L O I R E V A L L E Y
VAL L ÉE DE LA L O IR E
A modern Renaissance
La Renaissance, une époque au goût du jour
The Loire Valley is full of hidden historical delights – discover
them at your own pace with a car tour of the region Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is a place where time
seems to stand still, and it’s certainly
not a destination to be passed by in a
hurry – in fact, it is the world’s largest
UNESCO World Heritage Site. So why
not take your time with a road trip that
takes in some of the key sights of the
area – particularly its stunning
châteaux.
A great place to start your tour is
Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in
the Indre River, south-west of Tours, it’s
one of the most well-known thanks to
the mirror-image reflections of the
beautiful renaissance architecture in
the still water.
East of Tours, the Château Royal
d’Amboise stands on a headland
above the Loire. Walk in the footsteps
of generations of French kings and visit
the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci, buried
within the castle precincts. From here,
you can stroll to da Vinci’s last home,
the Château de Clos Lucé, which now
contains models of his many inventions.
Travel south-east from Amboise for
Chenonceau, the most-visited château
in the Loire Valley, or east to
Chaumont-sur-Loire, which hosts an
annual International Garden Festival
(April to November). Then, heading
further east, you’ll come to Chambord
24 BRITTANY FERRIES
– with its towers, turrets, waterways
and vast hunting forest.
The region is also known for its wine,
and on the Loire Valley Wine Route
there are numerous itineraries to
choose from. Visit sunny slopes and
underground cellars, enjoy tastings
and meet master winemakers. The
miles of underground cellars at Maison
Ackerman in Saumur are well worth
exploring.
While you’re driving through the
Saumur area, you may notice curious
doorways set into the rock faces. For
centuries, people have lived in these
‘Troglodyte’ dwellings, but they
gradually became associated with
poverty and many were abandoned in
the 1900s. A number are now open to
visitors, including the dwellings of
Forges that look like real-life hobbit
houses; the complete Troglodyte
villages of Louresse-Rochemenier and
Doué-la-Fontaine; and, at Turquant, an
appealing crafts village integrated into
the caves, where various artists work.
Finally, why not exchange your four
wheels for two with a spot of cycling?
There are 800 kilometres of dedicated
cycle ways along the Loire River, and
it’s a truly unique and relaxing way of
exploring the region.
La vallée
de la Loire
L’ABUS D’ALCOOL EST DANGEREUX POUR LA SANTÉ. À CONSOMMER AVEC MODÉRATION.
ROAD
TRIP
Château d’Azay-le-Rideau
Château de Chenonceau