The Loire Valley is a region of France located in the North-West.
Presentation:
Loire Valley (French: Vallée de la Loire) is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. It is also known for the quality of its architectural heritage, in its historic towns such as Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours, but in particular for its world-famous castles, such as the Châteaux d'Amboise, Château de Villandry and Chenonceau.
The landscape of the Loire Valley, and more particularly its many cultural monuments, are specific to the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment periods of time. The Loire Valley is an outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty, containing historic towns and villages, great architectural monuments, its many châteaux, and fine wines.
On December 2, 2000, UNESCO added the central part of the Loire River valley, between Maine and Sully-sur-Loire, to its prestigious list of World Heritage Sites. The area includes the French départements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire, and Maine-et-Loire
Economy
Population: 3,426,000 inhabitants
Density: 107 inhabitants / sq km
The region is the 5th of France in term of population and gross domestic product.
Pays de la Loire is largely an agriculture area and the Southern part of the coast is perfect for oyster culture and other sellfish. This area produces more oysters than any other in France.
Wine production is also very important and includes Muscadet, Rose d'Anjou, Saumur.
The region benefits from excellent communications, both internationally via low cost airlines and to Paris via TGV.
Property prices in this region have been increasing quicker than the average rates in the rest of France.
Chateaux of the Loire Valley
When the French kings began constructing their huge châteaux here, the nobility, which didn't want to be far from the seat of power, followed. Their presence in the Loire valley with its moderate climate, began attracting the very best landscape designers.
By the middle of the 16th century, King Francois I, had shifted the centre of power in from the Loire back to the ancient capital of Paris. With him went the great architects, but the Loire Valley continued to be the place where most of the French royalty preferred to spend most of their time. The ascension of King Louis XIV in the middle of the 17th century made Paris the permanent location for great royal châteaux when he built the Palace of Versailles. Nonetheless, those who gained the king's favour and the wealthy bourgeoisie, continued to renovate existing châteaux or build lavish new ones as their summer residence in the Loire Valley.
Today, these privately owned châteaux serve as homes, a few opening their doors to tourist visits, while others are operated as hotels or bed and breakfasts. Many have been taken over by a local government authority. Huge castles such as the o Chambord are owned and operated by the national government and are major tourist sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Easy Access:
- By plane:Tours Airport: Direct Flight from Dublin (1h40) with Rayanair Poitiers Airport: Direct Flight London-Poitiers Nantes Airport: Direct Flight from Dublin with Rayanair (1h35) and from cork with Aer Arann (2h50) - By train:TGV Atlantique : Paris-Le Mans 55 min, Paris-Vendôme 42 min - By car: : Mortorways A10, A11, A28
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Authority). Authorised by the FINANCIAL REGULATOR to engage in Mortgage Intermediary business with French Banks (C48206)
