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 he Loire valley (also called "la Touraine"), situated in the middle of
France, is quintescently French, and was always favoured by Kings who chose to settle in
the region within sumptuous and elegant properties (castles ("chateaux"),
cathedrals…).
The capital, Tours, has profited for years from the
continuous influx of pilgrims and merchants, the presence of the Kings and their court,
the extravagant expenditure and taste of the bourgeois and the wealthy financiers, the
historic silk trade and from today’s tourism.
Many, such as the carme marteau in 1661, described the
Loire valley as "one of the most beautiful, incredible, delightful and wonderful,
even the most fertile province of this opulent kingdom if not this entire
world ". The dictionary of gastronomy quotes " the cuisine of Touraine
is probably of the most exquisite in France : healthy, simple and admirably
prepared".
To summarise, the Loire valley is a fertile garden, full
of vineyards and orchards, rivers and beautiful stones, whether it be those of its famous
chateaux or its intimate villages. Theses tours, far away from mass tourism, are designed
for those of you who love to wander along wild lanes where it is difficult for two cars to
pass each other. They will allow you to discover the Loire valley castles, to soak up the
local culture and discover the heart of the region.
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