Overview

The Loir et Cher, named after the Loir and the Cher, two rivers that flow through the department, is situated in the heart of the Loire Valley. It is known for its popularity amongst the former kings of France. Today, the region attracts visitors from all over thanks to its rich history, beautiful architecture, unspoiled nature, dynamic culture, fantastic gastronomy, and fabulous arts. Highlights include the town of Blois and its extravagant buildings along the Royal River, the famous chateaux of the Loire Valley, such as Chambord and Cheverny, its religious buildings and fabulous murals, and the wild landscapes of the Solonge region.

Blois, a hillside city on the Loire River, is the capital of the Loir-et-Cher region. The late Gothic Blois Cathedral towers over its cobbled city center, and nearby is the Chateau Royal de Blois. The city offers a number of hotels and plenty of life in the evenings. Across the river is the Solgne region of woods and lakes, home to several chateaux and a large number of vineyards. The Sologne was a very poor agricultural area so there are mostly villages rather than towns, although the chateaux can be very grand because of the hunting, which is still important here today.

Chateaux

The Loir et Cher is a scene out of a fairytale, complete with its stunning castles. French kings built extravagant country retreats which became legendary, and rich nobles followed suit by creating their own grand homes in the area. Some castles to see in the Loir et Cher:

The Château de Chambord is the most symbolic Renaissance castle in France, a masterpiece listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was created in the early 16th century built on a scale of immense proportions with 20 miles of gates and six gates that allow access to the grounds. The castle boasts 440 rooms of extravagance along with fabulous French formal gardens that are landscaped in geometric patterns with perfectly manicured shrubs and tidy flowerbeds.

Originally a fortified citadel, the Château Royal of Blois was a favorite residence of the kings of France during the Renaissance and reflects changing architectural styles of the eras it was built (13th through 17th centuries). For instance, the Francis I wing is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture with a grandiose octagonal staircase.

The Château de Chambord estate includes several dining areas. The Café d'Orléans within the château offers a gourmet menu for lunch. In the estate's parkland, the Autour du Puits is a snack bar with outdoor seating. Just across from the château, the Place Saint-Louis has many restaurants and casual cafes.

Château de Cheverny is a beautiful 17th-century château. Built between 1604 and 1634, and little changed since, it presents an immaculate picture of symmetry, harmony and the aristocratic good life. The interior offers elaborate displays of paintings, furniture, tapestries and armour against the gilded, sculpted and carved walls and ceilings.

The Château de Talcy was built in the 16th century and has been marked as the castle of poets. It offers a unique decor, preserved since the 18th-century, and an indoor orchard. The gardens boast views over the beautiful farmland, take a leisurely stroll through the kitchen garden, with its many species changing throughout the seasons.

Château du Moulin was built by local nobleman Philippe du Moulin, friend of King Charles VIII in 1480, to whom he saved the life during the Battle of Fornoue in 1495. Built with orange and black bricks, on a rectangular plan surrounded by moats, its appearance as a medieval castle was more destined to mark the new rank of its owner than to provide a defensive function. The courtyard was once completely enclosed and surrounded by high walls. Today, the chateau is still lived in and offers a very interesting collection of period furnishing that provides great insight to life at that time.

The Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre is a medieval-inspired castle with many defensive aspects, which makes it different from the other chateaux of the Loire region. The walls are made of hard calcareous Beauce ragstone, while a softer white stone, tuffeau, taken from the banks of the Cher River, has been used for the moulded and sculpted parts. Originally an 11th-century structure, it was entirely rebuilt at the end of the 15th century, with only the large, square keep remaining original.

Château du Gué-Péan is a much less visited castle, which gives it all its charm. The castle was built on the former site of a Roman camp later to become a medieval fortress, of which there remains the stone bridge and the dry moats, before it's rise as the building you see today. Located in a wooded valley, it is built on a square base surrounded by corner towers with domes and lanterns, one of which houses the chapel. The three main buildings and the four towers form a harmonious whole.

Château de Beauregard, located halfway between Cheverny and Blois, is not many people’s first choice of Loire Valley chateaux to visit, but it does make an excellent complement to the more popular locations in the area. The original manor house was built in the late 15th century but this has been rebuilt by Jean du Thiers secretary of state to King Henry II. He purchased the property in 1545 and had a U-shaped renaissance property constructed with residential wings connected by a central gallery. However its main feature was commissioned by Paul Ardier, Comptroller of Wars and Treasurer, who bought the chateau in 1617. He added interior decorations over the next few decades that include a gallery of portraits with 327 paintings of famous people who lived between 1328 and 1643. The property also boasts a remarkable garden.

The Château de Villesavin, located in the small village of Tour-en-sologne, was created by French and Italian master craftsmen and builders who had constructed grand royal palaces such as Chambord. Unlike many castles of the Loire Valley, this 16th-century manor house has been well maintained in its original state for four centuries and today is still a private home, owned by the Sparre family. The castle offers beautiful green space and is surrounded by forests where deer, rabbits, and other forest animals venture around the landscape. There is a miniature farm on the castle ground where chickens, cows, goats, rabbits, and sheep are raised.

