The Loire Valley is a serene and beautiful cultural landscape featuring charming historic towns and villages, spectacular architectural achievements, and farm lands formed by river Loire itself. The architectural heritage in the valley’s historic towns is exquisite, especially its châteaux, like the popular Château de Montsoreau, Château d’Amboise, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Chambord, Château de Chinon, Château du Rivau, Château d’Ussé, and the Château de Villandry and Chenonceau. There are more than 300 châteaux throughout the Loire Valley that lend a picture of a nation of builders from the early castle fortifications in the 10th century to the splendor of those built a half a millennium later.
