The Loire Valley is often referred to as "the Garden of France" and the Cradle of the French Language. (The city of Tours is reputed to speak the purest French.) Listed (at least in part) amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in late 2000, the Loire Valley is also noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage, in historic towns such as Amboise, Blois, Chinon, Orleans, Saumur and Tours, but in particular for its world-famous ''chateaux'' (castles), such as the Chateaux Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord and Chenonceau.
The rolling riverine landscape of the Loire Valley - and more particularly its many cultural monuments - is redolent of the ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment on Western European thought and design. The valley is also known for its wineries, many of which offer tours.
On 2 December 2000, UNESCO named the central part of the Loire River valley, between Maine and Sully-sur-Loire, to its prestigious list of World Heritage Sites. In choosing this area that includes the France Departements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire and Maine-et-Loire, the committee said that the Loire Valley is: "an exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty, comprised of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments - the Chateaux - and lands that have been cultivated and shaped by centuries of interaction between local populations and their physical environment, in particular the Loire itself."
You can come directly to the heart of this region by plane from London or Dublin. You will land at Tours.
Take an high speed train (in French : TGV) or Eurostar to reach the region. Get in the main cities (Orleans, Tours, Blois, etc).
One of the best ways to tour the Loire valley is by bicycle. Shops in many of the towns rent bicycles by the day, and can offer maps and suggest destinations. Some trains allow bicycles, others do not; be sure you check first if you expect to return by train.
One of the best way to visit the region is to cycle all along the Loire a velo. They have many itineraries
Other cycling trails: _gLa Loire a Velo_h flows on to other cycle trails: the land of the Chateaux, in Loir-et-Cher and _gVelocean_h in Loire-Atlantique and on the Vendee coast.
Some lighter red wines are produced in the region, notably 'Francois 1re', but the region cannot compete with the south of France. There is a small quantity of red sparkling wines produced in Saumur, which are well worth a try as possible accompaniment to dessert, or as an aperatif.
There are numerous co-operatives which operate within small appeallations, as well as small independent producers, and large companies. Most producers have their own 'cave' (wine cellar, carved out of the local tofu stone) which offers tours and wine-tasting. Tasting is usually free, but etiquette indicates that if you taste, then you should buy something to make it worth the producer's time. Small producers will often show you round their caves personnally.
There are many wine-festivals through the summer months - these are well worth the visit to make contact with producers - some of whom will send wine internationally. Try also the various 'route de vignobles' - designated tours around the vineyards, details are available in tourist information offices, from small villages to large towns.