Castles of the Loire is a collective term for a group of castles and chateaus that are located in the Loire Valley and its tributaries. Most of these castles were built in the Middle Ages, but they were rebuilt during the French Renaissance and are now presented as fairytale buildings. Although there are more than 300 castles along the Loire, only about 40 of them are counted among the castles of the Loire. These are located between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, and this section of the river was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. The Castles of the Loire destination is not limited to the former mansions, it also includes other buildings and the unique river landscape of the Loire.
region
The vast majority of the most touristically interesting castles are in the départements Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret as Maine-et-Loire. The area comprises an approximately 280 km long section of the Loire and the estuaries of its tributaries Loiret, Cher, Indre, Vienne, Loir and Maine. But you don't take it that seriously. Parts of this area are between Angers and Tours in the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Natural Park, further upstream is the region Sologne, it is characterized by forests, swamps and ponds.
background
Chambord, magnificent hunting lodge
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Montsoreau
Originally the castles of the Loire were mostly fortresses and fortifications, built in the Romanesque and later in the Gothic style. At times the river was the border with the English-ruled areas in the north. It was in this area that most of the battles of the Hundred Years War, which lasted from 1337 to 1453, took place. The best-known war participant was probably the national heroine Jeanne d'Arc, as Virgin of orleans ended up at the stake.
After the end of this war and the invention of gunpowder, the well-fortified castles had become useless: instead of months of sieges, the theaters of war changed with the mobility of the armies. As a result, a number of castles were abandoned and fell into disrepair. At that time, however, they ruled Loire Kingswho moved their residence from Paris to the Loire Valley and brought their entire court with them, who created their appropriate accommodations by remodeling the old apartments. They had active help from Italian artists: Von Leonardo da Vinci comes the idea for a double stair tower, as it was realized in Chambord Castle, and Pacello da Mercogliano created the first Renaissance gardens in France at Amboise Castle. Thus, within a few decades, numerous castles in the then current Renaissance style were built. Even after the residence was moved back to Paris, numerous nobles kept their castles as summer residences.
Villandry and its gardens
However, the French Revolution brought about a turning point. The feudal lords lost their power or even their lives, and again the buildings had become useless. Several castles subsequently had bourgeois residents, while others were left to decay. But many of these buildings are well preserved, they are used as museums, or they serve as hotels, and in such an accommodation the guests can dream of bygone royal times.
getting there
The castles of the Loire are a popular destination for culture vultures and those who would like to be. Many well-known travel companies have them in their programs, be it as a bus tour or as an individual trip with your own car.
Blois, residential palace
By train
- Orleans is on the Paris-Bordeaux railway line, trains run from Paris Gare d’Austerlitz station to Orléans in just over an hour (IC; every two hours) or 1½ hours (TER).
- Blois can be reached several times a day with a continuous IC from Paris Gare d’Austerlitz in 1:40 hours.
- Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, a suburb of Tours, has an important TGV station on the high-speed line Atlantique. High-speed trains stop here about every hour and take about an hour from Paris-Montparnasse.
- Angers can also be reached every hour by TGV from Paris-Montparnasse, the journey takes a good 1½ hours.
- Gien can be reached several times a day with the Intercité from Paris-Bercy in 1½ hours.
By bus
As a rule, multi-day bus tours are offered from Germany via Paris and or Fontainebleau lead to Orleans and then to the overnight destinations. The castles of Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, Blois and Azay-le-Rideau are often offered as sightseeing destinations, as well as one or the other winery.
In the street
From Germany, the route usually leads via Paris and then on the A10 or the N20 to Orléans. An alternative is to arrive via Dijonpassing the World Heritage Sites in Fontenay or Vezelay leads. When planning, keep in mind: the Loire Valley has so many castles that you don't have to see them all at once! Less is often more.
By bicycle
Cyclists don't miss out either: the Loire cycle path goes from Saint-Nazaire to Nevers through the Loire Valley. The path also corresponds to a section of the route of the EuroVelo 6, he is also in Bike tour wiki described.
mobility
Dynamic cards- Rail: TER (Regional Express) from Orléans via Blois, Amboise, Tours (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps) and Saumur to Angers
- Car: D2152 from Orléans to Blois along the Loire, then from Blois on the D952 to Tours and Angers.
