The '''Centre''' (pronounced "son-truh") [http://www.loirevalleytourism.com/] is a large inland region of central France located to the south-west of the French capital Paris. The official name for the region is frequently combined in tourist literature with the French appelation '''Val de Loire''' to produce the combination '''Centre-Val de Loire''', reflecting the fact that much of this region embraces the renowned valley of the river Loire. The region is known for its fine historical towns, for its vineyards and agricultural produce and for its many beautiful castles (''chateaux'').

Regions

Departements:

  • Cher
  • Eure-et-Loir
  • Indre
  • Indre-et-Loire
  • Loir-et-Cher
  • Loiret
  • Cities

  • Bourges - home of the famous cathedral ''St Etienne''
  • Chartres - home of the famous cathedral of stained-glass
  • Maintenon
  • Nogent le Rotrou
  • Orleans
  • Saint-Benoit-du-Sault- Medieval city
  • Tours
  • Issoudun
  • Other destinations

    Understand

    Talk

    Get in

    Get around

    See

    '''Castles''' [French = ''Chateau'']

  • Angers [http://experienceloire.com/Angerschateau.htm]
  • Amboise[http://experienceloire.com/Ambchat.htm]
  • Azay-le-Rideau[http://www.experienceloire.com/Azay.htm]
  • Blois[http://experienceloire.com/Bloischateau.htm]
  • Chambord [http://www.chambord.org/] [http://www.experienceloire.com/Chambord.htm]
  • Chaumont[http://www.experienceloire.com/Chaumont.htm]
  • Chenonceau[http://www.experienceloire.com/Chenonceau.htm]
  • Cheverny[http://experienceloire.com/Cheverny.htm]
  • Chinon[http://www.experienceloire.com/Chinon.htm]
  • Langeais[http://experienceloire.com/Langeais.htm]
  • Loches[http://experienceloire.com/Locheschat.htm]
  • Montreuil-Bellay[http://experienceloire.com/Montreuil-Bellay.htm]
  • Saumur[http://experienceloire.com/SaumChat.htm]
  • Usse[http://www.experienceloire.com/Usse.htm]
  • Valencay[http://experienceloire.com/Valencay.htm]
  • Villandry[http://www.experienceloire.com/Villandry.htm]
  • Do

    Eat

    Drink

    Stay safe

    Get out

    Travellers wishing to see more of the Loire Valley can continue further west into the adjoining Pays de la Loire region, studded with additional historical cities and chateaux at sites such as Angers and Saumur. Find further information about the Loire Valley area here:

  • [http://experienceloire.com A guide to the Loire valley and its chateaux] The Centre region of France