Centre-Val de Loire

The heart of the Loire Valley châteaux, where Chambord, Chenonceau and the valley's pastoral scenery are hard to leave.

Centre-Val de Loire lies in central France, with the Loire flowing through from east to west; its capital is Orléans. The middle stretch of the Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Renaissance châteaux such as Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise and Blois, linked by riverside cycle paths and vineyards in a lovely rural landscape; Chartres Cathedral is also a famous Gothic masterpiece. Spring through autumn is the best time to visit the châteaux and gardens. From Paris, trains conveniently reach Orléans, Blois and Tours, and Tours has a TGV station, making it a good base for visiting the châteaux.

Destinations

• Loire Valley
• Orléans
• Paris
• Saumur

Itineraries

• Loire à Vélo: Orléans to Nantes – Cycle from east to west along the Loire à Vélo trail, passing through the châteaux region and vineyards to Nantes.
• Paris, Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel & Loire Valley 10-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – A self-drive loop from Paris connecting Giverny, the Normandy coast, Mont Saint-Michel, and the Loire châteaux.
• Normandy, Brittany & Loire Valley Grand Tour – Depart from Paris and loop through the Normandy Coast, the Emerald Coast, and the Loire Châteaux before returning to Pa…
• Classic Paris Landmarks & Versailles – Cover the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Île de la Cité, Orsay, and Versailles in four days, perfect for first-time visitors.
• Classic Normandy – Drive west from Giverny, connecting Rouen, the Alabaster Coast, Honfleur, the D-Day Landing Beaches, and Mont Saint-Mic…
• Car-Free Loire Valley Châteaux by Train & Bus – Skip the car and use trains and regional buses to connect Blois, Amboise, Tours, and five famous châteaux.
• Paris Art Museums and Le Havre in – Orsay, the Orangerie, Rodin and the Louis Vuitton Foundation, then Le Havre, birthplace of *Impression, Sunrise*.
• Paris Family Landmarks and Disneyland in – Eiffel Tower and a Seine cruise, a full day at Disneyland, a short Louvre visit plus the Luxembourg Gardens, with a pac…
• London, Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam 10-Day Rail Itinerary – Connect four major cities via Eurostar, featuring three nights in Paris and a day trip to Bruges.
• Old Paris Neighborhoods and Rouen in – Explore old Paris on foot through the Marais, the Latin Quarter, Montmartre and the canals, then take the train to Roue…
• Paris, Versailles, Giverny and Reims in – Four days on Paris's core landmarks, plus three day trips by train to Versailles, Monet's Gardens at Giverny, and Reims…