Loire Valley, a region listed as a World heritage site by UNESCO, offers visitors an exceptional environment: protected nature, wild and peaceful rivers, exceptional historical and architectural heritage, vineyards, forests…

From the Middle Ages, Val de Loire was the favourite region of the kings of France. They built pleasure chateaux along the river Loire, such as Azay, Chambord, Cheverny, Amboise, Chenonceau,…Fortified towns recall the wars of yesteryear between Anjou and the Kingdom of France.

From Orléans to Angers, the Loire demarcates an exceptional area. Tours is the largest town in the Loire Valley. Its central location allows one to easily tour the region and see its loveliest sites.

Touraine is a food-lovers' region and has a number of specialities:

• The red, rosé and white wines of Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray, Montlouis.
• Goat's cheese a speciality of Touraine (Sainte Maure)
• Cooked meats (rillettes - potted meat - and rillons - greaves)
• Tours nougat.

Not forgetting the many gastronomic restaurants in and around Tours. There are no fewer than eight restaurants having stars in the Michelin guide in Touraine.

Rambling, cycle rides along the Loire, canoe trips, hot-air balloon rides, horse treks,…a variety of ways to discover Touraine at one's own pace.

Sons et lumières shows transform the châteaux de Touraine chateaux just for an evening: Azay, Amboise, Semblançay, Chenonceau…

Classical music, jazz and rock festivals, at Tours, Montlouis, La Riche, Loches...liven up the summer evenings.