Regions of France: the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is one of the most picturesque places on earth. Luxurious parks with many winding paths, full of blissful meadows, beckoning to lie down on their silky grassy cover, majestic castles resembling a wedding cake or trembling like medieval dungeons - all this has made the region a place of pilgrimage for millions of tourists. A secluded location contributed to the flourishing of not only nature, but also art. Here he created the Titan of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci, staged his plays Moliere, sought out subjects and entourage for the novels of A. Dumas. Today, the Loire Valley is one of the few places where you can look at the shy face of this France. The crowded, tourist-tied Paris has long lost its true French charm. Only in such a little naive, patriarchal province, the charm of the nation is still preserved.

The pristine valley of the Loire (France): the promised land

Geographically, this region is located in the very middle of the country. The impenetrable thickets of the forest and the shallow depth of the Loire, too shallow for ships, sheltered it from the wars that ravaged the country in the Middle Ages. The most famous and large-scale battle took place near the walls of Orleans, glorifying the heroic Joan of Arc. Perhaps, that is why the Loire Valley was preserved in its medieval beauty. It seems that time stops here.

Thanks to the fact that in the immediate vicinity of the region is Paris, the Loire Valley was the focus of aristocratic life. Literally at every step here you can find at least a small, but a real castle. According to rough estimates, there are only about three hundred of them. In a royal and luxurious way, the castles of the Loire Valley make this land look like a fairy-tale country.

Amboise Castle Outpost

While on the crossing of the Loire, the castle of Amboise was of great strategic importance. This is a real military fortress with a lot of towers, massive gates and impregnable thick walls. At the same time, thanks to a harmonious combination of Gothic and Renaissance elements, this castle is one of the finest structures in France. In his chapel, adorned with skilfully carved bas-reliefs and colorful stained-glass windows, Leonardo da Vinci is buried.

Castle-labyrinth Chambord

This is one of the most famous buildings with which the Loire Valley is rich. Photo of this castle is most often decorated with guides to the main attractions of the region. The architect of this eccentric structure was Domenico de Cortona. According to rumors, Leonardo da Vinci is also involved in his creation. The construction cost the treasury dearly, but King Francis I did not stop even when it was finally emptied, having ordered the gold of the subjects to melt. In it you can easily get lost, so intricately and elegantly its internal arrangement: 426 rooms, 77 stairs, 282 fireplaces. This ingenious architectural decision was made so that the numerous minions could not collide with each other, flanking the King's bedroom into their own. Around the castle there is a magnificent park, in which Louis XIV loved to walk so much. Since 1981, Chambord has been protected by UNESCO.

Chenonceau is the abode of the beautiful

This charming building was owned almost exclusively by women: queens, favorites and simply wives of wealthy landowners. One of his most famous hosts was the beloved of King Diana de Poitiers. It was she who ordered to attach to it a bridge across the river, because of what it seems that the castle floats above the water. Intellectual receptions were often held here, artists, writers and musicians were welcomed. This could not but leave its mark on the interior of the castle. In his halls you can find a collection of paintings by Poussin, Rubens, as well as Flemish tapestries of the XVI century.

Cheverny - the citadel of family values

Locks in the lands of the Loire Valley were literally intended for hunting fun. One of the most striking examples is Cheverny. For many centuries, it passed from generation to generation of the same family. For some time, however, it was the favorite of King Diane de Poitiers, but at other times he was carefully kept by the descendants of the ancient family. That is why the interiors and the building itself are so well preserved. Original paintings of the times of Louis XIII, a trophy trophy with deer horns, a nursery with hundreds of hunting dogs - everything here is the same as it was many centuries ago.

Revived Middle Ages: the fortress of Langeais

This castle is one of the earliest surviving witnesses of the French Middle Ages. Its walls keep a memory of the legendary historical figures, such as Richard the Lionheart and Fulk the Black. Here you can see firsthand what has already sunk into oblivion: gothic chandeliers, the lifted castle bridge (which still functions!), 15th-16th century tapestries, ancient sculptures and paintings. But the pearl among its exhibits is, of course, a wax composition depicting the marriage of Charles VIII and Anna Brittany. It was this event that marked the beginning of the union of Brittany and France.

The fairy-tale castle of Yousse

This castle is closely connected with literature. According to legend, it was in him that Charles Perrault in his famous fairy tale imprisoned "Sleeping Beauty". In one of the towers are now installed several wax figures, illustrating the episodes from there. Chateaubriand worked on it over his "grave notes", and Prosper Merimee was so delighted with his beauty that he insisted that in 1861 the castle of Usse be inscribed on the state list of historical monuments of France.

To help the traveler

The Loire Valley can be viewed from three cities: Blois, Tour and Angers. The trip from Paris by train takes only about an hour. For further travel it is best to rent a car, since only this vehicle will allow you to fully enjoy the picturesqueness of these places. If you like active rest, use a bicycle, all conditions in the region are created for this purpose: a large number of bicycle paths will allow you to move quite comfortably. In some castles, you can stay overnight if you do not get to the hotel.

The best time to visit the Loire Valley is the early autumn - the main stream of tourists will already slynet, and in the cafes and restaurants there will already be a wine that is famous for this fertile land.

Break for wine

The Loire Valley is famous not only for its castles and natural beauties, but also for its magnificent wines. About a third of France's wine production is produced in this region. The reason for particular pride is the incredibly diverse palette of produced wines. The variety of microclimate allowed the French to grow here so many varieties of grapes that an inexperienced sommelier can be frightened by their enumeration alone. The banks of the Loire are divided into zones according to the types of soils, of which there are only four. This is what affects the variety of berries. In fact, all wines can be conditionally divided into three groups at the place of their production - Upper, Central and Lower Loire. The vine of each territory has its own special flavor and taste.

There are not many places left on the earth where one can enjoy the untouched beauty of the past. Modern buildings are gradually replacing historical structures, drowning out their majestic appearance with their typified architecture. Feel the breath of time you can by visiting the magnificent castles of the Loire Valley. France is rightfully proud of this region, which has long been a Mecca for tourists.