Its reds are fruity, light to medium bodied, and made from the Cabernet Franc grape. One of the oldest wineries in the Loire Valley is Chateau Moncontour which overlooks the village of Vouvray. The 13th century estate surrounds the castle which dates from the 15th century. In the following we identify some particularly interesting chateaux, along with other interesting nearby points of interest. Our selection includes many of those in proximity to Orleans, Blois or Tours.
None are far from the Loire River.
Around Orleans Orleans Liberated by Joan of Arc in 1429, Orleans has expressed its gratitude to the Maid of Orleans each and every May 8th since then. As France s intellectual capital in the 13th century, Orleans attracted artists, poets and troubadours to the royal court. Around Blois This Town of Art and History was the veritable center of the French Renaissance. A royal town in the period of Louis XII and Francis I, Blois has a charming old town with the Chateau de Blois, Museum of Fine Arts, Archeology Museum, Basilica Notre Dame de la Trinite, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Religious Art. at Beauregard . It is located in the midst of a large forest, the largest Chateau of the Loire with 440 rooms and a chimney or turret for each day of the year.