Located at the north-western end of the famous and much-visited Loire Valley, the departement of Loir et Cher is home to many of the attractions that have made the region so popular with tourists from all over Europe. Not only is Loir et Cher an area of outstanding natural beauty, with walking and cycling trails running alongside the Loire and its many tributaries, but some of the most famous and picturesque castles or chateaux in the country are located within its borders. This pleasant and historic town of Blois is a great central location from which to explore the area, and has many attractions of its own.
There are several castles throughout the Loir et Cher region, including a medieval fortress in the northern town of Vendome and one in Blois itself where the Kings of France used to live. However, the two most well known are located in the countryside, on the banks of the Loire River. The fairy tale castle of Chaumont, with its turrets and towers, was built in the 15th century and once belonged to Catherine de Medici. It is now well known for its impressive collection of tapestries and the extensive grounds that host an annual International Gardens Festival.
Further east along the Loire is the Renaissance Chateau de Chambord. A real architectural masterpiece, there are several details about this building that must not be missed, such as the 365 fireplaces and the famous double spiral staircase, allowing two people to climb and descend at the same time without getting in each other's way. The huge grounds are surrounded by an external wall 32 kilometres long, so it is unlikely you will have time to explore everywhere. Make sure you see the boating lake and the beautifully maintained flower gardens, and if you want to cover more distance you can always take a horse and carriage ride round the grounds.
One of the more intriguing tourist attractions in this region is the village of Troo. Located in the far north of Lore et Cher, Troo is a Troglodyte village, a collection of houses that were dug into the cliffs to make homes for some of the poorest people in the area. Some of the houses are still lived in today, but you are allowed to climb the paths and steps that have been cut into the cliffs in order to get to the top of the town and enjoy the view over the Loire Valley below.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Loir-et-Cher? Then below is a selection of gites in Loir-et-Cher and villas in Loir-et-Cher that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
