At Château de Chenonceau, the story of its construction is told through an almost unbroken succession of women who built, embellished, protected, restored and saved the château. Its architecture looks out over the Cher and is inspired by the Ponte Vecchio. The château is home to an exceptional collection of furniture, tapestries and paintings. Here, history, architecture and art come together—a striking introduction to the cultural discoveries of Indre-Et-Loire.

Cultural landscape and royal history

The Val de Loire World Heritage Site extends from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonnes-sur-Loire and recognises a cultural landscape along the Loire. It reflects more than two thousand years of interaction between people and their environment. Chinon and Tours are among the historic towns of the Loire Valley; châteaux and other monuments reflect the ideals of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. The region’s story thus connects individual buildings with a long history of life along the Loire.

The Forteresse royale de Chinon brings medieval history to life through furnished reconstructions and offers immersive visits with augmented reality, as well as a life-size escape game. Its interactive route is about two kilometres long. Six interactive terminals explain the panoramas and visible buildings; the route ends on the banks of the Vienne. One section is temporarily closed for safety reasons. At the Cité royale de Loches, a HistoPad also uses augmented reality in the keep. The fortified town is defined by its keep and a royal residence. Different ways of exploring are offered here: an interactive route through panoramas and buildings at one site, and a digitally enhanced visit to the keep at the other.

Other places offer their own highlights. Seven contemporary artworks are located along the paths in the park of the Domaine de Candé; the number of works may change as the art trail develops. Château de Villandry was completed around 1536. Its seasonal gardens bring together flowers, medicinal plants and vegetables. Honoré de Balzac regularly stayed at Château de Saché. Hôtel Goüin is home to an artist residency and the Artothèque de Touraine.

On foot, by bike and in the footsteps of wine

Touraine has a dense network of more than 3,200 kilometres of rivers, streams and waterways. For longer days of hiking, there are routes of more than ten kilometres through forests and fields; Indre-et-Loire has around 4,500 kilometres of trails in total. The department also offers nature workshops, treasure hunts, plant identification and excursions. The number and annual programme of these activities may change.

On La Loire à Vélo, the Savonnières–Villandry section passes troglodyte villages and terraced vineyards. At La Chapelle-sur-Loire, you can cross the Loire for free on the traditional boats operated by Vents d’Galerne. Cycle-friendly accommodation along the route may offer breakfast, repair facilities, laundry and luggage transport; many places are within five kilometres of the route.

Wine is another recurring theme: Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire are known for dry, off-dry and sparkling wines made from Chenin blanc. Touraine has almost 90 tourist wine cellars. In the wider context of La Loire à Vélo, you can find wine-tasting opportunities at cellars in places including Amboise, Montlouis, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon and Bourgueil. This makes it easy to choose between days centred on culture and architecture and outings focused on wine, landscapes or active pursuits.

The department’s visitor offering includes eight monuments and museums, with different ways to explore throughout the year. Discover more destinations: Nouans-Les-Fontaines, Loché-Sur-Indrois, Crouzilles, Azay-Le-Rideau, Beaumont-En-Véron, Champigny-Sur-Veude, Chançay, Charnizay, Cheillé, Chenonceaux, Chinon, Chouzé-Sur-Loire, Civray-De-Touraine, Epeigné-Les-Bois, Esvres, Huismes, Ingrandes-De-Touraine, La Roche-Clermault, Lerne, Loches, Louestault, Luzille, Manthelan, Marigny-Marmande, Mazières-De-Touraine, Monnaie, Orbigny, Ports, Pouzay, Preuilly-Sur-Claise, Reignac-Sur-Indre, Restigné, Richelieu, Saché, Saint-Germain-Sur-Vienne, Saint-Jean-Saint-Germain, Saint-Laurent-De-Lin, Saint-Nicolas-De-Bourgueil, Sainte-Catherine-De-Fierbois, Seuilly, Tavant, Tours, Trogues, Truyes, Véretz, Montrésor, Chemillé-Sur-Indrois, Avon-Les-Roches, Betz-Le-Château, Bossay-Sur-Claise, Ciran, Bréhémont, Saint-Benoît-La-Forêt, Chambourg-Sur-Indre, Benais, Villandry, Saint-Pierre-Des-Corps, Sainte-Maure-De-Touraine, Saint-Avertin, Parçay-Meslay, Mosnes, Montbazon, Limeray, Joué-Lés-Tours, Courcelles-De-Touraine, Chisseaux, Chaveignes, Chambray-Lès-Tours, Amboise, Noizay, Crissay-Sur-Manse, Chanceaux-Près-Loches, Montlouis-Sur-Loire, Luynes, Fondettes, Descartes, Dolus-Le-Sec, Saint-Quentin-Sur-Indrois, Saint-Règle, Céré-La-Ronde, Semblançay, Saint-Ouen-Les-Vignes, Perrusson, Bourgueil, Savigné-Sur-Lathan, Noyant-De-Touraine, Cangey, La Châtre, Saint-Patrice, Rivière, Marcilly-Sur-Vienne, Panzoult, Saint-Michel-Sur-Loire, Vouvray, Saint-Antoine-Du-Rocher, La Membrolle-Sur-Choisille, Château-Renault, Braye-Sous-Faye, Razines, L'île-Bouchard, Langeais, Genillé, Bléré, Neuvy-Le-Roi, Rochecorbon, Sorigny, Savonnières, Veigné, Rillé, Gizeux, Le Louroux, Ligré, Athée-Sur-Cher, Yzeures-Sur-Creuse, Beaumont-La-Ronce, Villaines-Les-Rochers, Vernou-Sur-Brenne, Mouzay, Cravant-Les-Côteaux, Saint-Martin-Le-Beau, Saint-Étienne-De-Chigny, Tauxigny, Dierre, Pocé-Sur-Cisse, La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin, Monthodon, Saint-Genouph, Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire, Theneuil, Nazelles-Négron, La Croix-En-Touraine, Sonzay, Reugny, Neuillé-Le-Lierre, Saint-Paterne-Racan, Chédigny, Channay-Sur-Lathan, Cinais, Beaulieu-Lès-Loches, Bossée, Autrèche, Tournon-Saint-Pierre, Ambillou, Sepmes, Candes-Saint-Martin, La Riche, Vallères, Saint-Flovier, Monts, Anché, Civray-Sur-Esves, Mettray, Assay, Dame-Marie-Les-Bois, Paulmy, Bridoré, Ballan-Miré, Souvigné, Faye-La-Vineuse, Marray, La Ville-Aux-Dames, Pernay, Château-La-Vallière, Cussay, Rigny-Ussé, Saint-Nicolas-Des-Motets, Le Grand-Pressigny, Cinq-Mars-La-Pile, Larçay, Crotelles, Charentilly, Avoine, Avrillé-les-Ponceaux, Le Boulay, Saint-Épain, Rouziers-de-Touraine, La Tour-Saint-Gelin, La Chapelle-aux-Naux, Lémeré, Berthenay, Ligueil, Notre-Dame-d'Oé, Artannes-sur-Indre, Azay-sur-Indre, Bournan, Lignières-de-Touraine, La Celle-Guenand, Abilly, La Celle-Saint-Avant, Thilouze, Chargé, Jaulnay, Luzé, Beaumont-Village.

For the wider travel overview: Centre.