I’m building up an on-going, ever evolving guide to the regions of France. Today’s blog is about the Loire Valley – a part of France I first visited on a camping trip during the middle of a 90 degree heatwave!

The Val de Loire was the play-place of French royalty before they lost their heads, which is why the region is still dominated by 160 stunning châteaux.

It’s a World Heritage Site with many small villages and towns which have grown around the larger châteaux over the years, so there is plenty to discover and enjoy (our parc Domaine de Dugny is located within easy reach of all the key sites).

You can see some incredible pictures of the region from this group in Flickr, and take a look at the thumbnails on the right, they’re from Domaine de Dugny too.

Before listing my favourite grand homes, I was given plenty of ideas for must sees from friends in the twitosphere (search for me at danatsiblu).

Natamagat tweets that the river which gives the region its name should be the starting point for any visit: the Loire is the longest river in France and there are many beautiful views, picnic spots and walks along its banks.

The Loire Valley is known as the garden of France, and both Natamagat and La_Vache recommend the fresh and food friendly wines of Muscadet, Chinon, Bourgeuil, Vouvray and Sancerre.

La_Vache suggests a visit to the troglodytes at Saumur. They are small stone dwellings, some of which were used by prehistoric man, but many that have been carved out to use as cellars and storage rooms. On a much larger scale, there is the La Ville Souterraine, an underground city created by artists.

The best accent in France
Final word from the twitosphere goes to Natamagat – if you are learning French or improving what you have, she says listen closely to the Val de Loire accent, it’s the best in France!

Castles dominate the region
Perhaps the most famous of the chateaux is Chenonceau, which is set in manicured, tranquil gardens amidst hundreds of rambling roses.

The chateau is built as a bridge across the Loire river, so every window has a breathtaking view. The interior is equally as spectacular, packed with Renaissance furniture, 16th century tapestries and art masterpieces. In summer times you can admire the chateau by boat or walk through floodlight gardens, filled with music, by night.

The Royal Château at Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley, and one of the most recognizable château in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture. Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have been involved in the original design. 

Château Royal d’Amboise was visited by Leonardo da Vinci in December 1515, who then lived and worked in the nearby Clos Lucé, connected to the château by an underground passage. He is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert, adjoining the Château. A show celebrating the life of da Vinci is held at the Château throughout July and August.

Château Chaumont-sur-Loire is the closest to Dugny, and is famed for its stunning gardens, which are both recreational and interactive. The gardens are created in the shape of a tree, with each branch themed in a different way. From April to October the gardeners are on-hand to pass on their expert knowledge to visitors through a series of shows

On a smaller scale, the Châteaux de la Loire en Miniature (20km from Domaine de Dugny) features mini-versions of the 44 most prestigious Châteaux of the Loire. Along the one mile walk there are bonsai trees, 10,000 figurines and miniature railways. Tickets cost around 12.75 euros for an adult.

Attractions to uncover
There is also the incredible ZooParc de Beauval at St. Aignan (25km), which is home to over 4,000 animals – the zoo was recently described as one of the world’s 15 best! It has the largest elephant plain in France, an African Savannah with over 80 animals, one of the biggest sea-lion swimming pools in Europe and rare animals including white lions and white tigers.

The Maurice Dufresne Museum in the former Marnay Paper Mill is filled with treasures from 10 centuries of invention, including more than 3,000 cars, planes and motorcycles, and 2,000 historic weapons.

The most exciting way to see the Loire Valley is by one of the many Montgolfière (hot air balloon) flights that go soaring by.

A region FORE golfers
Golfers will feel above the clouds, with 30 courses in the region, and motor enthusiasts can make a date at the annual 24hr ‘Renault 4’ rally, Event Quatrelle.

What other must-see attractions can you recommend in this beautiful region?

Tags | Bourgeuil, Château Chaumont-sur-Loire, Château Royal d’Amboise, Châteaux de la Loire en Miniature, Chenonceau, Chinon, Domaine de Dugny, garden of France, La Ville Souterraine, Loire Valley, Maurice Dufresne Museum, Muscadet, Royal Château at Chambord, Sancerre, troglodytes at Saumur, Val de Loire accent, Vouvray, ZooParc de Beauval