The 10 Best Things to do in Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire

Come and discover the first private home to open its doors to the public in 1922. You will appreciate the splendour and delight of real life in a castle. The owners invite you to discover this fantastic and vivid heritage: from the botanical park to the magnificent interior of the Château; the hunting dog kennels to Tintin's exhibition and the gardens through to the forest. The Château displays a wonderful range of furniture and interior decoration, all of which are remarkably well preserved. The private apartments on the first floor convey the French ‘art de vivre’ Many treasures can be found at Cheverny like a 17th century Gobelin tapestry for example, on display in the Arms room or the Louis XIV chest of drawers in the Boulle style. And you may even spend the night in one of our modern flats with top of the range furniture !

Aux portes du Val de Loire, le château royal de Blois présente un véritable panorama de l'art et de l'histoire des châteaux de la Loire, ce qui en fait la meilleure introduction à leur visite par sa richesse architecturale. Autour de la cour, dominée par le monumental escalier François Ier, se déploie un florilège de quatre styles de l'architecture française, le style gothique avec la salle des Etats généraux, les prémices de l'influence italienne avec l'aile Louis XII, Renaissance dans l'aile François Ier et enfin classique avec l'aile bâtie par Mansart pour le duc d'Orléans. Résidence de sept rois et de dix reines de France, le château royal est le lieu évocateur du pouvoir et de la vie quotidienne de la cour à la Renaissance, comme en témoignent les appartements royaux, meublés et ornés de magnifiques décors polychromes.

Chambord is the emblem of the French Renaissance through Europe and the world. The Domain of Chambord is made up of the château, a village, farms and a wooded area. The domain of Chambord is completely enclosed within a wall, all 5,440 hectares of it. That’s the equivalent of the city of Paris! It is the largest enclosed forest in Europe. The entire site has been the property of the state since 1930; when the public estate was created, article 230 of the law dated 23 February 2005 stated that the possessions making up the domain were given over to it without restriction or exceptions.

Historical monument, the smallest of the chateaux of the Loire has a history that dates 600 years back and brings a mosaic of ancient decors from more than 10 chateaux of the Loire destroyed after the French revolution and collected by the historian Louis de La Saussaye at the XIXth century. Sold only twice in its history, it is in the same family for 600 years. The old winery is a small jewel of refinement with decors of Elements sparking great artistic and cultural interest, it is a haven of peace in its green setting surrounded by vineyards. Opened for business for 40 years, his visit shows a set of architectural interest and al English park with rare species as well as a chicken coop. Its soft atmosphere of intimate and personal dwelling is a refinement for lovers of subtlety and wellbeing. The guided tour lasts about 40 minutes and can remain stroll or picnic in the English park al. Since May 2015, the young owner opened among other things of bed and breakfast and cottages for contrinuer has maintained its field in good condition and make it live and it is a small business.

Less than 200 kilometres south of Paris, nestling between the cities of Tours and Blois, is a haven of poetry. A natural oasis, a headland stretching out 40 metres above the wild Loire, Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, owned by the Centre Region, welcomes the public all year round to its chateau and park and, from April to the end of October, to the unmissable International Garden Festival. Whatever the season, the chateau - once the home of Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers and Princess de Broglie - beckons you indoors to admire its welcoming and lavishly furnished interiors. The International Garden Festival has been providing a unique panorama of landscape design all over the world since 1992. At the same time a source of ideas and a nursery for talent, the Festival gives an extra boost to the art of gardens and gains the interest of both the public and those in the trade by displaying new flower arrangements, new materials, new ideas and new approaches. The diversity and the high quality of the projects have contributed to the Festival's international reputation, which has become an indisputable meeting place for displaying the work of a new generation of landscape gardeners, architects, designers or gardeners.

Monmousseau’s cellars are a not to be missed Loire Valley wine tourist attraction. Located just a couple of minutes from Chateau de Chenonceau, the guided visit begins outdoors with an exceptional view of the Cher River and the famous Valley of the Kings, that was also the biggest area in France with troglodyte dwellings! You will then penetrate into a world of lights and a maze of walls, clad with a myriad of breath-taking works of art. By the end of this moving trip, you will have learnt the secrets about fine sparkling wines. Since 1886, the house of Monmousseau situated in Montrichard in Touraine, elaborates a selection of highly expressive red, white and rose still and sparkling wines. The traditional winemaking procedures, combined with the secrets of the House, contribute to the unique character of Monmousseau’s offerings: prestigious wines, boasting character. Our cellar masters will be delighted to welcome you for a commented free tasting.