Region

Loire Valley: Not Just French, Very French

The Loire Valley is as French as France gets. Famous for its natural beauty, magnificent châteaux and picturesque towns, the Loire Valley is rich in history and culture. It is said to be where the purest French is spoken and the land of simple French home cooking. The length of the river, and the varied soils and climate of the valley, make the Loire Valley home to definitive expressions of some of the world’s most popular wine grapes (including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc) as well as some that are grown nowhere else  (Melon de Bourgogne, Pineau d’Aunis, etc.) The vineyards of the Loire Valley are divided into five distinct regions, each with its own characteristic wines and varietals.

Take a tour of Loire Valley along the route of famous châteaux between the cities of Amboise and Chenonceaux, courtesy of Google Earth. 

If you have Google Earth installed, you can download the KML file below to launch the tour and explore the Loire Region at your leisure.