Azay-le-Rideau © Aubry Françon - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
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Last Updated: 7 January 2020

From Sancerre to Nantes, the Loire Valley offers such a variety of exceptional sites that it rightly deserves to be called the Valley of the Kings. Here History combines with spiritual and cultural ways of life which is seen in the Renaissance chateaux, historic manor houses, lofty churches and ancient abbeys.


The Loire: France’s longest river

The Loire is France’s longest river (1,020 km) and rises in Mont Gerbier de Jonc in the Massif Central mountain range. First, the river flows northwards to Orléans where it swings west towards Blois, Tours and Nantes. The Loire meets the Atlantic ocean at Saint-Nazaire.

River Loire at Champtoceaux by Touriste - public domain
River Loire at Champtoceaux by Touriste – public domain

On its journey to the sea, the Loire is reached by a number of tributaries such as the Nièvre, the Allier, the Cher, the Indre, the Vienne, the Maine and the Sèvre Nantaise.

Loire Valley Map by French Moments

The Loire Valley extends on two administrative regions: Centre and Pays-de-la-Loire.

River Loire at Saumur © Kev22 - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
River Loire at Saumur © Kev22 – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The Loire Valley: a bit of History

The region was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BC. Peace and stability allowed the growth of Gallo-Roman towns such as Orleans (Genabum), Tours (Caesarodunum), Angers (Juliomagus), and Nantes (Condevincum). The Romans are believed to have introduced the first vines to the Loire Valley.

Christianity appeared to the region in the third century thanks to the missionary work of Gatianus of Tours, the first bishop of Tours. Another Patron saint much admired in the region is Martin of Tours (316-397), one of the most familiar Christian saints.

In 451, the Huns invasion was repelled at Orleans and in 507 the region was occupied by the Franks. Their leader, Clovis is considered the founder of the Merovingian dynasty and converted to Christianity in 496. Until the 10th century, the fertile land was coveted by the Saracens from the South and the Vikings from the North.

The Loire Valley in the Middle-Ages

In the Middle-Ages, the region enjoyed great political and religious power with the growth of key cities: Orleans, Blois, Amboise, Tours, Loches, Saumur, Angers and Nantes (which belonged to Brittany).

Place Plumereau Tours © Thierry de Villepin - licence [CC BY-SA 3
Place Plumereau Tours © Thierry de Villepin – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Medieval counts were great builders of castles, such as Fulk Nerra (970-1040) who edified 100 castles and abbeys in the Loire Valley. His first castle was built in Langeais which had been restored in the 16th century in the Renaissance style.

The Plantagenets were a powerful dynasty which emerged from Anjou and held the English throne from 1154 to 1485. Chinon was one of their favourite places of residence.

In the East, Orleans was a stronghold of the King of France and part of their Île de France possessions.

During the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) most of the Loire Valley was occupied by the English. In 1429, Orleans was besieged by the English army and was miraculously saved by Joan of Arc, a 17 year old peasant girl from Lorraine. With her help, the French army freed the region and chased the English army from France.

Ussé Castle © Manfred Heyde - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Ussé Castle © Manfred Heyde – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The Renaissance era

In the beginning of the 16th century, the centre of power in France shifted from Paris to the Loire Valley. There the kings (Louis XII, François I, Henri II) undertook the renovation of medieval fortresses or the construction of fantastic residences in the then fashionable Renaissance style.

French kings had been fighting in Italy and discovered the Renaissance architecture, art and design. Wanting to bring back this new style to their kingdom, great architects and artists such as Leonardo da Vinci from Italy were invited to work in the Loire Valley. They remarkably adapted the new style to the landscape of the Loire and their grandest example is undeniably the fantastic chateau of Chambord.

The French nobility and the court followed the royal family and relocated to the Loire Valley where they built additional chateaux (Azay, Meung, Villandry).

Meung-sur-Loire © Manfred Heyde - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Meung-sur-Loire © Manfred Heyde – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The Wars of Religion

The French Wars of Religion (1562-1598) ended the golden age of the Loire Valley with an estimated 2-4 million people killed throughout the kingdom. The French kings and their courts left the Loire Valley and relocated to Paris.

