During the French Renaissance, the royal court was established in the Loire Valley, a strategic geographical and economic location. The beautiful rich landscapes of the countryside inspired royal ambitions to build a succession of sumptuous palaces, Renaissance castles, and medieval forts.

The Loire Valley is an ideal destination to experience the region's chateaux: this is a veritable fairy-tale realm par excellence, also studded with historical storybook villages. In addition, the region has long been renowned for its superlative food and stellar wine production, with the local restaurants elaborating the most memorable meals. May–September is the best time to visit, when the region’s châteaux host ‘Sound and Light’ festivals, proudly exhibiting their historic beauty with candles, installations, and concerts, and staying open until late at night. This is a beautiful – and relatively peaceful – area to drive around, to explore independently.