Tourist Attractions
Castles
Note: The order of the locks is from west to east upstream. The opening times of the castles vary with the season. With “year-round opening” most of them are on special public holidays such as Jan. 1st, Nov. 1st and Dec. 25th, for details see homepage.
| Surname | description | picture |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Serrant | Château de Serrant, RD 723, 49 170 St Georges sur Loire (Maine-et-Loire). The castle already existed in the 14th century. It received its present form around 1700. Several rooms such as the library, kitchen and chapel can be visited.Open: Closed Mon. Tue.Price: small tour € 7 / large tour € 10. |  |
| 2 Angers | Angers Castle, 2 promenade du Bout-du-Monde (Maine-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 41 86 48 77. The castle of the Dukes of Anjou is surrounded by a massive wall with 17 semicircular towers. The alternation of light sandstone and dark slate makes the masonry appear streaked. Notable buildings inside: Logis Royal (currently closed), Logis du Gouverneur and the Sainte-Geneviève Chapel. A collection of medieval tapestries is well worth seeing. The showpiece is the originally 168 m long tapestry with motifs from the Apocalypse.Open: open all year round.Price: Admission adults € 6.50. |  |
| 3 Le Plessis-Bourré | Château du Plessis-Bourré, 49460 Ecuillé (Maine-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 41 32 06 72. The Le Plessis-Bourré castle is located approx. 15 km north of Angers near the village of Écuillé. It was built in 1468-1473. The castle is open to visitors from March to the end of October. Worth seeing: the park with herb garden.Open: Open from mid-February to the end of October.Price: Admission adults including guided tour € 10. |  |
| 4 Brissac | Château de Brissac (Maine-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 41 91 22 21. The 11th century fortification was demolished in 1601 and a new seven-story building was to be built in its place. After the builder died in 1621, the work was stopped. Nevertheless, the five-story building is considered the tallest of the Loire castles. The castle is inhabited, some interior rooms can be visited. A large park, a stud and a winery complete the feudal ensemble.Price: Adult admission € 10. |  |
| 5 Montgeoffroy | Château de Montgeoffroy, Route de Seiches, 49630 Maze, (Maine-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 41 80 60 02. The castle was built in 1772 and survived the French Revolution undamaged, the furniture on display is originals from that time.Price: Admission adults € 10. |  |
| 6 Montreuil-Bellay | Château de Montreuil-Bellay (Maine-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 41 52 33 06. The castle wall from the 11th century is fortified with 13 towers. In the 15th century it was supplemented by the New Palace in the style of the early Renaissance. The fortifications, gardens and collegiate church can be visited free of charge, interiors only with a guided tour. One belongs to the castle winery.Open: open beginning of April to beginning of November.Price: Admission adults € 10. |  |
| 7 Saumur | Château de Saumur (Maine-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 41 40 24 40. Open: Open Apr-Beginn. NovPrice: Admission adults € 6. The lock in Saumur was built in 1370 over the foundations of an older fortress. Later it stood empty for a long time, then it was used as a prison and then as a barracks. Now it serves as a museum. It has an excellent collection of arts and crafts, especially porcelain and tapestries. The museum in a room of the Abbey of Saint Florent presents equestrian art and horse harness from five continents. |  |
| 8 Montsoreau | Château de Montsoreau, Passage du Marquis de Geoffre (Maine-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 41 67 12 60. The castle is on the banks of the Loire. It was built in the 15th century.Open: open Feb-Jan.Price: € 9.50. | .jpg/200px-Château_de_Montsoreau(Maine-et-Loire).jpg) |
| 9 Le Lude | Le Lude (Sarthe). Tel.: 33 2 43 94 60 09. There was a fortification at this point as early as the 10th century. It was replaced by a castle in the 13th century, which was fought over several times during the Hundred Years War. In the 16th century the castle was expanded to a three-wing complex.Price: Adults entrance to the garden € 6, castle and garden € 8.50. |  |