Protestantism lost ground in the 17th and 18th centuries as the Catholic church founded a great number of convents and seminaries in the Loire Valley. The development of the agricultural and textile industries led to an economic growth.

During the French Revolution

The French Revolution led to a split in two zones: Maine and Anjou joined Vendée in their support for the king whereas Touraine and Orléanais backed the ideals of the Revolutionaries. Many chateaux and catholic sanctuaries were sacked and pillaged if not destroyed.

From the 19th century…

In the 19th century, the development of railways in the region led to the decline of boat transportation on the Loire River.

During the First World War, the American Expeditionary Force set up its headquarters in Tours.

In 1940, Marshal Pétain met Hitler in Montoire-sur-Loir and agreed to his terms for the country to be divided into two zones: the occupied zone and the free zone. All the Loire Valley with the exception of Southern Touraine was included in the occupied zone.

The Allied forces liberated the area from the Germans in September 1944.

Today, the UNESCO-listed region of the Loire Valley is a premier tourist destination for the incredible heritage it offers to its visitors.


The chateaux of the Loire

Azay-le-Rideau © Aubry Françon - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Azay-le-Rideau © Aubry Françon – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Some of the most famous castles of France are found in the region: Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois, Chambord, Chaumont, Chenonceau, Chinon, Langeais, Saumur, Ussé or Villandry.

Along the Loire River, about three hundreds chateaux and manors are romantically set in beautiful landscapes:

  • some along rivers (Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau),
  • nestled in the woods (Chambord, Cheverny),
  • and others on the top of hills (Amboise, Chaumont, Chinon).

Most of these residences have been built in the 16th century in Renaissance style, often on the site of a former medieval fortress (Langeais, Loches, Saumur, Sully-sur-Loire).

The majority are privately owned (Brissac, Cheverny) whereas some have been taken over by the State or local authorities (Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord).

The most famous chateaux of the Loire

Loire Valley Chateaux by French Moments

A list of our favourite chateaux:

Amboise

 

Amboise Castle © Christophe.Finot - licence [CC BY-SA 2.5] from Wikimedia Commons
Amboise Castle © Christophe.Finot – licence [CC BY-SA 2.5] from Wikimedia Commons

Angers

Angers Castle © Tango7174 - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Angers Castle © Tango7174 – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Azay-le-Rideau

Azay-le-Rideau © Jean-Christophe BENOIST  - licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Azay-le-Rideau © Jean-Christophe BENOIST – licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Blois

Blois Castle © Tango7174 (CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Blois Castle © Tango7174 (CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Brézé

Brézé Castle © Manfred Heyde - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Brézé Castle © Manfred Heyde – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Brissac

Brissac Castle © Manfred Heyde - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Brissac Castle © Manfred Heyde – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Chambord

The Castle's Northwest facade © Benh LIEU SONG [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The Castle’s Northwest facade © Benh LIEU SONG [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Chaumont

Chaumont sur Loire Castle © Christophe.Finot - licence [CC BY-SA 1.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Chaumont sur Loire Castle © Christophe.Finot – licence [CC BY-SA 1.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Chenonceau

Chenonceau Castle © Yvan Lastes - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Chenonceau Castle © Yvan Lastes – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Cheverny

Cheverny Castle © Jean-Christophe BENOIST - licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Cheverny Castle © Jean-Christophe BENOIST – licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Chinon

Chinon Castle © Franck Badaire — Fonds documentaire du Conseil Général d'Indre-et-Loire - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Chinon Castle © Franck Badaire — Fonds documentaire du Conseil Général d’Indre-et-Loire – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Gien

Gien Castle © Roulex_45 - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Gien Castle © Roulex_45 – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Langeais

Langeais Castle © sybarite48 - licence [CC BY 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Langeais Castle © sybarite48 – licence [CC BY 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Loches

Loches © Jaunet - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons
Loches © Jaunet – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Meung

Meung-sur-Loire 02 © Manfred Heyde - licence [CC BY-SA 3
Meung-sur-Loire © Manfred Heyde – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Montpoupon

Montpoupon Castle © I, Nitot - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Montpoupon Castle © I, Nitot – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Montrésor

Montrésor Castle © JLPC - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Montrésor Castle © JLPC – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Montreuil-Bellay

Montreuil-Bellay Castle © Kormin - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Montreuil-Bellay Castle © Kormin – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Montsoreau

