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Culture
It is said that the best French is spoken in the area around Tour and the regions proximity to Paris means that it has been a playground for the wealthy for hundreds of years.
Castles and Chateaux are evidence of both luxury living and a troubled past but this fortunate region continues to attract visitors to “The Garden of France”.
Chabris is at the heart of the central Loire region, junction of the Touraine, the Berry and the Sologne. There is so much to see but a small selection is included below.
Further information can be found in guides available from the Tourist Ofiice in the centre of the village. Most are available in English and English-speaking staff are on hand to assist.
Also worth considering is the Eyewitness travel guide to the Loire Valley.
Chateaux
The Loire is the region of chateaux so if you love these historic castles and homes you are in for a treat!
Romantic Chenonceau is built across the River Cher, the play-thing of Catherine de Medicis.
Cheverny is a classic Louis XIII building, owned by the same family since it was built in 1620.
Chambord, designed by Leonardo da Vinci, is older still, the largest chateau in the Loire and a royal hunting lodge.
Valencay was owned by Talleyrand, Bonaparte’s foreign minister, and is unusual for the amount of original furniture still housed there.
Chateaux, large and small, some private but many open to the public, all await the curious traveller in this historic region of France.
Gardens
There are more than 100 fine gardens within an hour or so of Chabris, including some of the best in France, designated the “Exceptional Gardens”. Many, but not all, are associated with a chateau.
The closest of these great gardens include those of Chateau de Beauregard, the park at Bourges, the Pergola de Chanteloup and the Chateau de Chenonceau.
Enthusiasts will not want to miss the gardens of the Chateau de Villandry, the international garden design show at Chaumont and the Parc Floral de La Source in Orleans.
As professional garden designers we are often asked to lead parties to these and other gardens in the area. More information on notable gardens is available from the web site: www.jardins-de-france.com
Nature
France’s longest river, the Loire and its tributaries the Cher, the Indre, and the Sauldre, dominate this region and help give it it’s special character.
Between the Cher and the Loire, the Sologne covers 1.2 million acres with woodland, marshland and heath. To the south is the Brenne National Park.
This is a very rural area and agriculture still employs many people. Crops change rapidly with the soil and other conditions but wine growing is important across vast areas of the countryside.
Wild flowers and fauna are far more common and plentiful than in most areas of the UK but remember to “only take pictures and bring back fond memories“.
Museums
Most towns in the region have museums celebrating their history, while some have unusual local or international exhibits. A few worth visiting include:
Car museum in the Chateau de Valency: vintage cars, motorbikes and bicycles.
Thesee archaeological museum: a rich gallo-roman site.
Romorantin-Lanthenay: museum of the Sologne.
Galleries
More details from the tourist office in Chabris
Crafts
More details from the tourist office in Chabris
Churches and monuments
More details from the tourist office in Chabris