Do you love stories, through series, films and novels? You’re in for a treat in Touraine, as you discover some extraordinary stories that took place behind the high walls of the châteaux of the Loire. Close to these stone giants flourish gardens, the Loire flows, the gabares sail, and stretch vines and forests. The towns and villages are not to be outdone, featuring tuffeau stone and slate roofs.
Clan Chinon Velos Canoes Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2034 15
Vignoble en Touraine de Marc Plouzeau
Château Gaillard Amboise
Randonnee Foret Chinon Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2033
Château d'Ussé in Rigny-UsséIn between visits to châteaux, take a deep breath of fresh air, on hiking trails, aboard a traditional boat or gliding along the waves on a paddle or canoe. Or explore the historic quarters of Tours, Loches, Chinon, all listed Villes d’Art et d’Histoire. You’ll be happy to sit down and sample the cuisine of talented chefs, unless you head a little further afield to the terrace of a guinguette.
And while we’re on the subject of the pleasures of the table, you should also plan to visits to wine cellars and estates, with tastings of Bourgueil, Chinon and other Vouvray wines, but also scenic tours, escape games, or even outings on electric scooters in the vineyards.
Family cycling in the vineyardsLong live cycling!
While the Loire à Vélo and other itineraries are perfect for touring holidays, there are around sixty loops where you can discover the Touraine countryside for just a few hours. There are numerous bike hire companies throughout the region.
Clan Chinon Velos Canoes Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2034 29
Cave Plou et Fils à Chargé
Walking towards Santiago de Compostela, in the Loire Touraine region. Neuville-sur-Brenne.
Street Art, centre ville de Tours.This particularly copious holiday programme should not overshadow one last highly important activity: rest in accommodation that meets your expectations! A comfortable hotel, a large gîte for friends or family, a troglodyte bed and breakfast, a lively campsite, a tourist residence with swimming pool… In town or in the country, you’re sure to find something to suit you.
A Gallic people, the Turones, also known as Turons or Turonians, saw Julius Caesar’s troops arrive on their lands, launched in their Gallic War. Incorporated into the Western Roman Empire until 486, they saw the arrival of Martin of Tours. Famous for sharing his cloak with a beggar, this former Roman legionary became a monk, Christianised the population, and became the 3rd bishop of Tours. His tomb can be found in the basilica of Saint Martin.
When the Franks defeated the Visigoths in 507, Clovis attributed the victory to the spirit of Saint Martin. He went on to give the city the right to mint coins, and to strengthen Tours’ influence as a pilgrimage city, following in the footsteps of Rome and Jerusalem. A few centuries later, the via Turonensis (from Tours) would also become one of the 4 historic routes for a new pilgrimage, to Santiago de Compostela.
Clovis’ conquest led to the creation of the county of Touraine, which was to be regularly occupied by the counts of Blois and Anjou (Thibaud le Tricheur, Foulques Nerra, Henri II, Richard de Coeur de Lion…), until King Philip Augustus of France won a decisive victory over John Lackland at the royal fortress of Chinon. Touraine then became part of the kingdom of France.
Thereafter, several kings succeeded each other on the French throne, until Charles VII, who set up the French court in Chinon from 1427 to 1429, where he met Jeanne d’Arc. In 1461, it was King Louis XI who chose to live in Tours. His son Charles VIII will himself reside at theroyal castle of Amboise, and will marry Anne of Brittany at the château of Langeais, sealing Brittany’s attachment to the kingdom. A contemporary of François Rabelais, François 1er was also closely linked to Amboise: in fact, he invited Léonard de Vinci, who would spend the last three years of his life at château du Clos Lucé.
The presence of the court of the kingdom of France in Touraine induced the construction of many châteaux during the Renaissance, such as Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry and La Bourdaisière. Given by Henry II to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, Chenonceau was taken over by the Queen Catherine de Médicis. Her son François II would spend his honeymoon with Mary Stuart not far from there, at Château Gaillard.
City of Amboise
In the shade at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Tours
Candes Saint Martin Credit Jc Coutand Meheut 2027 5Vary your pleasures by taking advantage of nature activities, vineyards and pretty Touraine towns!
