The Center-Val de Loire region
“Jewel of France” or “Valley of the Kings” - there are many synonyms for Center-Val de Loire.
The fertile region, fed by several rivers, has always aroused covetousness - not only among the French nobility.
During the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), the Loire was the border river between the areas occupied by the English in the north and the French heartland.
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During this time, hundreds of castles were built, which were expanded into residences during the Renaissance - the largest and most beautiful are in the central Loire Valley: Château Chenonceau, for example, is France's most visited castle after Versailles.
Court was held - and feasted - in the Loire Valley;
From this time comes Rabelais' catchphrase "avoir un appétit pantagruélique", to have a pantagruelic (gigantic) appetite.
So it is hardly surprising that the 2010 successful application of French cuisine as a World Heritage Site came from the “Institut Européen d'Histoire et des Cultures de l'Alimentation” in Tours.
Source: WORLD infographic
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Speaking of which: Tours was the capital of France in the 15th and 16th centuries, as can be seen today in numerous magnificent buildings.
Orléans and Amboise, Bourges and Chartres are also steeped in history;
the latter two are on the World Heritage List with their Gothic cathedrals.
And off the beaten track?
A detour to Montargis, which is called “Venice des Gâtinais” because of its canals, is worthwhile.
Or in the bird-rich wetlands of the Brenne Nature Park in the south.
The region itself markets itself as a "top-quality all-round touristic package".
Rightly so!
Chambord is bigger than the Palace of Versailles
In 2017, the 18,874 square meter lawns in Chambord were replanted with 15,250 plants, 800 shrubs, 600 trees and 200 rose bushes - the baroque garden now competes with Versailles' splendor.
The Chambord Castle Park is as big as Paris, making it the largest self-contained park in Europe: 5440 hectares enclosed by 32 kilometers of walls
Source: ddp / RIEGER Bertrand / hemis.fr;
picture alliance / Zoonar
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When comparing castles, the winner is clear: Chambord is bigger.
The footprint of the 426-room palace measures 156 by 117 meters.
This is oversized even by French standards: King Franz I wanted to literally underpin his claim to the Holy Roman Empire with the Protzbau.
Although the French were ultimately defeated by the Habsburgs in the dispute over the imperial crown, with Chambord he exerted the greatest respect from his adversary, Emperor Charles V.
The castle is "the epitome of what human art is capable of producing," said Charles V on a visit in 1539. Franz I was hardly interested in the castle by then;
he stayed in Chambord for only 72 days in his life.
In Blois, dragons lure you to the "Maison de la Magie"
Every day at 12 noon Blois offers a magical picture when six dragons stretch their heads out of the “Maison de la Magie” opposite the castle.
Each “monster” is seven meters tall;
at the time of the Loire Kings, who resided in Blois from 1498 to 1589, the agile lizards would probably have put viewers to flight.
Every day six dragons stick their heads out of the "Maison de la Magie"
Source: ddp / RIEGER Bertrand / hemis.fr
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Today they are supposed to put visitors in the mood for the museum of the magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805 - 1871): many of his illusions had mechanical secrets and were based on the use of electricity;
The trained watchmaker built, for example, a mechanical bird, acrobats swinging on a trapeze and a singing bust.
In 1845, Houdin opened the world's first theater in Paris for his “Soirées fantastique”.
A bike ride along the Loire
The “La Loire à Vélo” cycle path, opened in 2012, promises 900 kilometers along the Loire.
Although only two thirds of the entire route is actually close to the bank, this includes the most beautiful section of the river between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes-sur-Loire, where two dozen castles are lined up and are part of the world cultural heritage.
Here the Loire is not navigable for large ships, which makes a bike tour all the more attractive;
The cities of Orléans, Blois, Amboise and Tours on the river are also integrated into the network of roads.
This wine is unique in the world
No wine tour through the Loire Valley without a detour to the Cour-Cheverny appellation.
Because Romorantin grows in the department of Loir-et-Cher, a white grape variety that was introduced from Burgundy 500 years ago and is not grown anywhere else in the world today.
In total, Center-Val de Loire has 55,000 hectares of vineyards and is France's third most important wine region with an export volume of 320 million bottles.
Romorantin wines are only a few among them, because the viticulture authority limited the cultivation area to 60 hectares and the yield to 72 hectoliters per hectare.
Connoisseurs therefore stock up on site;
the white wine can be stored for several years - and still gains in quality.
The first truffle farm in France
As Baron de la Truffe, Serge Desazars de Montgailhard is famous beyond the Loire Valley.
In 1996 he succeeded in cultivating oak inoculated with fungal spores.
The 65 hectare truffle farm not far from the Château de Chinon is the first in France;
The offer also includes guided tours - very traditionally with a truffle dog.
Serge Desazars de Montgailhard has made a name for himself as a truffle baron
Source: Chanel Koel
The quote
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"Who, if not we? When, if not now?"
With this battle cry, Joan of Arc (1412–1431) led the French into battle and in 1429 liberated the besieged Orléans.
The Lorraine farmer's daughter believed she had been called by God to drive the English out of France and to help King Charles VII to the throne;
In 1920 she was canonized by the Vatican.
The city of Orléans has been celebrating its savior every year since 1432 with church services and parades, despite the pandemic the “Fêtes johanniques d'Orléans” should take place on May 8th, as always.
Quirky, record-breaking, typical: you can find more parts of our regional geography series here.
50 percent fewer trips abroad in 2020
The travel industry was not spared from the pandemic either.
Now figures have been presented that reveal the full extent.
There were 50 percent fewer trips abroad in 2020.
Source: WELT / Stefan Wittmann
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