Paris Digest
Paris city guide since 1997
Locate Blois, Chambord, Cheverny Loire Valley Castles on Loire Valley map. Discover the best Loire wines on Loire Valley wine map. Loire Valley is a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Loire Valley tours from Paris. Map France. Places in France.
Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois, Chambord, Chaumont, Chenonceaux, Cheverny, Langeais, Villandry are the most beautiful Loire Valley castles. Locate and see these castles on Loire Valley castle map using streetview. Loire wine tours.
The Loire Valley map shows the Loire wine appelations, that is the diferent terroirs associated with specific wine grapes, such as Pinot, Sauvignon or Gamay. Click on the map to download a printable Loire Valley wine map.
The Loire Valley vineyard is the third major French appellation wine region, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering an area of 70,000 hectares, the vineyard is divided between Nantes, Anjou, Saumurois, Touraine and Orléanais.
The Loire Valley is particularly blessed by nature, because it has a temperate climate and an impressive diversity of terroirs which have allowed the birth of very varied, fresh and balanced wines thanks to the Loire. The region produces still wines, white reds and rosés but also sparkling wines of fine bubbles. Its soil and subsoil is made up of very diverse materials: sand, chalk or tufa, clay-limestone, clay-flint, sandstone schists, granites and gravels. The white grape varieties are Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. The red grape varieties are Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Gamay.
Some of the 85 appellations are well known: Chinon, Bourgueil, Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Coteaux du Layon, Muscadet, Vouvray, Cheverny, Saint-Pourçain. With around ten cultivated grape varieties, the Loire Valley expresses the nuances of its rich subsoil. To preserve this diversity, two major climates, oceanic to the west and continental influence to the east, share the vineyard. This alchemy between climate, grape variety and know-how gives Loire wines finesse and elegance. This balance is reflected in the wines, whether red or white, to drink rather young, even if some have aging potential.
Visiting the Châteaux on a one day coach tour from Paris can be a highlight of a France trip. You’ll visit the Château de Chenonceau, the Château de Chambord, or other Loire Valley’s illustrious Châteaux.
In addition to beautiful castles and sceneries, the Loire Valley boasts some of the best red and white French wines. Lunch is the right time to taste the best Loire Valley wines.
50 meters from the Castle, the recently opened Relais de Chambord is the renovation and extension of the Hotel Saint-Michel, a modest hotel which was in operation since the 19th century. The Relais de Chambord is the only hotel in the Chambord domain. It offers 55 rooms and suites spread over 3 floors, half of which offer a superb view of the castle designed by King François I. A must do for a week-end close to Paris.
Built in a rather desolate plain and surrounded by hunting forests, Chambord is a prestigious castle, that was hardly ever inhabited. Commissionned by King François Ier in 1519, it was in construction until the death of the king to end only under King Henri II. Francois Ier was at first impatient, but lost interest rather quickly. Towards the end of the reign, he came very little to Chambord. Perhaps he found – the castle old-fashioned. The principal masons engaged for the realization of the castle are Jacques Sourdeau, one of the builders of Blois, Pierre Trinqueau, who seems to have preserved until his death, in 1538, the direction of the work, and Jacques Coqueau. Several drawings of the building were established before the start of construction. A wooden model was executed by Dominique de Cortone and it is thought that Leonardo da Vinci, during the last years of his life spent in the Loire Valley, intervened in the development of Chambord's plans. Chambord today is the most famous Loire castle.
The most complex castle of the Loire continues to attract 300,000 visitors each year. The Blois Castle has had a sound and light show for more than 20 years, which tells the story of the place. With its majestic staircases, its resplendent inner courtyard and its four aisles, the Blois Castle is the most atypical castle in the Loire. Official residence of the Kings of France during the Renaissance, it was a capital place of the history of France, in particular during the wars of Religion.
The first castle was built in the Middle Ages. It was in 1500 that began the work undertaken by King Louis XII. The castle became the official residence of the royal family. The successor of Louis XII, François Ier, his cousin, rebuild the castle The last part that was built was done by Gaston of Orleans, the last great prince in the 17th century.
The castle was built by Gilles Berthelot, a wealthy financier, in 1510, in the early years of the architectural Renaissance. The time of the attacks of castles is gone. New residences no longer needed defensive equipment. By their ostentation they must show the wealth of their owner. Nevertheless, in this stereotyped setting, the castle of Azay-le-Rideau is an exception: it is fortified, because Berthelot feared the surrounding vandals. But naturally, it is also luxuriously decorated, with tapestries, wall carpets, massive carpentry, large fireplaces, loggias, sculptures and other artistic objects. Built during the reigns of Kings Louis XII and François Ier, it is very characteristic as it was placed in the middle of the river, the Indre, and looked like a small island. But the building knew by its beauty to stir the jealousy of the great powers of the time, and it was confiscated by King François Ier.
Locate the most famous places in France on France map.
The map of Bordeaux wine region locates the famous Bordeaux vineyards. Médoc, Saint-Emilion, Graves are especially famous for red wines made of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Check our map of Bordeaux wine region
Locate D-Day famous Normandy beaches, 250km from Paris by A13, on Normandy beaches map: from west to east, Utah beach, Omaha beach, Gold, Juno, Sword. Arromanches, Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetery are other moving sights.
The French Riviera map locates the top sights of the French Riviera: Antibes, Biot, Cannes, Eze, Menton, Monaco, Nice.
Locate Somme Battle sights on Somme battlefields map. The Somme is one hour from Calais, two hours from Paris.
The map of Versailles Palace and Gardens locates the top sights of the famous Sun King's estate: Hall of Mirrors, Versailles Gardens, the Grand Canal, the Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon.
Locate Disneyland Resort on the Disneyland Paris map.
