Gien, a major centre of earthenware
Gien, also known as the City of Anne de Beaujeu, is a major centre of earthenware and home to the Hunting Museum
Château de Serrant in the Loire Valley
The Château de Serrant not only retained its historical charm but also emerged as a modern and refined estate, welcoming guests to experience its beauty and cultural richness
Château de Valençay, a small Chambord
Château de Valençay, a scaled-down version of the Château de Chambord, is a French Renaissance gem hidden a stone’s throw from the Loire Valley
Maison Picassiette, the ceramic house
Maison Picassiette, Raymond Isidore’s masterpiece, is a vivid expression of his singular imagination, crafted from humble materials and infused with personal meaning
Loire Valley, the Royal Valley
The Loire Valley, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is affectionately referred to as the Royal Valley for its many majestic chateaux constructed along its banks by the kings of the French Renaissance and their vassals
Château de Chinon, an English fortress
Château de Chinon, restored ruins of the fortress built by Henry II of England where Joan of Arc came to serve King Charles VII during the Hundred years War
Villandry Renaissance Château – Gardens
The Renaissance Château and gardens of Villandry in the Loire Valley, fully restored by Joachim Carvallo, and today registered as UNESCO’s World Heritage
Agnès Sorel’s Château de Loches
Château de Loches, known as Agnès Sorel’s castle and celebrated for its medieval military architecture and featuring one of Europe’s oldest and well preserved stone dungeons
Traveling to the Loire Valley from the UK
Traveling to the Loire Valley from the UK by air, sea and land is easy as the region is served by 3 airports, ferry links and railway and road networks
Richelieu – Utopian city – Indre-et-Loire
Richelieu off the Loire Valley, the ideal city of Cardinal de Richelieu, a citadel built in the 1630s on a grid plan and surrounded by ornamental moats
Château du Rivau – The fairytale gardens
The fairytale Château du Rivau, one of the first castles built in the Loire Valley was restored to its past glory and boasts fourteen fun thematic gardens
Loire Valley architectural styles
A brief overview of the evolution of the Loire Valley architectural styles, which produced so many exceptional castles and religious buildings