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Centre-Val de Loire

Things to see in Centre-Val de Loire

53 sights, museums, parks and places worth the stop.

Entrance to the Caves Peintes, Chinon

Chinon · Guided Tours

Caves de Chinon

Historic quarries offering guided wine tastings
The image shows the interior of a Gothic cathedral featuring large clustered columns, high arched stained-glass windows, and stone flooring, with a caption identifying it as "Inside Chartres Cathedral" shot on 35mm film in 2002.

Chartres · Churches

Chartres Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres)

UNESCO Gothic landmark with 12th-century stained glass
The image shows a large, historic French château with distinctive Renaissance architecture, including a prominent conical-roofed tower, ornate stone chimneys, and a long wing with decorative gables, set against a cloudy sky with visitors on the gr

Amboise · Castles

Château d'Amboise

Renaissance castle with Leonardo da Vinci's tomb
The Gothic flank and flying buttresses of Bourges Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne)

Bourges · Architectural Landmarks

Bourges Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne)

UNESCO Gothic cathedral with rare stained glass
The François I wing and its open spiral staircase at the Château de Blois

Blois · Castles

Château de Blois

Royal castle with four architectural styles
Château de Chenonceau spanning the River Cher on its arches

Tours · Castles

Château de Chenonceau

Renaissance castle spanning the Cher River
The image shows the ruins of a stone castle with towers and walls, situated on a hillside amidst dense trees and surrounded by vineyards in the foreground.

La Guerche · Castles

Château de La Guerche

15th-century fortress on the Creuse river
The image shows a wide river with a paved walkway and grassy embankment on the right bank, where several people are walking; in the distance, a multi-arch stone bridge spans the river, and buildings line the far bank under a partly cloudy sky.

Orleans · Heritage Trails

Loire River Banks

UNESCO-listed Loire waterfront in Joan of Arc's city
A tall, ornate stone bell tower (the Tour de l'Horloge) rises behind a statue of Alfred de Vigny in a paved town square in Loches, France.

Loches · Historic Towns

Marché de Loches

Weekly market in the historic Royal City
A large stone cathedral with a prominent central tower and dome, viewed from a distance over rooftops and a stone wall under a clear blue sky.

Blois · Historic Architecture

Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Blois

Blois cathedral with 33 contemporary stained-glass windows
A large, multi-story stone and stucco building with a prominent round stone tower, red brick chimneys, and modern wire sculptures in the foreground, identified as the Château de Tours (specifically the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours).

Tours · Historic Architecture

Château de Tours

Historic castle featuring Jeu de Paume photography exhibi...
The image shows a large, cylindrical medieval stone tower with crenellated top, part of a fortified complex, set against a clear blue sky with green trees and grass in the foreground; no visible signage or text is present.

Chinon · Castles

Château de Chinon

10th-century castle, Joan of Arc meeting site