The Val de Loire World Heritage area stretches from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonnes-sur-Loire and recognises a cultural landscape along the Loire. This cultural landscape of the Loire Valley reflects more than two thousand years of interaction between people and their environment along the river.
The Loire Valley includes historic towns such as Chinon and Tours; its châteaux and other monuments reflect the ideals of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. When staying in Indre-et-Loire, the desire to rent a holiday apartment may be central to planning accommodation.
Culture and history
The Forteresse royale de Chinon offers immersive visits using augmented reality. The interactive tour is approximately two kilometres long and includes six interactive terminals explaining panoramas and visible structures; it ends on the banks of the Vienne. The fortress also offers a life-size escape game. Medieval history is conveyed there through furnished reconstructions.
The Cité royale de Loches is a fortified town dominated by a donjon and a royal residence. Its donjon offers a visit using the augmented-reality HistoPad.
The history of the Château de Chenonceau is shaped by an almost uninterrupted succession of women who built, embellished, protected, restored and saved it. Its architecture overlooks the Cher and is inspired by the Italian Ponte Vecchio. The château houses an exceptional collection of furniture, tapestries and paintings.
The Château de Saché was a regular residence of Honoré de Balzac in the Touraine. The Hôtel Goüin houses an artists’ residence and the Artothèque de Touraine. The Château de Villandry was completed around 1536 and is known for its seasonal gardens with flowers, medicinal plants and vegetables.
Seven contemporary artworks stand along the paths in the grounds of the Domaine de Candé. The visitor portfolio of the Indre-et-Loire département includes eight monuments and museums; a variety of discoveries are offered there throughout the year.
Nature and trails
The environmental visitor programme of Indre-et-Loire includes nature workshops, treasure hunts, plant identification and excursions. The département also has places rich in fauna and flora.
Touraine has a dense network of more than 3,200 kilometres of rivers, streams and waterways. The département has around 4,500 kilometres of trails. The longer day hikes in the Touraine exceed ten kilometres and pass through forests and fields.
Wine and the Loire
Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire offer dry, medium-dry and sparkling wines based on Chenin Blanc. There are almost 90 tourist wine cellars in Touraine.
On the Savonnières-Villandry section of La Loire à Vélo, the route passes troglodyte villages and terraced vineyards. La Loire à Vélo also passes tourist wine cellars in Amboise, Montlouis, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon and Bourgueil.
At La Chapelle-sur-Loire, the Loire can be crossed free of charge by traditional boat; the boatmen of Vents d’Galerne accompany the crossing.
Cyclist-friendly accommodation along La Loire à Vélo may offer breakfast, repair facilities, laundry services and luggage transport. Many cyclist-oriented accommodation providers on La Loire à Vélo are located within five kilometres of the route.
Places in Indre-et-Loire
Azay-Le-Rideau, Beaumont-En-Véron, Champigny-Sur-Veude, Chançay, Charnizay, Cheillé, Chenonceaux, Chinon, Chouzé-Sur-Loire, Civray-De-Touraine, Epeigné-Les-Bois, Esvres, Huismes, Ingrandes-De-Touraine, La Roche-Clermault, Lerne, Loches, Louestault, Luzille, Manthelan, Marigny-Marmande, Mazières-De-Touraine, Monnaie, Orbigny, Ports, Pouzay, Preuilly-Sur-Claise, Reignac-Sur-Indre, Restigné, Richelieu, Saché, Saint-Germain-Sur-Vienne, Saint-Jean-Saint-Germain, Saint-Laurent-De-Lin, Saint-Nicolas-De-Bourgueil, Sainte-Catherine-De-Fierbois, Seuilly, Tavant, Tours, Trogues
Truyes, Véretz, Montrésor, Chemillé-Sur-Indrois, Avon-Les-Roches, Betz-Le-Château, Bossay-Sur-Claise, Ciran, Bréhémont, Saint-Benoît-La-Forêt, Chambourg-Sur-Indre, Benais, Villandry, Saint-Pierre-Des-Corps, Sainte-Maure-De-Touraine, Saint-Avertin, Parçay-Meslay, Mosnes, Montbazon, Limeray, Joué-Lés-Tours, Courcelles-De-Touraine, Chisseaux, Chaveignes, Chambray-Lès-Tours, Amboise, Noizay, Crissay-Sur-Manse, Chanceaux-Près-Loches, Montlouis-Sur-Loire, Luynes, Fondettes, Descartes, Dolus-Le-Sec, Saint-Quentin-Sur-Indrois, Saint-Règle, Céré-La-Ronde, Semblançay, Saint-Ouen-Les-Vignes, Perrusson
Bourgueil, Savigné-Sur-Lathan, Noyant-De-Touraine, Cangey, La Châtre, Saint-Patrice, Rivière, Marcilly-Sur-Vienne, Panzoult, Saint-Michel-Sur-Loire, Vouvray, Saint-Antoine-Du-Rocher, La Membrolle-Sur-Choisille, Château-Renault, Braye-Sous-Faye, Razines, L'île-Bouchard, Langeais, Genillé, Bléré, Neuvy-Le-Roi, Rochecorbon, Sorigny, Savonnières, Veigné, Rillé, Gizeux, Le Louroux, Ligré, Athée-Sur-Cher, Yzeures-Sur-Creuse, Beaumont-La-Ronce, Villaines-Les-Rochers, Vernou-Sur-Brenne, Mouzay, Cravant-Les-Côteaux, Saint-Martin-Le-Beau, Saint-Étienne-De-Chigny, Tauxigny, Dierre
Pocé-Sur-Cisse, La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin, Monthodon, Saint-Genouph, Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire, Theneuil, Nazelles-Négron, La Croix-En-Touraine, Sonzay, Reugny, Neuillé-Le-Lierre, Saint-Paterne-Racan, Chédigny, Channay-Sur-Lathan, Cinais, Beaulieu-Lès-Loches, Bossée, Autrèche, Tournon-Saint-Pierre, Ambillou, Sepmes, Candes-Saint-Martin, La Riche, Vallères, Saint-Flovier, Monts, Anché, Civray-Sur-Esves, Mettray, Assay, Dame-Marie-Les-Bois, Paulmy, Bridoré, Ballan-Miré, Souvigné, Faye-La-Vineuse, Marray, La Ville-Aux-Dames, Pernay, Saint-Nicolas-Des-Motets
Crouzilles, Rigny-Ussé, Loché-Sur-Indrois, Nouans-Les-Fontaines, Château-La-Vallière, Cussay, Le Grand-Pressigny, Cinq-Mars-La-Pile, Larçay, Crotelles, Charentilly, Avoine, Avrillé-les-Ponceaux, Le Boulay, Saint-Épain, Rouziers-de-Touraine, La Tour-Saint-Gelin, La Chapelle-aux-Naux, Lémeré, Berthenay, Ligueil, Notre-Dame-d'Oé, Artannes-sur-Indre, Azay-sur-Indre, Bournan, Lignières-de-Touraine, La Celle-Guenand, Abilly, La Celle-Saint-Avant, Thilouze, Chargé, Jaulnay, Luzé, Beaumont-Village