| 10 Les Réaux | Château des Réaux, 51, rue des Réaux 37140 Chouzé sur Loire (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 6 11 88 04 13. The castle was built around 1515. It is named after Gédéon Tallemant des Réauxwho bought the castle in 1651.Open: The castle is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside at the moment. |  |
| 11 Gizeux | Château de Gizeux (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 96 45 18. The entrance fee includes activities for the whole family, such as a treasure hunt. The castle is also used as a hotel. The lock is in the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Natural Park, with a length of 250 m it is one of the largest historical buildings in Touraine.Open: open end of March - early NovPrice: Admission adults € 9. |  |
| 12 Quinone | Chinon Castle (located above the Vienne) (Indre-et-Loire). Open: open all year round.Price: Admission adults € 7. A castle already existed here in the 10th century. In 1205 it was captured after a siege and expanded into a fortress by the king. In 1308 the Grand Master of the Templar Order was arrested here. In 1429 Charles VII was convinced by Joan of Arc to be crowned king. The castle fell into disrepair from the 17th century onwards and was not extensively restored until 2003-2010. |  |
| 13 Ussé | Château d'Ussé (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 95 54 05. Open: open mid-February - mid-NovemberPrice: Admission adults € 14. On the foundations of a medieval castle was in 15./16. A new complex was built in the 19th century, which today, after several redesigns, presents itself as the Sleeping Beauty Castle. |  |
| 14 Le Rivau | Le Rivau Castle, Le Coudray 371290, Lémeré (Indre-et-Loire). To visit: the castle with moat and drawbridge, the royal stables, garden with scented roses and fairy tale motifs. The first medieval castle already existed in the 13th century. A new castle was built on these foundations in the 15th century and heavily fortified in the following years. The castle is thus at the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The lords of the castle were the von Beauvau family, who served the French royal family for many years. They were famous for their horse breeding, as early as 1429 Joan of Arc at the castle to supply their troops with horses.Open: open April to November 1st.Price: Admission adults € 10.50, children (5-18) € 7. |  |
| 15 Langeais | Château de Langeais (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 96 72 60. The castle was built around 1450 in place of a previous castle that had been destroyed in the Hundred Years War. Battlements and a drawbridge make it appear defensive. The interior is from the 15th and 16th centuries. The focus of the exhibition is the wedding of Charles VIII With Anne de Bretagne.Open: open all year round.Price: Admission adults € 9. |  |
| 16 Azay-le-Rideau | Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, 9, rue Balzac, 37190 Azay-le-Rideau (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 45 42 04. The castle was built in 1518-1527 in place of a medieval fortress. Inside is now a museum with tapestries, paintings and art objects from the Renaissance.Open: open all year round.Price: Admission adults € 6.50. |  |
| 17 Villandry | Villandry (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 50 02 09. The 12th century fortress was demolished in 1532 and replaced by a Renaissance castle in the following years. The gardens laid out on four terraces are a special feature. Above is the sun garden, which was laid out in 2008, followed by a water garden, underneath the ornamental gardens with flowers and box ornaments. Below is a kitchen garden, also laid out in geometric patterns.Open: open all year round.Price: Entrance summer: gardens € 6.50, with castle € 10.50. Winter: gardens € 4.50, with castle € 8. |  |
| 18 Luynes | Luynes Castle (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2.47.55.67.55. A first castle was destroyed in 1096 and used in the 12th century as a Maillé Castle newly built. Since 1619 it has been privately owned by the Dukes of Luynes.Open: open from the end of March to the beginning of September. . | .jpg/200px-Castle_of_Luynes_2_(37).jpg) |
| 19 Plessis-lès tour | Plessis-lès-Tours, La Riche (Indre-et-Loire). The castle was built in the 15th century in place of a fortress. The owners sold it to König in 1463 Louis XI. The king spent the last years of his life in this castle until his death in 1483. During the French Revolution, the castle was cleared for demolition. It was only in the course of the 20th century that demolition and disintegration stopped. Today only part of the residential wing is preserved.Open: open. |  |
