The regal Loire Valley runs through the heart of France—and through the heart of French life. Proximity to Paris has made this region a favorite country retreat for generations of kings and courtiers, and its history is as filled with romance and intrigue as its meadows are dotted with storybook chateaux.
Early springs and pleasantly warm summers are another draw for visitors, as are the region’s light, fruity rosé wines and goat’s-milk cheeses. Pottery and ceramics add to the list of local specialties: faïence at Gien, ceramics at Nevers and porcelain at Briare. In the Loire Valley, there’s a pleasure around every corner: Roman ruins, wine tastings, villages made famous by Impressionist painters and splendid gardens filled with roses and radishes.
Canal and river cruising is one of the most relaxing and intimate ways to experience the beauty of Europe, without crowds and in great comfort. For those who appreciate fine food and wines, peaceful vistas and an exciting new destination each day without ever leaving “home,” this has become a favorite way to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary or time together as a family.
The River Loire is France’s longest, and cruising by barge between Montargis and Châtillon-sur-Loire is an ideal way to see the stunning architectural masterpieces and lush countryside in her valley. This “Garden of France” has been held in high regard since the Middle Ages. Orleans attracted artists, poets and troubadours to the royal court making it the intellectual capital of France in the 13th century.
But the court moved to the suburbs, so to speak, and built magnificent châteaux along the river — more than 1,000 of them. Today, many of them are open to the public, and a barge cruise is the perfect venue for visiting these magnificent structures. Château de Chenonceau, once owned by Catherine de Medici, has beautiful white spires and towers and arches that form the Pont de Diane over the River Cher. When King François I moved into Château de Chambord, his entourage of attendants was so large that it took 12,000 horses to transport them. Another Loire beauty, Château de Ussé, was the inspiration for Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty.
The Loire Valley is more than opulent châteaux that reflected the wealth of the area. It’s also home to Saché, Balzac’s favorite village; Da Vinci’s manor house Clos-Luce in Amboise; and rows of houses in Chinon that were built during the days of Joan of Arc. Now barge travellers can examine her medals, coats of arms and weapons as well as paintings, engravings, sculpture and pottery that depict 14th-century life in the Musée Jeanne D’Arc, housed in Chinon’s former 14th-century royal apartments and 12th-century round tower.
On the luxury barges ‘Le Bon Vivant’ and ‘La Bonne Amie’ and the canal boat ‘La Bonne Humeur’ discover magnificent châteaux, picturesque villages, gothic churches and peaceful vineyards. On board you’ll dine on sumptuous local delicacies and sample some of the 87 appellations of locally produced, affordable wine.
The Loire Valley is the only region in the country that can produce excellent wines of every variety: white, red, rosé, sparkling, still, dry and sweet. The length of the river and the region’s varied terrain and geology make this possible, while the cool climate ensures that the wines have an acidity that balances properly with their fruit and alcohol. They don’t have to be left to age; they can be appreciated even in their youth. During your French barging vacation you are served both red and white wines at lunch and dinner, allowing you to sample a variety of the local appellations. An expert crew member presents each wine, describes its characteristics, suggests how it is best accompanied and relates a brief history of its origins.
In addition to being the third most popular tourist destination in France, the Loire Valley today provides a quick weekend getaway for Parisians. It’s also a favored site for European retirees and for corporate headquarters — just a morning’s train trip from London, Strasbourg, Brussels or Amsterdam, making it a crossroads to the new Europe.
For a leisurely vacation amid gorgeous châteaux, stately manor houses and rolling vineyards — beautiful surroundings far from the usual tourist circuits — a canal or barge cruise through the lush Loire Valley simply has no equal.