Montsoreau © Château de Montsoreau
Montsoreau © Château de Montsoreau

Nantes

Nantes Castle © Ludovic Toinel - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Nantes Castle © Ludovic Toinel – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Le Plessis-Bourré

Le Plessis-Bourré Castle © NonNobis - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Le Plessis-Bourré Castle © NonNobis – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Saumur

Saumur Castle © Martin Falbisoner - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Saumur Castle © Martin Falbisoner – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Serrant

Serrant Castle © Thierry de Villepin - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Serrant Castle © Thierry de Villepin – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Sully-sur-Loire

Sully-sur-Loire Castle © Pline - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Sully-sur-Loire Castle © Pline – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Ussé

Ussé Castle © Manfred Heyde - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Ussé Castle © Manfred Heyde – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Valençay

Valençay Castle © Jean-Christophe BENOIST - licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Valençay Castle © Jean-Christophe BENOIST – licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Vendôme

Vendôme castle © French Moments
Vendôme castle © French Moments

Villandry

Villandry © Craig Rettig
Castle and gardens of Villandry © Craig Rettig

 


Religious sanctuaries

Blois St. Nicolas Church © Taxiarchos228 - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Blois, St. Nicolas Church © Taxiarchos228 – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The region is home to many grand cathedrals, churches and abbeys such as St. Gatien cathedral in Tours, Sainte-Croix cathedral in Orléans, St. Louis cathedral in Blois, St. Nicolas church in Blois, St. Maurice cathedral in Angers, St. Pierre and St. Paul cathedral in Nantes, Fontevraud Abbey, Vendôme Abbey.

The cathedral of Orléans:

Orleans Cathedral © Vincent4145 - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Orleans Cathedral © Vincent4145 – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The cathedral of Tours:

Tours Cathedral © Velvet - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Tours Cathedral © Velvet – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The abbey of Fontevraud:

Fontevraud Abbey © Chatmouettes - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Fontevraud Abbey © Chatmouettes – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The abbey of Vendôme:

Vendôme abbey © French Moments
View of Vendôme Abbey from the terrace of the castle © French Moments

Local produce and wine

The Loire Valley is referred as the Garden of France for the many vineyards, orchards, flower fields which line the banks of the rivers.

The region’s villages host hundreds of open-air markets where locals display fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and flowers in great variety. Local producers are proud of their asparagus from the Touraine, onions, shallots and pears from Anjou, artichokes from Angers, potatoes from Saumur, eels and pike perches.

In the region of Nantes, the production of lilies of the valley provides the Paris markets with fresh bunches in time for May Day.

The region is home to a few delicious goat’s cheese: the Sainte-Maure log, the pyramid-shaped Valençay and Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, and the flat and round Selles-sur-Cher.

Sainte Maure Caprifeuille 01 © French Moments
Sainte Maure Caprifeuille © French Moments

Famous desserts include Tarte Tatin from the Sologne area.

Tarte Tatin © French Moments
Home made Tarte Tatin © French Moments

The fruity wines of the Loire are produced in a number of wine regions extending from Sancerre to Nantes (Touraine, Anjou).

Saumur Castle © Coucouoeuf - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Saumur Castle and vineyards © Coucouoeuf – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Many names of vineyards have gained worldwide recognition: Vouvray, Chinon, Saumur, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé… The region gathers 87 official labels under the Appellations d’origine contrôlée (AOC), Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS) and Vins de Pays. Thought to have been planted by the Romans in the first century BC, the vineyards of the Loire are the fifth-largest wine-making region of France.


The French Language

Known as the Cradle of the French Language, the region around Tours (Touraine) is thought to be where the purest French is spoken. This standard pronunciation of the French language is allegedly lacking any perceived accent unlike in Paris.


The UNESCO listing

Chambord North Facade © Nono vlf [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The castle’s North Facade © Nono vlf [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons

In 2000, UNESCO listed the Loire Valley from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonnes-sur-Loire as a World Heritage site. The organisation described the area as:

“An exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty, comprised of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments – the châteaux – and lands that have been cultivated and shaped by centuries of interaction between local populations and their physical environment, in particular the Loire itself.

Official website in English about the Loire Châteaux.


 

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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