The Loire valley

World-famous for its luxurious buildings, the Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Chalonnes-sur-Loire in Anjou to Sully-sur-Loire in the Loiret, it boasts a huge amount of historic, architectural, cultural and natural treasures.

Not to be missed in the Maine-et-Loire are the châteaux of Saumur, Angers, Serrant, Montsoreau, Brissac-Quincé and Brézé, as well as Fontevraud abbey. Charming villages also lie along the Loire Valley, such as Champtoceaux, Béhuard, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, Montjean-sur-Loire, Ingrandes and Montsoreau. The scenic cliff-top Anjou road, which stretches from Chalonnes-sur-Loire to Rochefort-sur-Loire, offers a magnificent view of the green landscapes of the Loire Valley.

In the Loir-et-Cher, the Château de Chambord, the Château Royal de Blois, the Château de Cheverny and the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire are some of the area's must-see sights.

The must-see castles in the Indre-et-Loire are the Château de Chenonceau, nicknamed the Ladies Castle, the Château d'Amboise, the first royal castle of the Renaissance, the Château de Villandry and its remarkable gardens, and the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau standing like a jewel on the Indre River. Prestigious, majestic and steeped in history, they are all awe-inspiring and enchanting.

Sights not to be missed in the Loiret include the Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Briare aqueduct, Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire abbey and the towns of Beaugency, Meung-sur-Loire and Orléans.