| 20 Tours | Tours Castle, 25 Avenue André Malraux, 37000 Tours, France (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 61 02 95. The first castle already existed in Carolingian times. It was fundamentally renewed in the 11th century. Further changes took place in the 13th and 15th centuries. The striking archtectonic element is the Tour de Guise, a round tower with a conical roof. It is named after the Duke of Guise, who murdered his father and was therefore trapped in the tower. Exhibitions on contemporary art are presented in the castle, e.g. photography, painting, ceramics.Open: open Tue-Sun 2 p.m.-6 p.m.Price: Admission adults € 3. |  |
| 21 Loches | Loches Castle (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 59 01 32. To visit: Logis Royal, dungeon, medieval garden. The castle stands on a rock plateau. It consists of the Donjon, a 36 m high residential tower with royal gate and governor's house, the Logis Royal and the collegiate church Saint-Ours with the tomb of Agnes Sorel, the king's mistress Charles VII.Open: open all year round.Price: Admission adults € 8.50. |  |
| 22 Pagoda de Chanteloup | Pagoda de Chanteloup (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 57 20 97. The pagoda was built in 1775-1778. It is a 44 m high tower that belonged to Chanteloup Castle, which Duke Choiseul used as a hunting lodge. While the castle burned down in 1823, the pagoda was preserved as a lookout tower.Open: open from the end of March to mid-November.Price: Admission adults € 9.70. |  |
| 23 Amboise | Amboise Castle (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 57 00 98. Amboise already had a castle in the 11th century. The former fortress above the Loire was converted into a residential palace by Louis IX and Charles VIII in the 15th century, and the building was later used as a prison. Worth seeing: Hubertus chapel with tomb of Leonardo da Vinci.Open: open all year round.Price: visit for adults € 11.20. |  |
| 24 Clos-Lucé | Château du Clos Lucé - Parc Leonardo da Vinci, 2 rue du Clos Lucé (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 57 00 73. The castle was built in the 15th century. Spent in it Leonardo da Vinci the last 3 years of his life. The museum shows his most important inventions in impressive presentations.Price: Admission adults € 14. |  |
| 25 Chenonceaux | Chenonceau Castle (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 23 44 02. The castle was built on the site of a medieval castle. Its construction began in the early 16th century. An extension took place around 1555 under Diane de Poitiers, the river Cher was spanned with an arch bridge. Further changes were made around 1570 Catherine de Medici. Both women had gardens that were named after them. Today, Chenonceau Castle is one of the most visited castles in France.Open: open all year round.Price: Admission adults € 12.50. |  |
| 26 Montpoupon | Montpoupon Castle, 37460 Céré-la-Ronde (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 94 21 15. You can visit more than 30 rooms, collections on the subjects of horses and hunting, stables, saddlery, animal and plant preparations, and the castle park. The castle was built in the 13th century and expanded in the following centuries. In the middle of the 19th century, the castle was restored in the Renaissance style.Open: open Apr-Sept daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m., closed Dec, Jan.Price: Admission adults € 9. |  |
| 27 Montrésor | Montrésor Castle (Indre-et-Loire). Tel.: 33 2 47 92 60 04. To visit: interiors with dining room and painting collection, castle park, the nearby collegiate church (parish church). Already around the year 1000 there was a castle on the rocky promontory in the valley of the Indrois. At the end of the 15th century, a castle was built in place of the fortified castle. A Polish nobleman bought the castle in 1849, and the interior and furnishings have been preserved since then.Open: open all year round.Price: Adult admission € 8. |  |
