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French Property for sale in Val de Loire

This really IS Château country and we have a good selection of remarkable examples of these varied and imposing Castles for sale in the different departments which comprise the Val de Loire - or valley of the Loire. Besides being Châteaux many have commercial aspects to them. With good access to Paris this region is rich in history and the architecture merits this fact.

The most significant feature of the region is the Loire Valley which in turn conjours up the images of the famous Châteaux of the Loire, created by the kings of France over many centuries and famous to this day for their splendour and beauty. Amongst the most famed are Chenonceau, Chambord, Ambois, Azay-le Rideau, Villandry and Blois. There are many other less famous Chateaux including that of Ussé which is said to have been the inspiration for the castle of the Sleeping Beauty. The rise of the Loire is said to be due to the 100 years war when the English and Burgundians expelled the royal family from Paris and the Loire became the natural successor.

The Cathedrals of Bourges and Chartres both feature on the Unesco World Heritage list, the latter particularly recognised for the beauty of its stained glass and especially the vast rose window. With so many sites of importance it is no surprise to learn that the region has many special events. There are over 30 annual festivals in the region including the famous rock festival, ‘Printemps de Bourges’. Easily accessible with Paris only 55 minutes by TGV to Tours , the area is much in demand by tourists as much for the valley of the Loire as for those of its tributaries, the Indre, Cher, Beuvron, Sauldre and Allier.

The River Loire, besides being the setting of so many splendid buildings is also important for the rich agricultural soil and the many renowned vineyards of the area. There are no less than 22 AOC wines produced in this region including the famous Sancerre, Vouvray, and Chinon to mention just a few. Famous people come from this region, or have died here, amongst them Jean d’Arc born in Orléans, Leonardo do Vinci buried at Azay-le-Rideau. He is said to have been responsible for the staircase at Château Chambord and at the age of 64, his mentor Giuliano de Medici having died, he had decided that his future lay with the patronage of Francois 1, King of France. He travelled to Ambois by donkey with all his most precious possessions, including the canvas we now know as the Mona Lisa. Tradition has it that Da Vinci died in the King’s arms on the 2nd May 1519 at the Manoir de Cloux. Copyright: Sarah Francis