Overview

The department of Indre-et-Loire, located in west-central France, is part of the Centre-Val de Loire Region of France. It is named after the Indre river and the Loire River and created from the former province of Touraine. This area offers some of the most famous and beautiful chateaux of the Loire Valley and its cultural capital, Tours. This area is also home to many beautiful towns and charming villages.

Chateaux

Many of the popular tourist attractions of the Loire Valley are located within the Indre-et-Loire department. Not surprisingly, it is the famous castles that play the most important role for tourism, with some of the most beautiful and famous chateaux located in this department. The most well known and most visited chateaux of Indre-et-Loire:

Chateau d'Amboise - Situated on a ledge above the town of Amboise, in a position offering panoramic views over the town, the Loire river, and the countryside, the castle was built here for the strategic view if provided. The castle was the first Italianate chateau in France that was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was also the first castle to have gardens laid out in the formal style that came to be known as `French style gardens`. Here you can discover the highly regarded collection of renaissance furniture and furnishings, as well as the tomb of Leonardo Da Vinici. Make sure to spend a moment taking in the remarkable panoramic view of the Loire valley from the castle rampart.

Château de Clos-Lucé - Also located in Amboise, discover the fascinating house and inventions of one of the greatest minds and best known engineers of the last 600 years, Leonardo da Vinci, in the Château du Clos Lucé. The mansion is in great condition and offers models and videos of many of his inventions and, while not all of them were practical at the time (due to engineering limitations), they still inspired later working devices like the helicopter, the parachute, and various movable bridges. The grounds host larger versions of some of his ideas that kids can play on.

Domaine Royale - The castle/manor house and gardens have been completely renovated in recent years to its original condition. The gardens cover over 37 acres in the heart of Amboise and both the gardens and castle originate in the renaissance period.

Chateau Chinon - This large castle that dominates the town of Chinon is an ancient fortress which is steeped in history. Overlooking the River Vienne, the Royal Fortress was built by the Count of Blois, Thibaut I, and serves as a reminder of the period when the history of France and that of England were intimately linked.

Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau - Built on an island in the River Indre. The fairytale castle is a blend of French tradition and innovative Italian décor, it is an icon of the new art of building in the Loire Valley in the 16th century, and possibly the most beautiful! Its successive owners have helped to make it the most architecturally harmonious treasure in the Loire Valley. Although it is considered as one of the famous Loire Valley castles, it is on the Indre river, not the Loire river.

Chateau d'Ussé - This fairytale castle overlooking the rivers Indre and Loire gave the inspiration for the tale of Sleeping Beauty. The castle was built in the second half of the 15th century by the Buiel family, which had distinguished itself in the ‘Hundred Years War’ and was seeking a home to fit their new rank in society.

Chateau de Chenonceau - Founded on the pilings of a mill around 1522 by Thomas Bohier, a financial minister in Normandy, the chateau represents a type of architecture transitional between Gothic and Renaissance. The castle has a rich history and architectural uniqueness that lies in the way that the chateau spans the River Cher. The visually stunning castle is surrounded by fabulous formal gardens and forests.

Chateau de Villandry - Located in the small village of Villandry, the castle is one of the most famous of the castles located in the Loire Valley, in part for the extensive and exquisite gardens, one of the main draws to the castle.

Chateau du Rivau - Built in the 15th century by François de Beauvau, a military captain for the French King, the castle is medieval in design with the castle keep and round towers dominating the external appearance. Despite the defensive appearance and military elements, Rivau incorporates many renaissance style elements such as the windows, added after the original castle was built.

Towns and Villages

The most visited towns are those that have developed around the castles such as Amboise, Chinon and Loches - these are attractive towns in their own right so be sure to explore the towns as well as the castles! Among the other towns in the department, we listed a few that you’ll want to explore:

The town of Amboise is on the banks of the Loire river, between Blois and Tours and in the heart of the 'chateaux region' of the Loire Valley. Amboise has received the classification of a protected Historic Town in France. Along with it’s alluring chateau of the same name, you’ll find several cafes, bakeries, and restaurants to enjoy. Amboise also is home to the beautiful Saint Florentin Church, Leonardo Da Vinci’s House at Château du Clos Lucé, Da Vinci’s burial at the Chapel of Saint-Hubert, and a lively market that takes place every Sunday.