| 28 Chaumont | Chaumont sur Loire (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 20 99 22. A first castle was built in the 10th century. After its destruction in the 12th century, it was rebuilt. Major renovations in the Renaissance style took place in the 15th and 16th. Century. In the 18th century the castle got its present appearance. Prominent residents were Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers.Open: open all year round.Price: Adult admission to visit the castle, stables and historical park € 12, with garden show and contemporaneous. Art 17 €. |  |
| 29 Blois | Blois Castle, 6, Place du Château (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 90 33 33. From the 10th to the 13th century, a castle complex developed above the city. As a result, it came into the possession of the French crown. A total of 7 kings and 10 queens resided in this castle, its architectural styles range from the Romanesque of the Middle Ages to Gothic and Renaissance to Classical. Damaged during the French Revolution, restoration work began in 1845, and today it is one of the most important Loire castles.Open: The castle is open all year round.Price: Castle entrance € 10, Apr - Sept Son et Lumière € 8.50, combined ticket € 15.50. |  |
| 30 Fougères-sur-Bièvre | Fougères-sur-Bièvre (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 20 27 18. Open: The castle is open all year round, closed on Mondays outside the main season.Price: Admission adults € 5.50. In 1358 the previous castle was destroyed. The reconstruction in the 15th and 16th centuries brought about a mixture between a fortified castle and a residential palace in the Renaissance style. In addition to the castle, the medieval garden can be visited. |  |
| 31 Beauregard à Cellettes | Beauregard Castle, 12 chemin de la fontaine F-41120 Cellettes (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 70 41 65. The castle was built in the 16th century and changed several times in the following years. It was the king's hunting lodge Franz I.. The palace park was redesigned at the beginning of the 20th century.Open: open beg. March to the end of October.Price: Admission adults to the palace and park € 12.50. |  |
| 32 Cheverny | Cheverny Castle, Avenue du Château - 41700 Cheverny (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 79 96 29. The castle was built around 1620 and is in the classicist baroque style. The park was designed between 1820 and 1860. A specialty is the kennel, in which a pack of around 100 hunting dogs live. Also Tintin (Les aventures de Tintin) were at home here, theirs is the permanent exhibition Moulinsart dedicated.Open: open all year round.Price: Entrance castle adults € 10.50, with Moulinsart. |  |
| 33 Châteaudun Castle | Châteaudun Castle, Place Jehan de Dunois (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2.37.94.02.90. The castle stands on a rocky promontory above the Loir valley. The round donjon (residential tower) is 31 m high and dates from the 12th century. In the 15th century the chapel, the west wing and the north wing were added in the Renaissance style. Further construction work was carried out until the 17th century. The dungeons and the medieval castle garden are well worth seeing.Open: open all year round.Price: Admission adults € 5.50. |  |
| 34 Talcy | Château de Talcy, 41370 Talcy (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 81 03 01. The castle was built in 1520 by the Italian Bernard Salviati, and in 1638 it was rebuilt and renovated. The interior with furniture from the 17th / 18th centuries is well worth seeing. Century, the pigeon house in a round tower, the orchard.Open: Apr-Aug open daily, Sept-March closed on Tuesdays. |  |
| 35 Villesavin | Château de Villesavin, 41250 Tour-en-Sologne (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 46 42 88. With the construction of the castle in 1527 Jean Le Breton started, who also supervised the construction of Chambord Castle. A special feature is a Medici vase made of Carrara marble in the courtyard and a pigeon house with 1,500 cells. Two museums are worth seeing: one on the theme of weddings with clothing, jewelry and customs, and one for prams and horse-drawn carriages.Open: open March to mid-October.Price: Admission adults € 6 (park and museums), € 9 (with indoor spaces). |  |
