Loire Valley travel guide

Located south-west of Paris in the heart of France, the Loire Valley boasts a natural beauty and relaxing pace of life that has helped it become one of the country's most popular holiday destinations.

Often described as the Garden of France, the region boasts expansive landscapes of verdant hills and vineyards, dotted with hundreds of chateaux and villages that symbolise a rich and fascinating history. In 2000, the stretch of the Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes was added to the Unesco World Heritage list and described by the organisation as "an outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty".

Like most of France, the Loire Valley has a pleasant climate during the spring and summer months that offers holidaymakers the freedom to explore their natural surroundings, visit local towns or simply enjoy some time relaxing in the outdoors.

Getting there

The fairly central location of the Loire Valley means that visitors can choose from ferry crossings to a number of ports in northern France before driving to their holiday destination.

Among the nearest ports on the northern coast are St Malo, which is served by Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth and Condor Ferries from Poole, and Cherbourg, which holidaymakers can reach by sailing with either Brittany Ferries or Condor Ferries from Portsmouth.

Another option is the ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre provided by LD Lines, which also sails from Dover to Dieppe. Travellers who fancy the idea of taking a short sea crossing and driving through France to the Loire Valley can catch cross channel ferries with Seafrance, P&O Ferries or Norfolkline from Dover to Calais or Dunkerque.

Things to do

Holidaymakers who want to get a taste of the outdoors in the Loire Valley can set off on the 'Loire a velo' trail, a cycling itinerary that currently stretches for 440km and will eventually cover more than 800km along the banks of the Loire river. A dozen professional cycle hire and repair firms on the route provide all the practical support that visitors will need.

There are few regions in France that do not have some sort of association with wine and the Loire Valley is no different, with dozens of vineyards offering regular tours to the public. The region's reputation for good food is just as strong, with well-known local produce including lamb from Touraine, Chartres pate, Sologne's Mara des Bois strawberries and the ever-popular dessert of tarte tatin.

An authentic experience of life in the Loire Valley can be found in one of the region's many small hamlets and villages, such as the historic Saint Benoit-du-Sault, the picturesque Montresor and the romantic Gargilesse. There are plenty of bigger towns in the area boasting cultural and historical significance, four of which – Orleans, Blois, Amboise and Tours – boast an enviable location on the banks of the Loire. Visitors interested in learning about the local architectural heritage can head to the medieval Chartres or Bourges to visit cathedrals and stroll along streets lined by half-timbered houses and peaceful gardens.

Things to see

Undoubtedly the most impressive and popular sights in the Loire Valley are its chateaux, medieval fortresses and cathedrals, which offer a fascinating insight into the region's heritage. There are a number of itineraries that visitors can follow to take in the historic sights, stretching from Chateau de Maintenon in the north to the Haute-Touche reserve in the south.

Some of the most popular attractions along the way include the Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau, which was one of the earliest French Renaissance castles, the regal Chateau du Chambord and Chateau de Chenonceau.

There are also many picturesque gardens to see during a holiday in the Loire Valley, including the Arboretum des Barres, which is home to a host of plant and flower species that the owners, the Vilmorin family, have brought back from their travels around the world. The grounds of the Chateau du Rivau have been styled to resemble a fairytale world, while the former house of George Sand in Nohant-Vic shows the passion that the writer had for gardening.

While the region's castles and gardens are representative of the luxury once enjoyed by French royals, aristocrats and noblemen, the troglodyte village of Troo provides an altogether different view of life as it once was in the Loire Valley. With its network of tunnels, underground refuges and caves, the village explores how the ancient residents of this region relied on nature and the terrain to survive.

Places to stay

There are a range of two-star accommodation options in the Loire Valley for people looking to keep a lid on their holiday costs, including the Comfort Hotel in Tours and the Inter-Hotel Le Berry in Bourges.

Located further inland on Angers' Boulevard du Marechal Foch is the Marine hotel, a newly-renovated three-star establishment that boasts a central location and easy access to local attractions and transport. Other three-star options include the family-owned D'Anjou in Angers and Domaines des Portes de Sologne in Orleans, which is set in tranquil surroundings near a golf course.

An added touch of luxury is available at the Univers hotel in Tours, which combines a strong sense of history with an excellent location close to the local shopping area and a high-speed train station. Another popular four-star option is the Manoir Saint Thomas in Amboise, a historic manor house just three minutes' walk from the town's royal castle.