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places to visit in the loire valley

The picture-book setting of Loire Valley, a World Heritage Site, is dominated by 160 stunning châteaux and the River Loire which meanders through the green hills. Small villages and towns have grown around the larger châteaux over the years, so there is plenty to discover and enjoy for all the family.

Every château has its own speciality, from Chaumont-sur-Loire, famed for its stunning gardens to Chenonceau, which after the Royal Palace of Versailles is the most visited château in France.

There are many ways to see Loire Valley, however Montgolfière (hot air balloon) flights are the most dramatic. A local microlite operator at Domaine de Dugny organises flights across the valley, with prices from just 40 Euros.

Golfers will feel above the clouds, with 30 courses in the region, and motor enthusiasts can make a date at the annual 24hr ‘Renault 4’ rally, Event Quatrelle.

Other attractions to look out for include La Ville Souterraine, an underground city created by artists, the incredible ZooParc de Beauval at St. Aignan, which is home to over 4,000 animals including white lions and manatees, and the Maurice Dufresne Museum in the former Marnay Paper Mill is filled with treasures from 10 centuries of invention, including over 3,000 cars, planes and motorcycles and 2,000 historic weapons.

an overview of the main local châteaux

• The Royal Château at Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley, and one of the most recognizable château in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture. Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have been involved in the original design.
• Château Chenonceau is the most visited château in France, behind the Royal Palace of Versailles. The stunning château can be admired by river boat in July and August. On weekends in June, and every evening in July and August, the beautiful gardens are lit up at night, when you can stroll accompanied by the sounds of Corelli.
• Château Royal d’Amboise was visited by Leonardo da Vinci in December 1515, who then lived and worked in the nearby Clos Lucé, connected to the château by an underground passage. He is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert, adjoining the Château. A show celebrating the life of da Vinci is held at the Château throughout July and August.
• Château Chaumont-sur-Loire is the closest to Domaine de Dugny, and is famed for its stunning gardens, which are both recreational and interactive. The gardens are created in the shape of a tree, with each branch themed in a different way. From April to October the gardeners are on-hand to pass on their expert knowledge to visitors through a series of shows.
• Château de Cheverny: is renowned for magnificent interior rooms and its collection of furniture, tapestries, and objets d'art. Around 90 hunting dogs are also kept on the grounds and are taken out for hunts twice weekly. The Belgian comic book creator Hergé used Cheverny as a model for his fictional "Château de Moulinsart" (Marlinspike Hall in English) in the Adventures of Tintin books.