The Centre-Val de Loire Region includes 6 departments: Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loiret and Loir-et-Cher. A rural and relatively sparsely populated territory, but one that is experiencing strong demographic development, it is home to only two metropolises with more than 400,000 inhabitants, Tours and Orleans. In addition, there are charming cities with their historic centers: Blois, Bourges and Chartres. Crossed by the Loire Valley, this territory is especially known for its sumptuous castles and particularly the most famous of them, the castle of Chenonceau and the castle of Chambord. It is also a wine destination appreciated for its white wines such as sancerre and pouilly-fumé. In addition, the Centre-Val de Loire, with its flat terrain, is a destination particularly suited to bicycle touring with routes that total 800 km long (La Loire à Vélo) and to hiking. The Beauval zoo is a must-see destination and is home to the famous baby panda named by the first lady of France.
The castles should not make us forget the cathedrals! Those of Chartres, Orleans, Tours or Bourges are all jewels. You must also see the Jacques-Coeur palace in Bourges and the Briare bridge-canal. The banks of the Loire, the hilly forests, the villages and the fields make up a romantic and charming landscape. All in all, an inspiring country, the one of Descartes, Rabelais, Balzac, Proust and George Sand... So take your Petit Futé Centre-Val-de-Loire to review your French history and prepare your stay!
Touraine, Sologne, Berry, Beauce... These lands evoke a certain sweetness, but don't trust them too much. It is best to plan your stay in the Centre-Val de Loire in the summer, as the grey and rainy weather is not suitable for rural landscapes. The high tourist season is the summer, during which you will often queue to discover the Loire castles or to visit the Beauval zoo. However, summer is a pleasant season to hike in the shade of the woods. For cycling tourism, prefer spring. River tourism is reserved for the beautiful season. As for the discovery of the vineyards, it is in autumn you will have the most beautiful landscapes. The Centre-Val de Loire is a destination that is well suited to families and particularly to grandparents with their grandchildren who can take advantage of stays around the history of France scheduled during the school holidays. It is during the summer season that you can admire the most beautiful night-time sound and light shows on the facades of the Loire castles. In winter, you can enjoy a pleasant stay in Orléans. Schedule your visit for the Christmas market, you won't be disappointed. But the festivals on the banks of the Loire River in summer are also worth the detour. In Tours, we celebrate in 2020 the 220th anniversary of the birth of Balzac and every year, at the beginning of July, the USA with the American Tours Festival, 100 % US culture! So finally, the best time to go to the Centre-Val de Loire will be in the summer for hiking, cycling and other outdoor activities, but you can plan your stay during other seasons according to your interests.
The weather in the Centre-Val de Loire region is characterized by an oceanic climate altered by the distance from the ocean and certain continental influences. The eastern half of the Centre-Val de Loire has cold winters without excess and hot but bearable summers, while in the west the winters are milder and the summers are milder with less rainfall. The reliefs are more watered. Temperatures sometimes reach -10°C in winter and 28°C in summer.
Recommended by Tanguy REVAULT
The Maison Monmousseau cellars are a must-see for wine tourism in the Loire Valley. This house, a specialist in fine Touraine bubbles since 1886, ...
Recommended by Tanguy REVAULT
In collaboration with Givaudan, Le Clos Lucé presents an exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci's interest in perfumes and how they are made. A ...
Recommended by Tanguy REVAULT
The Maison Monmousseau cellars are a must-see for wine tourism in the Loire Valley. A specialist in fine Touraine bubbles since 1886, the cellars ...
