WALKWAYS and LEISURE
Places to see within an hour or so
Loire Valley Châteaux
Château de Chenonceau (below)has been described as the most beautiful of Châteaux.
The Renaissance chåteau stretches across the River Cher on piers. Chenonceau is one of the few châteaux that you can view without a guide.
Château de Chambord was commissioned as a hunting lodge by Francois I in 1519. It's the largest of the Loire châteaux with 440 rooms, and if it's second to Chenonceau in beauty, it's a darn close second.
Château de Chaumont is set on a cliff above the Loire, standing on the foundations of two previous fortresses dating from the 10th and 12th centuries. What to see: the Italian tiled floor in the Salle du Conseil, furniture from the 16th and 18th centuries and the impressive stables built by the Prince de Broglie.
Château de Amboise was home to French King Louis XI and his wife Charlotte of Savoy. What to see: the Gothic Chapel of St Hubert; are the remains of Leonardo de Vinci really buried in the north transept? Plus, the lavish Kings quarters, the Great Hall and the Tour des Minimes, a tower providing access to the château to carriages.
Château de Villandry features one of the best examples of Renaissance formal gardens in the Loire Valley.
Château de Beauregard features an interesting 16th century kitchen, but most come here to see the Picture Gallery containing 363 portraits of Royal family members and aristocracy.
Château de Cheverny is an opulent Renaissance styled château from the period of Louis XIII. The main draws here are the furnishings and the small hunting museum.
The Wines of the Loire Valley
The first traces of wine production in this part of the Loire started under Roman occupation.
Most of the region is under the AOC Touraine wine region, covering 8,000 hectares in 146 communes.
Touraine Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorite summer wines, good with seafood.
Vouvray is made from Chenin Blanc grapes, known as pineau blanc in the Loire, and can be made into a sweet wine.
Tours: visit the beautiful city with its medieval quarters and magnificent cathedral and many shops and restaurants.
La Brenne, the Parc Naturel, covering 165,000 ha. A beautiful region of lakes and wooded hills, La Brenne is a paradise for nature lovers. At least 250 different types of birds can be observed here. Also a must for water sports enthusiasts.
