Centre-Loire Valley accommodation from AU$83

The Loire Valley is fit for a king! Literally, in fact, because plenty of them have lived here. A fertile region on the shores of France’s longest river, the Loire Valley has more than 300 magnificent chateaux, plus great wineries and scenic cycling tracks!

Centre is – you guessed it – in the centre of France, and includes some of the Valley’s grandest sights as well as the pond-rich forests of Sologne. Take a trip to unspoilt rural France with one of our Loire Valley and Centre hotels.

History

The Loire River is 1,012 km long, and the Loire Valley sits in its middle stretch. Spanning about 800 square kms, the Valley is made up of towns like Tours, Blois and Nante. Its vineyards and orchards have led to its nickname "the Garden of France", and it’s the largest area of France ever to be UNESCO-World Heritage listed.

In the 17th century, Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles in Loire. Wealthy folks and those who wanted to be close to them followed suit, building more historic homes. Famous creative types like Da Vinci and Voltaire made their temporary homes in some of these chateaux.

Things to do

Start with a visit to some of the Loire Valley’s chateaux. The most popular is the Chateau de Chambord, with its exterior of dazzling French architecture and interior of 426 rooms and 77 staircases, including a double helix rumoured to have been designed by Da Vinci himself. Visit other chateaux like Amboise and Chenonceau to keep the fairytale experience going. Check out their impressive gardens and Chateau de Villandry’s hedge maze too.

Nature lover? Hire a bike and explore the Loire along the La Loire a Velo, which has 800kms of cycle tracks and take in the chateaux, gardens and great views. Ride around the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Reserve, a 253,000 hectare national park with nature trails of lush forest. To get closer to the Loire River, rent a canoe or kayak.

A couple of hours from the Centre region, Sologne is a rugged, wild region of forests, moors, charming villages and almost three thousand ponds. It’s a hit with fisherman, hunters and hikers – now it’s your turn to explore it!

Shopping and dining

There are markets seven days a week in the Loire Valley, like the Angers open-air market, a must for fresh produce. The dining of Loire includes Michelin-starred gourmet restaurants, restaurants with river views, steakhouses and bistros, classy restaurants that turn into wine bars by night, and cafes that serve crepes all day long.

As well as great food, there’s also top drinking at Loire’s fine wineries, which produce delicious wines of all varieties. Take a wine tour to sample the variety... and the views.

Getting here

Book one of our flights to Nantes to get to the Loire Valley. Rent a car (or bike!) or catch a bus or train to get around. Book your Loire Valley accommodation with us and live like a royal on your next trip to France.