Tours is a prime location and great starting point to explore the Loire Valley. It is a bustling city with history to explore and many activities. Be sure to check out the fabulous St Gatien Cathedral; the beautiful botanical gardens at Jardin Botanique de Tours; The Old Town with Half-timbered buildings and the famous Place Plumereau (The central square in the historic center of Tours), lined with restaurants, shops, and animation; Tours Museum of Fine Arts; Covered markets and flower markets, amongst many other attractions.

Sitting by the banks of the famous Vienne River, Chinon is known for its medieval history, rich culture, and ancient castle. The castle is different to many of the more famous chateaux in the region in that it’s kept its rougher medieval design over the centuries and was never renovated and embellished during the Renaissance. The winding streets up to the castle are filled with charming shops, inns, and cafes, along with cables and timber houses dating back to the 15th century.

Loches is a charming medieval riverside town of the Loire, located southeast of Tours on the banks of the Indre River and home to the most magnificent medieval citadel in the region. The town is well-preserved and steeped in history with some excellent art and history to be explored. Today, Loches is one of the most picturesque towns in central France with narrow cobblestone streets and charming cafes and restaurants.

There is also no shortage of attractive villages in the region, among which Indre-et-Loire features three that are officially classified as 'most beautiful villages of France'. A little off the beaten path, to the north-east of Vouvray, sits the quiet village of Saint-Ouen-les-Vignes, a beautifully scenic village to discover. In the west of the department you’ll find the villages of Candes-Saint-Martin and Crissay-sur-Manse. Near Chinon, discover the quaint and charming villages of Lerné and Faye-la-Vineuse. And at Tavant be sure to check out the fabulous frescoes in the village church. In the east of Indre-et-Loire, visit the villages of Beaulieu-les-Loches and Chanceaux-près-Loches. Explore the lovely stone houses and narrow streets in the tiny village of Crissay-sur-Manse.

Food and Wine

The Loire is renowned for its mild climate and the rich soils, conditions that help create some of the best fruit and vegetables you’ll find anywhere. Tours is famous for its French beans and Saumur for its potatoes and shallots. Asparagus, specifically the hearty white variety, is found in soufflés, omelettes and other egg dishes as well as on its own, accompanied with vinaigrette made with local walnut oil.

Due to the rivers of the region, you’ll find that fresh fish is commonly served in most restaurants of the area. Popular dishes include sandre (a fish native to Central Europe), usually served in a classic white sauce; stuffed bream; and matelote (a kind of stew) of local eels softened in red wine and little smelt-like fishes served deep-fried.

The popular meat of the Loire is game, and pheasant, guinea fowl, pigeon, duck, quails, venison, rabbit, and wild boar that are all hunted in Solgne. They are served in rich sauces made from the wild mushrooms of the region’s forests and cultivated on a large scale in caves cut out of the limestone rock near Saumur. Tours specializes in rillettes, or posted pork; in Touraine charcuteries you’ll find pâté au biquion, made from pork, veal and young goat’s meat. Make sure to indulge in the local goat’s cheeses, including Crottin de Chavignol, Sainte Maure de Touraine and Valençay. Other specialties include truffiat (a puff pastry filled with potatoes and cheese) and one of France’s best-known desserts, tarte Tatin, which originated in the Centre-Val de Loire region.

The eating options in the Loire Valley are endless, with plenty of vineyards and towns/villages to visit all offering a change of scenery. The restaurants in the Indre-et-Loire department are excellent, where you’ll find charming establishments offering up some of the most impressive après-dinner cheese carts in the region, as well as excellent breads, pastries and wines.

When it comes to wine, you’ll find the Loire Valley has some of the finest in France. Sancerre, the easternmost Loire appellation, makes premium white wines from the Sauvignon grape, and the whites of Muscadet around Nantes. Touraine’s finest reds are made from the Cabernet Franc grape, while many of its white wines are made from the Chenin Blanc including the hugely popular Jasnières. Then there are the dessert wines of Côteaux du Layon’s, which goes great with a bold cheese.