Touraine and the Loire Valley
The History and Chateaux of the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is known as the Valley of the Kings because this area was considered the playground for French Royals from the 15th -18th centuries. It was chosen by royalty for its proximity to Paris, mild climate and stunning rolling countryside.
Today it remains one of France's most popular regions, and with the exception of Paris, has more historic sights per square mile than any other French area. Renowned for its lavish chateaux and relics of royal days gone by, there are over 1000 here, with approximately 120 of them open to the public. The splendid valley of the Loire is rich in both history and architecture.
Due to its central location, culture and fine cuisine, Tours is the visitor's natural capital with plenty to see including lovely boutiques and restaurants to keep your purse busy. It is truly a City of Art and History and once enjoyed the distinction of being the capital of the Kingdom of France; Tours is definitely an extraordinary place right at the centre of the Loire valley and in the heart of the garden of France.
Another area worthy of note is Amboise (see image left) with its lively Sunday market and pretty cobbled streets.
Amboise was one of the favourite residences of the French kings. It is here that the Renaissance art from Italy was introduced to France. Few buildings are more historically important than the Château d'Amboise. Louis XI lived here; Charles VIII was born and died here; Francois I and later Catherine de Medicis were regular visitors. The château there is truly stunning and is reminiscent of a giant wedding cake.
Also Chambord with its extravagant château (see image top), the largest residence in the region the design of which is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. Chambord has the added attraction of playing host to many artisan and antiques markets throughout the year.
We could wax lyrical about the châteaux for ever - visit www.valdeloire.org for a complete overview of the area and its amazing historical legacies. The Wikipedia also has lots of interesting information on the local châteaux.
The Region's Wine
There has been wine growing in the Loire Valley region since Roman times and indeed there is much evidence of Roman occupation. The wines in general are light and were until 50 years ago, considered inferior; that is until the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine stepped in an instructed the growers to go back to school and learn how to make good wine. Since then the wine of this region has improved year on year and now stands along with Bordeaux, Beaujolais etc as one of France's premier wine growing regions.
The wines are generally light and very drinkable and reflect the gentle climate perfect for producing this type of wine. Famous wines from this region are Vouvray, Saumur, Muscadet, Pouilly Fumé, Sancerre and Touraine all of which are characterised by their freshness and finesse. In addition, the region has become famous for its sparkling wines which many agree rival their more famous Champagne cousin but have the advantage of being considerably less expensive.
www.purplewines.com offer a good selection of local wines and can arrange wine-tastings in this area.
