EXPERIENCE SOUTHERN LOIRE
Overview
The Southern Loire area of The Loire Valley is known as "The Garden of France." Home of the longest river of the country, the Loire River, the region boasts wonderful natural parks and a fairytale landscape with massive vineyards, beautiful medieval chateaux, superb cuisine, and of course its world-class wines.
Towns and Villages
Vierzon: The quaint and rural town of Vierzon is situated in a pastoral landscape of vineyards, marshes and lakes. It was once a railway town with its fair share of industry in the 19th and 20th centuries which manufactured tractors and farming equipment. The area offers several opportunities for outdoor fun. Head to the peaceful Canal de Berry, a 19th-century waterwalk for walks and boat trips, while the city center of Bourges is only a half an hour away by car.
Ardentes: In existence since Roman times, Ardentes is a perfect gateway in Loire Valley, with an excellent mix of town and country. It is crossed by the Indre River and surrounded by the forests of Chateauroux and Bellevue, it offers plenty to do for outdoor activities. The town is also located close to plenty of popular tourist attractions such as Chateauroux Museums, Theaters Equinox and Mach 36, and Circuit George Sand in Nohant. Ardentes was rewarded with two flowers and distinguished by the Grand Prix in 2011 the winners of the competition of cities and villages in bloom.
Valencay: Located to the east of Tours, Valencay is best known for the Chateau de Valencay, which attracts thousands of tourists each year. Explore the village to discover an impressive car museum with over 60 cars, many pre-war and in good condition. The Museum of Art with Sugar which features various artistic creations made pretty much entirely from sugar.
The town pays homage to Talleyrand, the revolutionary period politician who was maire of Valencay in the 1830's, with a guided tour highlighting buildings of interest that relate to Talleyrand - such as the town hall and the Maison de Charité. His tomb is also located in town.
Issoudun: Issoudun has preserved several monuments testifying to its rich past as a fortified town in the Middle Ages, a royal town from 1240 and for years an important fair and market town. The emblematic White Tower (Tour Blanche), built in the 12th century at the request of Richard the Lionheart, watches majestically over Issoudun's rooftops 88 ft. above the town. Boasting a fantastic view of the town and its surroundings, this medieval keep today houses an exhibition about its history and associated legendary figures. Among Issoudun's other attractions are a 12th-century belfry, the Gothic Saint-Cyr church with a stunning 15th-century stained-glass window, a rampart walk, the town hall gardens at the foot of the White Tower and the peaceful François Mitterrand park situated on either side of the Théols river.
Chateauroux: Châteauroux was founded in the 10th century around a castle that is still there today. It is the main town in the Lower Berry region and offers a number of highlights including Saint-Martin gate, a vestige of ancient fortifications; beautiful medieval streets; a 13th-century former convent, the Couvent des Cordeliers, today home to temporary contemporary art exhibitions; the elegant Château Raoul; and the Neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame church whose dome is topped by a gilt bronze statue of the Virgin. Stoll the town to admire the historic churches and the ruins of one of the largest medieval abbeys in France. Also be sure to visit the Musée-Hôtel Bertrand, an 18th-century mansion that once belonged to General Bertrand, Napoleon's comrade-in-arms and is today home to a collection of Napoleonic souvenirs and fine art.
The small town of Déols on the outskirts of Châteauroux is a must-visit place for architecture fans because of its fantastic Romanesque bell tower, the remains of an ancient Benedictine abbey.
Sancerre: Sancerre owes its notoriety to the famous homonymous vineyard, whose name has been recognized since 1936. The sprawling vineyard covers more than 6,670 acres and produces the appreciated white wines (sauvignon grape variety) and red (pinot noir grape variety). The old center dominates the vineyards and the banks of the Loire. Since the Revolution, Sancerre merged with the municipality of Chavignol, which forms a large hamlet more than 1.8-miles from the center, famous for the production of goat cheese also benefiting from a registered designation of origin, the dung. Former stronghold with a fortified castle, Sancerre paid a heavy price during the Hundred Years War and during the wars of religion and, in the Revolution, when a royalist uprising was repressed. Rich in an exceptional historical and environmental heritage, it found in the twentieth century all its luster with its production of wines and cheeses. It is a must for green tourism enthusiasts.
Food and Drink
The region offers excellent cuisine. Wine connoisseurs can discover the AOC vineyards in Reuilly, Valençay and Chateaumeillant. Make sure to explore the markets of the region overflowing with gourmet delights. At the market you’ve got to try the region’s Martin du Berry, petit noire and Muant cherries in summer, while in autumn and winter the pears are fantastic. A famous dessert in the winter season is pears poached in red wine.
There’s also an tempting lineup of cheeses such as Pouligny-Saint-Pierre and Saint-Maure de Touraine, both made with goats’ milk.
And at restaurants try pâté berrichon, which is made with pork and comes in a pastry crust, and galette aux pommes de terre, a satisfying potato pancake.