Picturesque Villages

Bourré, a small village in the heart of the Loir et Cher is known for its troglodyte caves which in the past housed many mushroom cellars and stone reserves tuffeau (famous limestone which was used in the construction of these castles). Tours of these caves have helped make them among the best-known of the region’s mushroom caves. The nearby Mushroom museum, outside St. Hilair-St. Florent offers visitors another opportunity to tour a working mushroom cave and learn about the region’s rich history of mushroom cultivation.

Lavardin is a charming medieval village ranked among the most beautiful villages in France. Situated at the foot of the feudal castle ruins, its flowery streets are lined with adorable old houses with slate roofs. Its Romanesque Church of St. Genesius has fabulous frescoes and murals dating from the 12th and 16th centuries. There is a quaint museum that offers history of the village and heritage linked to the castle. Discover the scenic banks of the Loire with weeping willows and beautiful views of the Gothic bridge. Lavardin is also home to interesting cave houses, which give it a unique charm. These caves are still inhabited and every year at the end of September, the owners open their caves to the public during the Troglos Days.

Montoire-sur-le-Loir, beautifully situated on both sides of the Loir River, is a classified green resort rich in its heritage, its events throughout the years, its festival of folklore held in August, its museum of world music, and its history. The city is home to a beautiful Romanesque chapel, the saint-Gilles chapel, that houses fabulous murals. Admire the old stone houses of the 16th-century, most of which are open to visitors: The Tourist Office, the former hospital founded by Abbot Moreau, and the Augustinian convent.

The medieval city of Saint-Aignan is known for its quiet nature, its gastronomic products, its castle, and rich historical past. It is above all, known for its animal park, the ZooParc de Beauval, ranked above the five best zoos in the world. The zoo is home to more than 10,000 animals, including rare species such as giant pandas from China and koalas from Australia. Explore the beautiful houses, such as the Gothic Prevote dating from the 14th century or the villa Rose from the beginning of the 20th century.

Trôo is a charming and picturesque village known for its cave dwellings, houses dug into the cliff whose origins date back to medieval times. Guided tours of these houses are offered the first Sunday of each month between May and September. The village dates back to the 11th century and many remnants prove its rich history including the underground network of cellars and galleries. The village is distinctively laid out on three levels, with terraces of caves, paths and steps. Discover the narrow streets of art studios and climb the artificial hill up to La Butte to get a birds eye view of the surrounding countryside.

Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire is located on the left bank of the Loire and about a mile from the famous Château de Chambord. As you stroll through the village, admire the charm of the local church and ancient walls of this medieval city. Today, the village is experiencing a revival with tourist activities, offering a beautiful vacation spot for visitors exploring the castles of the Loire.

The quaint and charming village of Souvigny-en-Sologne is best known for its beautiful natural areas perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding. The village is home to the forest of Lamotte-Beuvron located on its territory. It is located in the Sologne area included in the Natura 2000 network and hosts a natural area of ecological interest, flora and fauna. It is a perfect place for a relaxing holiday rich in entertainment with restaurants, cultural sites, and nature. Every first Sunday of May, Souvigny-en-Sologne offers its famous fair geese with nearly 150 exhibitors and numerous activities.

Parks and Gardens

The Loire Valley is full of incredibly beautiful parks and gardens. The Loire châteaux offer fine examples of landscaped parks, remarkable kitchen gardens and fine water features. Loir et Cher boasts a large number of green spaces including both informative and peaceful gardens. Explore these parks and gardens which invite romantic strolls, relaxing picnics, and peaceful atmospheres. Below we listed a few located within the Loir et Cher department.

Regional domaine of Chaumont-sur-Loire overlooks the river Loire. Throughout the year, the doors of its château and park are open to visitors and from April to October it hosts the lively International Garden Festival.

Each year for the International Garden Festival, thirty landscape artists, architects and gardeners create gardens based on a different theme. In addition, discover these amazing designs from another perspective, visit the yearly Gardens of light, where a large number of LEDs reveal unusual aspects of the sites from another whole level.

Discover the Garden of Plessis Sasnieres, a 27-acre English-style garden is a perfect paradise of fragrant flowers, plants, trees and shrubs staged with refinement. Situated on a plateau overlooking the valley, the park spreads out along a central alley lined with magnolia trees and flowers. Surrounded by a pond, the garden was created by the works of Rosamée Henrion, a botany aficionado. In 1960, the house she inherited had fallen into disuse for close to fifty years. At a time when the buildings were sorely in need of restoration, as a first step the gardens required cleaning. Mme Henrion dreamed that in Plessis-Sasnières, there might exist an English-style garden similar to those she had observed during her travels.

The Fosse Botanical Park, situated near Montoire sur le Loir, is one of the oldest arboretums in France. The park boasts thousands of trees and shrubs from all over the world that have been planted here since the end of the 18th century. Stroll the carefully landscaped paths lined with blooms of Magnolia, Cornus, Rhododendron, and much more. La Fosse Park plays a large role in conservation, experimentation and observation. At the crossroads of Science, Arts and History, in 1978 it received the protection of Historical Monuments.