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Their own unique contribution to the region’s rich cultural composition.
Every town provides something different to discover and explore. The highlights
include:
Amboise — This vibrant, bustling town lists some of the
region’s finest restaurants among its main attractions.
Angers — The capital of Anjou and gateway to the Loire
Valley, Angers is a haven for museums and sightseeing – the Gallérie David
D’angers is a must for any art lover.
Cholet — Renowned for its enduring textile industry,
Cholet’s impressive parks and gardens – including the largest Japanese garden in
Europe – are also a sight to behold.
Le Mans — With much more to offer than motor racing, Le Mans
effortlessly combines the old with the new. The Old Town – listed as a historic
monument – could rival some of the finest medieval districts in France.
Loches — In recognition of a rich cultural legacy preserved
in its ancient châteaux and charming limestone quarries, Loches has achieved the
accolades Ville d’Art et D’Histoire and Les Plus Beaux Detours de
France.
City of Orleans
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Tours — Due to its central location, culture and fine
cuisine, Tours is the natural visitor's capital. The cosmopolitan and shopping
capital of Touraine, Tours is everything from a shoppers’ paradise to a
religious pilgrimage centre. Tours boasts the greatest concentration of palatial
houses anywhere in the world, mostly built on the whim of successive monarchs as
country retreats.
Orleans — Orleans was France's intellectual capital in the
13th century, attracting artists, poets and troubadours to the royal court. But
the medieval court never stayed in one place for long, which led to the building
of magnificent châteaux all along the Loire. Chambord and Chenonceceaux, the two
greatest Renaissance châteaux remain prestigious symbols of royal rule,
resplendent with their ornamental gardens.
Other authentic historic towns are Amboise, Blois, and Beaugency, strung out
like jewels along the river. This is the classic Loire valley, a château trail
which embraces the Renaissance gardens of Villandry and the fairytale turrets of
Azay le rideau.
Venture northwards and the cathedral city of Chartres reigns supreme, its
medieval centre bordered by Gallo-Roman walls. Nantes in the west is a breezy,
forward-looking port and gateway to the Atlantic. Southwards, the windswept
Vendée is edged by a wild, sandy coastline that is perfect for windsurfers and
nature lovers alike. Inland, the Loire's more peaceful tributaries and the
watery Sologne beg to be explored.
Tours
City
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