| 36 Chambord | Château de Chambord (Loir-et-Cher). Tel.: 33 2 54 50 40 00. king Franz I. gave the order to build the castle in 1519. It was finally completed in 1685 under the rule of the Sun King Louis XIV. It is the largest of the Loire castles, 154m x 117m, 365 chimneys protrude from its roofs. The spiral staircase, which goes back to a design by Leonardo da Vinci, is the most remarkable detail. The castle was never fully furnished. When hunting parties came from Paris, the necessary furniture had to be brought with them. The Domaine National de Chambord has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.Open: open every day.Price: Admission adults € 11, free for children under 25. |  |
| 37 Valençay Castle | Valençay Castle, 2 rue de Blois (Indre). Tel.: 33 2 54 00 15 69. The castle was built in the 16th century in the Renaissance style. Reconstruction measures and extensions in the 17th and 18th centuries added elements of the classical period. The most famous lord of the castle was Talleyrand, a museum is dedicated to him. Also worth seeing are the gardens and the wildlife park.Open: open March-mid-Nov, closed in winter.Price: Admission adults € 12.50. |  |
| 38 Château de Meung-sur-Loire | Château de Meung-sur-Loire, 16 Place du Martroi (Loiret). Tel.: 33 2 38 44 36 47. The castle was the residence of the Bishops of Orleans from the 12th to the 18th centuries. It was captured by the English during the Hundred Years War, but they were driven out again by Joan of Arc. In the 19th century, the interior of the castle was thoroughly redesigned.Open: Apr-June and Sept-Oct closed Mondays, July and Aug open daily.Price: Admission including palace gardens adults € 9. |  |
| 39 Sully-sur-Loire | Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Chemin de la Salle Verte (Loiret). Tel.: 33 2 38 36 36 86. Around 1395 an existing older castle was fundamentally changed Donjon adjacent Petit Château was created a few years later. After the castle changed hands in 1602, it was rebuilt for the last time. After a fire in 1918 and damage in the Second World War, restorations were carried out.Open: July and Aug open daily, Sept-June closed on Mondays.Price: Admission adults € 7. |  |
| 40 Gien | Gien Castle (Loiret). Tel.: 33 2 38 67 69 69. The castle was built around 1500, it is an elongated building in the Renaissance style. Originally used as a hunting lodge, it houses a large hunting museum. It is currently closed to visitors due to archaeological excavations and restoration work.Open: Visits are not currently possible. | .JPG/200px-Vieux_pont_de_Gien_(5).JPG) |
| 41 Ainay-le-Vieil | Château Ainay-le-Vieil, Rue de Drevant, 18200 Ainay-le-Vieil (Cher). Tel.: 33 2 48 63 36 14. Ainay-le-Vieil is the southernmost of the Loire castles. It was built in the 14th century in place of a previous building. The castle still has numerous features of a well-fortified castle. However, the drawbridge at the moat was replaced by a permanent bridge, and the old keep had to give way to the main building during the Renaissance.Open: Castle and garden open March 1st-Nov 15th.Price: Admission adults € 8.50. |  |
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Gardens
Jardins remarquables logo
The Loire Valley is also considered the Garden of France, not least because of the numerous palace gardens. But there are also a number of other remarkable gardens for which France has its own seal of quality. Examples:
Other gardens:
- 5 Park and garden of the Château La Bourdaisière, 25 Rue de la Bourdaisière, 37270 Montlouis-sur-Loire. Tel.: 33 2 47 45 16 31. Special feature: medicinal plants, numerous types of tomatoes, the castle is also used as a hotel.
miscellaneous
- Son et lumière (Sound and light): Worth seeing, even if a bit cheesy at times. These shows are offered in several larger Loire castles in the summer months, such as Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois, Chambord and Chenonceau.
- 7 Mini-Châteaux Val de Loire, Bvd Saint-Denis Hors. Tel.: 33 2 47 23 44 57. In this Miniature park there are over 40 castles of the Loire on a scale of 1:25.Price: Admission adults € 14.
activities
- On the bike
- Cycling along the Loire or on signposted Round trips
- In the water
- Canoeing on the Loire and its tributaries
- Canoe Company, 3 rue de l'Ecluse, 37150 Civray-de-Touraine. Tel.: 33 6 37 01 89 92. Canoe rental on the Loire.
- In the air
- Ballooning, e.g. with
kitchen
Food
- The apple tart is known nationwide Tarte Tatin
- There are many species of fish in the Loire, such as carp, bream, tench and pike
beverages
The Loire Valley is one of the largest French wine-growing regions. There are two cultivation areas in the Loire castles area:
- Vignobles d'Anjou et Saumur
- Vignobles de Tourraine
Mainly white wines are grown.
