château's portrait gallery, with 327 portraits of kings and important political figures.

Another top tourist attraction near the cathedral is the Musée de la Reine-Bérengère, dedicated to regional history and culture. In July, I visited France’s Loire Valley in my role as a French wine ambassador for Atout France. The favorable climate and the soil make the area a natural vine-growing region and it’s been making wines since the 5th century. Tourists enter the Cité Médiévale through the 14th- to 15th-century Porte Royale, a gate once approached by a drawbridge. I love Paris more than any other place in the world, but France is so much more than its capital. Have you visited these 9 French cities? © JD Billaud/Angers Loire Tourisme. Here is my list of the top attractions and things to do and see in the Loire Valley. So much more than wine and quaint little towns. The estate was created in the early 16th century (at the height of the French Renaissance) for King Francis I, who spared no expense. In Sancerre, check out the Maison des Sancerre which has an exhibition explaining the local viticulture, plus information about the local vineyards, maps, and excursions as well as a well-stocked shop. How much of the 15km of tunnels are open for exploration? Choose your flight path and just try to remove the grin from your face once you land. The Fontevraud Abbey is now open to the public; visitors can tour the main priory; the Romanesque abbey church (built between 1105 and 1165); an interesting Byzantine kitchen, complete with the original fish smokehouse used to make smoked salmon; and a lush garden planted with vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees.
Read guest reviews, check prices and book a hotel near Maisonnais with TripAdvisor. Self-guided tours (with information available in French and English) or guided group tours in French or English provide an in-depth educational experience. The great sweeps of forest produce a rich crop of mushrooms, while the champignon de Paris variety is produced in the caves around Saumur. hidden gems are waiting to be explored and visited. Originally used as homes for the domestic help, they’ve been transformed into two junior suites. (Wikipedia). During the 15th and 16th centuries, the French Kings dreamed up a vision of luxury and opulence and built extravagant country retreats amid the Loire's woodlands and rivers. It is fully developed for tourism and offers a bistro and even …, Amboise is a town on the Loire River with 12,761 inhabitants in central France in the département of Indre-et-Loire in the Center-Val de Loire region, about 20 km east of …, The imposing castle stands since 1927 under monument protection. The fortified castle withstood an attack by Richard the Lionheart but was overtaken by King Henry IV's troops.

Today, the UNESCO-listed valley still draws the crowds – and not just royalty these days! Another reason to linger at the château is the property's fine-dining restaurant, L'Orangerie, which serves gourmet cuisine in an exquisite dining room. Goat’s cheese is made particularly in Touraine; also try Ste-Maure and Selles-sur-Cher and the better known crottin de Chavignol. While strolling atmospheric lanes, visitors are delighted to discover many quaint half-timbered houses (mainly on Rue Saint-Lubin and Rue des Huileries) and several historic churches, including the Eglise de la the Madeleine with a Romanesque facade. In the same family since 1467, Ainy-le-Vieil has remarkable interiors, complete with fireplaces and personal mementoes of past owners. Are you keen on exploring more awesome places nearby? The facade of the south aisle reveals remains of Carolingian reliefs.
Flying over the Loire Valley’s Châteaux in a hot air balloon is quite common, but what about doing it in a bi-plane instead? Game, caught mainly in the Sologne, is another feature of Loire Valley cuisine. Angers is one oftourists’ favorite cities in France to travel and explore. During the last years of her life, Queen Eleanor lived at the abbey, and she commissioned the effigies of herself, as well as her husband, that are in the abbey church. In fact, I didn’t even know that was a word! France in Pictures: 20 Beautiful Places to Photograph, 28 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Paris, 15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in France, 24 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Auvergne, Where to Stay in Lyon: Best Areas & Hotels, 26 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Burgundy, 14 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in French Jura, 11 of the Most Romantic Places in the World, 16 Best Places to Visit in the South of France, 15 Top-Rated Beach Destinations in France, 19 Best Places to Visit in the United States, 11 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, 11 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Blois, http://www.château-de-montreuil-bellay.fr/castle/index.php. Well, maybe not the whole world, but some of it. Read guest reviews, check prices and book a hotel near Ainay-le-Vieil with TripAdvisor. Sumptuous Renaissance furniture and paintings decorate the reception rooms. To arrive at the village, visitors must traverse a Gothic bridge that spans the Loire River.

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