HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy breathtaking views over the Loire Valley in a hot air balloon ride
Learn about the lifestyle of royalty at the Chateau de Chambord
Indulge your tastebuds at one of Tours numerous fine restaurants
Be dazzled by the stained glass of Chartres cathedral
Visit Orleans, the town saved by the heroine Joan d’Arc
Stroll through the gardens of the Chateau de Chenonceau

Centre/Upper Loire Valley

This frequently visited region is home to a trail of exquisite chateaux that encapsulate both the fascination of French history and the romance of the extravagant gardens and glistening moats. The area is so rich in its collections of architectural treasures, as a result of having been a central location for kings, princes, nobles and dukes, that it was named a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000. A unique charm can be found on the banks of the River Loire in these sumptuous chateaux, each reflecting its own individual character, from the fairytale turrets of Usse, the magnificent Renaissance Chateaux of Chambord and Chenonceau to the beautifully restored gardens of Villandry.

Interesting cities well worth a visit in the region are Orleans, Chartres and Tours. It was in Orleans that Joan of Arc’s heroic deeds saved the French from the English in 1429. At Chartres possibly the most outstanding Gothic cathedral in Europe can be found with its remarkable collection of stained glass. Tours, which has a cosmopolitan, bourgeois air, is a thriving city with wide 18th century avenues, café lined boulevards and formal public gardens.