Holiday homes in Loire Valley - private accommodation to rent

An ancient route for trade, the Loire area has historical sites which range from the troglodyte caves at Rochmenier to extensive Romans remains. The central Loire Valley is host to France’s longest river as well as the magnificent ancient medieval capital of Bourges, the cathedral of Chartes and magical châteaux at Amboise, Cheveny and Chenonceaux. The châteaux date from the 16th century, and are the legacy of French royalty and nobility imitating the great Italian architecture of the time. Many now host summer music festivals and wine tastings. Around 160 kilometres of Atlantic coastline stretch from the beaches north of the mouth of the Loire almost to La Rochelle and the area offers delicious local cakes and ice cream. The Loire is flat and wooded in the west, with undulating hills in the east, and is a great holiday location for cyclists. Le Puy du Fou at Les Espesses is a unique medieval theme park covering 35 hectares and offering spectacular ‘son et lumiere’ shows that are worth a visit. The area around Orléans, a former capital of France, is forever associated with Joan of Arc who was canonised after her death at the hands of the English. More recently Nantes, the major city of the area, was voted the best large town to live in by French voters in 2002 and 2003 surveys.