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Loire
Valley Chateaux
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What is the Loire Valley best known for?
Its chateaux of course,the chateau has
become synonymous with the Loire Valley
from the time it was embraced by French
Royalty as a safe haven away from the
political back-stabbing of Paris and
then as a rich cultural playground. What
they and their noble followers created
is here for us all to see today,
preserved in a way perhaps only the
French can,even to the extent of
rebuilding, as at the fortress at Chinon.
A to Z list
here
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The Loire Valley
castles are as diverse as they are
numerous (over 300), from Chenonceau
spanning the river Cher, Chambord with
its outrageous and unnecessary scale, Azay-le
Rideau seemingly
floating on the river Indre, Amboise with
its Leonardo de Vinci connection, Cande where
Edward Prince of Wales married Wallis
Simpson plus many with beautiful gardens
such as at Villandry and Chaumont-sur-Loire and
a few, like Le
Grand Pressigny and Oiron housing
museums and galleries - definitely
something for everyone! |
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Their
influence and the areas natural beauty made UNESCO
designate a large stretch
of the river Loire,
which includes many of the best chateau, a world
heritage site. Listed are many of the more famous Loire
chateau -- you will have to decide yourself on which
ones to visit. They are easily accessible from anywhere
within the region and also France's capital city, Paris. |
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MOST POPULAR
The
premier chateaux of the Loire Valley are normally
listed in most guidebooks as Chateau de Chambord,
Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau and
Chateau d'Usse. We would personally substitute the
chateau and gardens at Villandry in favour of Usse,
unless you have your own little princess who insists on
a visit to the 'Sleeping Beauty' castle. Other 'best
chateau' lists would include Chateau d'Amboise, Chateau
de Blois or Chateau de Cheverny. |
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We have our own favourites of course but any best off
lists are always going to be arbitrary as each
visitor is looking for something different and with such
a choice they cannot fail to find it. For some it
will be the architecture others the history and for many
it will simply be down to the
location they have chosen
as their base to explore this beautiful part of France. |
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I'Islette |
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Chateaux
A to Z list
Chateaux Map
Castillos del Loira.
Loire-Tal-Schlösser.
Loire-vallei chateaux.
Valle della Loira chateaux.
Chateaux de la vallée de la Loire.
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