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Regions of France : Centre/Loire ValleyHotels Centre - Recommended & Featured Hotels Centre/Loire Valley |
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 Wall to wall châteaux and then more so, Centre has all the best. From
the monumental splendour of Françcois I’s Chambord to the dreamy Azay le
Rideau it is a region of visual delights.
It was the Hundred Years’ War when the English and Burgundians kicked the royals out of Paris that led to the Loire gaining in importance. The best architects were drafted in to create ever more elaborate châteaux to prove their owners' importance. Today the river is a shadow of its former self, silted up and largely impassable but still ideal for picnics while staring across at the splendour of yet another fairytale turreted castle. The region is awash with medieval history from the Maid of Orléans (Joan of Arc) to the flamboyant Francois I. Chambord may be the most impressive château in the region but there are plenty of others to see and enjoy – all with fascinating stories of their history.
Château De Lazenay - Résidence Hôtelière Bourges | |
Cher
* High on the hill, Sancerre is king of the valleys producing this select wine* Described by Julius Caesar as "one of the most beautiful cities in all of Gaule", Bourges has continued to delight and inspire visitors down through the ages. The Gothic cathedral, sculpted mansions, stately palaces and a bustling medieval quarter are all reminders of its rich historic past. Inaugurated in the year 2000, the "Nuits Lumière" sound and light show sets the city aglow and makes the Middle Ages come alive each evening in the summer. 12th century cathedral is a celebration of medieval craftsmanship. Hotels Bourges * Charles VII’s château at Mehun sur Yèvre where he lived after being beaten at Agincourt
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Argenton sur Creuse has a beautifully preserved medieval quarter
The fairytale château Azay le Rideau is a pinnacle of renaissance architecture
Francois I’s mammoth Château Chambord has a double helix staircase supposedly by Leonardo da Vinci
Orléans - Orléans was badly damaged during World War II and is now a shadow of its former glorious self. Its long history stretches to a time before the Romans but its most famous event was Joan of Arc's deliverance of the city from the English in 1429 that is remembered most fervently with Joan of Arc Day celebrated each year on the 8th of May, when the town makes merry with street parades in medieval style.