The Loire Valley in France is of course famous for its wines, however at a recent luncheon I attended at Loft 11 in New York, the French Government Tourist Office provided many other compelling reasons to visit the Touraine-Loire Valley.

Marion Fourestier, Director of Communications for the French Government Tourist Office, together with 17 representatives of winemakers, tour operators, tour agencies and hotels from the Touraine-Loire Valley welcomed invited guests to share the beauty of the region, and taste their excellent selection of regional wines, as well as their specialty cheeses and pâtés.  

The Loire Valley, located 150 miles southwest from Paris, is the 5^th most visited of French regions by American travelers. Touraine in the Loire Valley attracts 4 million visitors each year, of which 1 million are foreign visitors, and 10% are American visitors.

In addition to the famed vineyards, there are world-famous chateaux built by the Kings and Queens of France who lived in the Loire Valley, with over a dozen chateaux to visit. Since the Renaissance period, the Touraine-Loire Valley has been known as “The Garden of France”, and Touraine has 11 major historic and contemporary gardens, including a garden designed by Catherine di Medici.

All of Touraine is vineyard country, and this area is the second largest producer of sparkling wines. Hence, a visit to the vineyards is a definite must when planning a trip the to the Touraine-Loire region.

There are many historic towns to visit each with their own unique and intriguing stories to tell, including the towns of Tours, Blois, Orleans and Amboise, which is the most Italian of the French cities. Amboise was the last residence of Leonardo Da Vinci, who spent the last three years of his life there. The valley provided inspiration for many artists and writers, including Da Vinci, Rabelais, Balzac, Ronsard, Turner and Calder. It was also the home of many religious communities and has many churches, abbeys and monasteries. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate experiencing La Loire à vélo (the Loire by bicycle), as well as fishing and boating along the Loire River, which in 2000 was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It seems that whatever you seek in a destination, you will find it in the Touraine-Loire Valley.

For more information on France as well as the Touraine-Loire Valley please visit the website French Government Tourist Office or email them at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

© January 2006. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.