The Loire Valley. France
A fertile Loire Valley has always been a precious heritage for the French. It is usually called the valley of châteaux, the valley of love and splendid gardens of France. This abundant land can charm you with its photos only. And if you come here, you’ll definitely fall in love. It will steal away your heart and you throw a traditional coin into some basin to be back to the Valley again and again. Because this place is the most fabulous, magical and poetical in the world. The Loire Valley can be called a cradle of the French literature; many great writers were brought up there. Charles Perrault wrote his famous fairy-tales, Honoré de Balzac and François Rabelais had residences in the Valley. A wonderful «Valley of love» is presented at the masterpieces of George Sand, Oscar Wilde.
But the main attractions of the Valley of châteaux are surely the châteaux. Each architectural ensemble has its joyful and sorrowful, lyrical and dramatic, but always unique story. They served a place of birth of many powerful people of the time, a place of important government solutions and incredible dramas. There are about forty châteaux, but the most famous are: Amboise, Langeais, Chenonceau, Chaumont-sur-Loire. They impress with their luxury, greatness and beauty. All of them are the real pearls of the Loire Valley.
The Renaissance became a period of great transformations in the Valley. Initially the châteaux were built like fortresses, but then Italian architects magically changed their appearance. So, the châteaux of the Valley became true palaces that are still admired by their visitors.
