Right in the centre of France, on the banks of the country's biggest river, the Loire, is a region rich in history, with magical castles to be visited, like Chambord and Chenonceau. (Read our article on the castles of the Loire.) Here, you will discover the history of the most prestigious French dynasties and learn about their way of life and their role in French history.
If castle visits aren't your thing, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy here too. The Centre region, now called Centre Val de Loire, is also a great place for both fishing and cycling, with more than 800 km of cycle paths (find out all about the Loire à Vélo cycle path network here). The magnificent medieval city of Tours will charm you with its city centre brimming with life, shops and small cafés. You should make time for some wine-tasting too: the Touraine whites are famous all over France.
