The Loire Valley is a splendid region awarded world heritage listing because of its amazing chateaux.The kings and queens of France, seduced by the mild climate and the game-filled oak forests built their sumptuous homes here in the Loire Valley. They surrounded themselves with the greatest artists and architects of this era. This is the country of a thousand castles. The valley is full of not only royal chateaux and renaissance palaces, national museum and large magnificent chateaux, but also medieval castles and fortresses, small fairy tale manors, private chateaux, medieval cities, churches, abbeys, and cathedrals. Many chateaux and stately homes are open to the public: some are state owned, such as Chambord and Blois; others are private, and still lived in. A huge proportion of them run son-et-lumiere spectacles during the high season. Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau de Chambord are definitely worth a visit and are close to Blois.
BY Corina Clemence.
