Attractions in the Loire valley

ATTRACTIONS IN THE LOIRE VALLEY

The Châteaux of the Loire

There are over 150 Châteaux within this small area and they come in all shapes and sizes, from medieval fortresses to romantic castles, from magnificent royal palaces to simple country retreats. Much restoration has been completed over recent years and both state owned and private family homes are now competing to attract you, the tourist, and many now provide more for your entrance fee.


Château d'Angers	Château at Saumur

Azay-le-Rideau	Château d’Ussé (Sleeping Beauty)

Château de Chenonceau	Château d' Amboise
. Château de Brézé	Château de Villandry

There are lots of attractions to see in the Loire but families with children realise that they require something more than Châteaux to keep their interest. Over the last 10 years the tourist industry has become aware of the need to entertain the children on holiday and there are now many activities that are either solely for families or attractions that have an area of interest to children.

Doue-la-Fountaine

Z oo de La Fleche

Aquarium du Val de Loire

Europe's biggest fresh water aquarium. Here you can see some of the giant species that live in the Loire, also tropical fish, turtles, alligators, piranhas and even sharks from around the world.

Park Mini-Château

All the family will enjoy walking around this lovely park filled with miniature replicas of the magnificent chateaux of the Loire. A model railway runs around the chateaux, through the countryside and over the streams.

Lulu Park

Ideal for children from 3 to 14, this is not a swimming pool but a park full of inflatables with water running down or around. Your children will enjoy bouncing and jumping around the huge shapes and shooting down the slides.

FuturoScope

Thrills galore for all the family!
Parc du Futuroscope is 60 hectares of leisure space for everyone to enjoy, with street theatre, exhibitions, relaxation areas, games, and more, to give you the perfect, fun-filled outing.

Other Attractions


Cadre Noir of Saumur	This world famous Royal School of Cavalry, in the centre of Saumur, frequently demonstrates the skill of its horsemen with public exhibitions known as the Carrousel. The horses and riders perform a series of gravity-defying jumps all without the benefit of stirrups.

Leonardo da Vinci museum	At Le Clos-Luce, Amboise Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life close to the Château at Amboise. The basement now houses a display of 40 models based on his inventions.

River trips	A river-boatman and guide will let you in on the stories and traditions of the Loire as you drift along, past the charming villages, sandbanks brimming with birds and river landscapes constantly changing according to the time and weather. http://www.loiredelumiere.com.

RESTAURANTS	Whatever your culinary preferences you can eat at some excellent restaurants in the locality, from the lunchtime cheapies, which are highly recommended by the lorry drivers who know a good lunch for 10 euros, to top class nouvelle cuisine with all the trimmings. Your feast may be accompanied by the excellent red, white, rose and sparkling wines made from neighbouring vineyards For something different there are also Chinese and Indian restaurants in the major towns.

Wines	The area produces some of the finest wines in France and you can visit the caves (wine producers) where they will guide you through the process and you can taste before buying.

	· Ackerman
	· Bouvet-Ladubay
	· Vouvray
	· Bourgeuil, St-Nicholas-de-Bourgeuil, Chinon
	· Sauvignon

SHOPPING	There are many specialist shops in the Loire Valley and they can satisfy even the most dedicated shopper. Whether you are looking for a designer outfit (French), luxury foodstuff, or antiques, they can all be found in the many towns dotting the area. Remember, they usually close for a rather long lunch hour but they will stay open until early evening and are quite happy for you to browse.

MARKETS	In the Garden of France every village and town has a weekly market for you to visit. The locals shop in the markets for their fruit, vegetables, cheese, flowers and clothes. They usually finish at lunchtime but then you can do as the French do and visit a local hostelry or restaurant for some refreshment. and discuss your purchases.