The Loire Valley
Renowned for its sumptuous chateaux, the relics of royal days gone by, the glorious valley of the Loire is rich in both history and architecture. Like the river Loire, this vast region runs through the heart of French life. With sophisticated cities, luxuriant landscape and magnificent food and wine, the Loire valley has something for everyone.
Within one hour’s drive are the historic cities of Tours, Chinon and Poitiers, and the chateaux of the Loire valley – both the famously beautiful such as Chenonceau and Villandry, and those with other charms: Cheverny, the model for Captain Haddock’s home in the Tintin stories, and Chaumont with its marvellous if often bizarre garden festival.
During your holiday you can do your Sunday marketing at Descartes and visit the philosopher’s house or go a little further to see the town of Richelieu created by the infamous Cardinal of that name. Futuroscope is another big attraction, especially for children. And finally, there are the vineyards of the Loire and the Touraine…. The wine is good and the cooperatives cheap!
Nearby Preuilly has its own tennis courts and swimming pool and good shops. There are also ‘beaches’ on local rivers and Bellebouche, a lovely pine-fringed lake 30 mins drive away, where you can swim, sunbathe, picnic or buy food, take out pedalos and canoes, learn to windsurf.
It is excellent walking and cycling country and you can walk for miles. The Brenne, a region with hundreds of small lakes which includes a number of nature reserves (with hides) where you can see egrets, bittern, freshwater tortoise, Camargue horses and purple herons. Also nearby is the Forest of Preuilly, with marked walks, and the Parc de la Haute Touche where bison, wolves and wild boar live among the pinewoods. (There is also a really good zoo at St Aignan, 45 mins away by car.) Bicycles can be hired locally.
The nearest tourist ‘resorts’ are Loches, 30 mins drive north, with its impressive chateau and excellent twice-a-week market, and La Roche-Posay, 15 mins drive west, where spa waters draw visitors from all over France and many recreational facilities are laid on such as horse-riding, golf, cinema.