Centre-Val de Loire - 80 Attractions You Must Visit

The château of Talcy, 25 km from Blois, features sharp, pointed rooftops that rise distinctively from the wheat fields of Beauce which was built in the 16th century and is an example of the unique interior completely built with original furniture from the 18th century, along with its conservatory orchard. This is a place which is most loved by poets and it is now a national public institution, opens to public.

The smallest chateau in the Loire which was around 600 years old and is still inhabited by its owners. The 12-hectare land offers a nice garden as well as a gift shop on-site, selling regional and organic products. Guests can enjoy a free guided visit of the castle upon request and the park has a recycling exhibition. It was classified as a historical monument and the smallest châteaux in the Loire valley.

The Chateau at Valencay, built-in 1540 by Jacques d’Estampes to show of his newfound wealth, is worth a visit. its style bears heavy comparisons with the best of the Loire Valley Renaissance chateaux and as such it is normally included in many of the Chateaux tour packages. It was fully furnished, and also has magnificent and beautiful gardens and a landscaped informal park. This castle was praised as "one of the most beautiful on earth" by George Sand.

The Valmer Castle is a castle of the Renaissance erected in the xvi th century xviii th century near the village of Chançay in Indre-et-Loire. Its Renaissance Italian-style terraced gardens, listed as historical monuments since 1930 1 , were recognized as a “ Remarkable Garden ” by the Ministry of Culture in 2004. The castle has been registered as a historical monument since 1930.

The Chateau of Villandry is the last of the great chateaux of the Loire built during the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. With its unique furnishings, décor and atmosphere, the Château de Villandry is a living testimony of French heritage. Villandry and its gardens are probably one of the most family orientated chateau within the Loire Valley in that it has a children’s maze and a beautiful play area and a beautiful garden.

The Château was built by Jean le Breton was the Lord of Villandry and of Villesavin, on the position of an old manor house. The Château was built by the same French and Italian master builders and workmen who built the great Royal Palaces and it has remained for four centuries, almost perfectly untouched. The interior of the manor contains refined furnishings and has a collection of tin objects. The castle also hosts several museums, including a wedding museum presenting an exceptionally rich co

A beautiful castle which was Leonardo da Vinci's last residence. The site of the manor house dates back to the 12th century when it was surrounded by fortifications of which only the watchtower remains. The house as it is today, a good example of Renaissance art using both brick and the local tufa stone. Today it is a historical monument and is also a well-known museum about Leonardo da Vinci's life, work and memory.

A genuine medieval castle at the heart of a UNESCO world heritage site, and also botanical arts in a 6ha Garden with contemporary sculptures and also a multi-cuisine restaurant is here. This building was given to captain Tolmere as a reward for his victories in the Picrocholean Wars. It has been classified as a Monument Historique since 1918 by the French Ministry of Culture.

The Château de la Ferté-Saint-Aubin is a private 17th-century manor house with moats and a river. Its picturesque grounds are full of waterways, meadows, and woodlands. Situated in the heart of Sologne. The vast 40-hectare park features the reconstruction of a 1930s train station, an enchanted island for the children, and a wildlife park.

A place of residence for French kings from the 15th to the 19th centuries. It is one of the examples of the French style luxury architecture. Numerous men and women of letters and European artists stayed at Amboise on the sovereigns’ invitation. It has been recognized as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1840. It is situated at an elevation of 81 meters.

The Château de Blois is one of the rare monuments offering visitors a comprehensive view of French architecture from the Middle Ages through the classical epoch. It has been listed since 1945 as a historic monument. The medieval castle became a royal residence and the political capital of the kingdom under Louis XII. This place has so many histories to say. The chateau is now used as a public museum that has a lot of collections that pave light to ancient history.

A majestic castle and garden which was located in the town of Châteaudun which was built in the 12th century. The castle is renowned for its Gallery of portraits decorated in the 17th century with 327 portraits of famous people. One of the architectural wonders which were built on the edge of the Russy Forest.

This lovely renaissance chateau built on top of a hill overlooking the Domaine de Candé is a worth visit. it dates back to the year 1499. One of the iconic building in this area which is historically important.

A beautiful Christian Abbey which was found in the 7th century in the town of Saint-Benoît-Sur-Loire. It constitutes a remarkable example of Romanesque art. It was situated on the banks of Loire and is one of the most celebrated Benedictine monasteries of Western Europe. The architecture inside and outside of the church is quite interesting and it is one of the main pilgrimage centres of France.

The forest of Orleans is a partially state-owned forest and a natural region French located in the department of Loiret in the region Center-Val de Loire. It is the largest national forest in mainland France. It ranges over 50,000 hectares, including 35,000 hectares which make up the national forest, the remainder being privately owned.

A majestic royal fortress which was Overlooking the River Vienne which was built by the Count of Blois. Used as a residence by Charles VII in the 15th century and also served as a prison in the 16th century. This beautiful building also has a museum that gives light to the history of this castle. This building is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

A beautiful contemporary art museum which was located in the Centre-Val de Loire region in France. Its collection includes come 13,000 works, 700 architectural models, and more than 12,000 drawings. It also features contemporary Japanese architects and illustrates the impact of digital technologies on architecture. One of the nice location where you can study modern and ancient architecture.

The Grand Aquarium de Touraine is an aquarium located between Tours and Amboise. it is the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe and consists of 70 basins including a 30-meter-long freshwater tunnel sheltering species from this river but also oceans around the world. A total of 12,000 fish are staged in two million liters of water.

A rare example of Renaissance architecture in Tours which now hosts innovative, regularly changing temporary exhibitions and so more. There is a Museum of the Archaeological Society of Touraine presents a wide variety of collections ranging from prehistory to the 18th Century.

The 18th-century Château de Nohant is where George Sand, the famous French author of The Devil's Pool, spent her childhood and various key moments of her life. It was located in the village of Nohant. A majestic 6-hectare garden boasting a wonderful rose garden, meadow orchard, flower garden, kitchen garden, and the wooded park is set around this castle. \Now this castle functions as a museum where the works of Sand wrote and of many other important artists and writers of her time are been kept