About Loire Valley
Storybook Setting
A few places not to be missed include the 16th century Chateau de Chenonceau, one of France’s most visited castles, Oreans, the town of Joan of Arc, and the flower gardens and canals of lovely Vendome. You can also join countless wine and cheese tasting tours, as well as find an array of souvenirs unique to the Loire Valley, such as saffron, wickerwork, pottery and stained glass. And for an alternative perspective of the region’s famous sites, boat cruises on the Loire Valley’s many lakes and rivers are a great option—and will give your legs a rest. You can even take a ride across the longest canal bridge in Europe, the Briare Bridge, which runs suspended over the Loire River. Of course, in an area filled with splendid castles surrounded by moats, such an extraordinary architectural feat isn’t nearly as out of the ordinary as you might expect.
