Love wine? This is the river the French love best: for the soft green beauty of the regions it waters and because it has so profoundly shaped their culture and identity. During the middle ages, fortified seigneurial residences were the focal points around which towns and villages grew. During the hundred years war between the French and the English the Loire valley was a frontier zone, so many castles transformed into fortresses. When peace came during the midth century, they were remodelled as pleasure palaces for the aristocracy.
Besides castles and spectacular scenery, several lively towns and cities, each with their own charms, add appeal — from Nantes, a thriving cultural hub in the west, to the ancient cathedral town of Tours, the main town in the valley, and Angers with its busy nightlife. The Loire valley is often referred to as the garden of France too, thanks to the superb produce - top restaurants in Paris get their fresh ingredients here. Once there it pays to hire a car, but cycling is a great way to explore too.
(mh=ZdRm_GmxYPNCxOgN)0.jpg "Escort girls Puy-en-Velay")
Loire a Velo cyclingloire. At every turn in the road, it seems, a magical chateau appears. Chambord , the largest of the Loire chateaux, is a white-limestone masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, begun by King Francois in and completed a century later by Louis XIV.
Great gardens Some of the chateaux gardens are destinations in their own right. It was established by Prince Albert de Broglie in , and he still cultivates over varieties of heirloom tomatoes here, which are sold fresh and as preserves labourdaisiere.
Vine-covered slopes surround the valley, and while it may not be as well known as those of Bordeaux or Burgundy, the Loire produces some fine wines. There are countless opportunities for wine tasting at vineyards across the region, but a good place to start is at the Maisons des Vins de Loire in Nantes, Angers, Saumur and Tours.
