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Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
State Party	France
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iv
Reference	933
Region†	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2000  (24th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Loire Valley (French: Vallée de la Loire) is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. It is also noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage, in its historic towns such as Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Nantes, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours, but in particular for its world-famous castles, such as the Châteaux d'Amboise, Château de Villandry and Chenonceau. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the Loire River from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Image File history File links Azay_le_rideau. ... As of 2006, there are a total of 830 World Heritage Sites located in 138 State Parties. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Amboise is a medieval town and a commune of France, in the Indre-et-Loire département, on the banks of the Loire River, 14 miles east of Tours. ... Maison dAdam, House of Adam, the oldest house of Angers. ... Blois is a city in France, the préfecture (capital) city of the Loir-et-Cher département, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours. ... Illustration of Chinon, circa 1892 For other uses, see Chinon (disambiguation). ... Traditional city flag City coat of arms Motto: Favet Neptunus eunti (Latin: Shall Neptune favour the traveller) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country Region Pays de la Loire Department Loire-Atlantique (44) Mayor Jean-Marc Ayrault  (PS) (since 1989) City Statistics Land area¹ 65. ... Orléans (Latin, meaning golden) is a city and commune in north-central France, about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Paris. ... Saumur is a small city and commune in the Maine-et-Loire département of France on the Loire River, with an approximate population of 30,000 (in 2001). ... Tours is a city in France, the préfecture (capital city) of the Indre-et-Loire département, on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. ... Château de Chenonceau in the Loire valley, France A rural château in France. ... it doesnt exist ... At the Château. ... View of Château de Chenonceau from Jardin de Catherine de Medici1 Château de Chenonceau as seen from Diane de Poitiers gardens The Château de Chenonceau, near the small village of Chenonceaux, in the Indre-et-Loire département of the Loire Valley in France, was built on...

The landscape of the Loire Valley, and more particularly its many cultural monuments, illustrate to an exceptional degree the ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment on western European thought and design. The Loire Valley is an outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty, containing historic towns and villages, great architectural monuments, its many châteaux, and fine wines. This article is about the French department. ... This article is about the European Renaissance of the 14th-17th centuries. ... ... Château de Chenonceau in the Loire valley, France A rural château in France. ... A Loire Valley wine is any wine produced in the Loire Valley region of France. ...

On December 2, 2000, UNESCO added the central part of the Loire River valley, between Maine and Sully-sur-Loire, to its list of World Heritage Sites. In choosing this area that includes the French départements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire, and Maine-et-Loire, the committee said that the Loire Valley is: "an exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty, comprised of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments - the Châteaux - and lands that have been cultivated and shaped by centuries of interaction between local populations and their physical environment, in particular the Loire itself." is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... The Loire River (pronounced in French), the longest river in France with a length of just over 1000 km, drains an area of 117,000 km², more than a fifth of France. ... The Maine (Fr: Le Maine) is a river, a tributary of the Loire, 12 km (7 mi. ... Sully-sur-Loire is a commune of the Loiret département in France. ... Elabana Falls is in Lamington National Park, part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia. ... Departments (French: IPA: ) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... Loiret is a département in north-central France named after the Loiret River. ... Loir-et-Cher is a département in north-central France named after its two principal rivers. ... Indre-et-Loire is a département in west-central France named after the Indre and the Loire rivers. ... Maine-et-Loire is a département in west-central France. ...

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

The châteaux, numbering more than three hundred, represent a nation of builders starting with the necessary castle fortifications in the 10th century to the splendor of those built half a millenium later. When the French kings began constructing their huge châteaux here, the nobility, not wanting or even daring to be far from the seat of power, followed suit. Their presence in the lush, fertile valley with its moderate climate, began attracting the very best landscape designers. Château de Chenonceau in the Loire valley, France A rural château in France. ... For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ... For the fortification of food, see Food fortification. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ...

Château de Valençay.

By the middle of the 18th century, King Francois I, had shifted the center of power in France from the Loire back to the ancient capital of Paris. With him went the great architects, but the Loire Valley continued to be the place where most of the French royalty preferred to spend the bulk of their time. The ascension of King Louis XIV in the middle of the 17th century made Paris the permanent site for great royal châteaux when he built the Palace of Versailles. Nonetheless, those who gained the king's favour and the wealthy bourgeoisie, continued to renovate existing châteaux or build lavish new ones as their summer residence in the Loire. Image File history File links Chateau_Valencay_20050726. ... Image File history File links Chateau_Valencay_20050726. ... Chateau de Valençay Château de Valençay is a residence of the dEstampes and Talleyrand-Périgord families in the commune of Valençay, the Indre département of France. ... Francis I of France (French: François Ier) (September 12, 1494 – March 31, 1547), called the Father and Restorer of Letters (le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres), was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547. ... Louis XIV redirects here. ... Hall of Mirrors redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The French Revolution saw a number of the great French châteaux destroyed and many ransacked, their treasures stolen. The overnight impoverishment of many of the deposed nobility, usually after one of its members lost their head to the guillotine, saw many châteaux demolished. During World War I and World War II, some chateaux were commandeered as military headquarters. Some of these continued to be used this way after the end of WWII. The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... This article is about the decapitation device. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Today, these privately owned châteaux serve as homes, a few opening their doors to tourist visits, while others are operated as hotels or bed and breakfasts. Many have been taken over by a local government authority or the giant structures like those at Chambord are owned and operated by the national government and are major tourist sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The front façade of the Château de Chambord, viewed from the south. ...

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

External links

• Media related to Castles of the Loire from the Wikimedia Commons.
• Loire Valley guide on WikiTravel
• Tourist Office Board Loire Valley
• Directory of Loire Valley Châteaux
• Photos of Loire châteaux
• Music from the Loire Valley castles
• Guide to Loire Valley chateaux

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in France

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe · Amiens Cathedral · Roman and Romanesque Monuments, Arles · Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge, Avignon · Belfries of Belgium and France (with Belgium) · Bordeaux, Port of the Moon · Bourges Cathedral · Canal du Midi · Gulf of Porto (Calanches de Piana • Gulf of Girolata • Scandola Reserve) · Carcassonne · Cathedral of Notre-Dame, former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau, Reims · Cathedral of Chartres · Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay · Le Havre · Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes · Lyon · Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay · Fontainebleau Palace and Park · Palace and Park of Versailles · Paris – Banks of the Seine · Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance, Nancy · Pont du Gard · Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley · Provins · Pyrénées – Mont Perdu (with Spain) · Routes of Santiago de Compostela · Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange · Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans · Saint-Émilion · Strasbourg – Grande Île · Vézelay Church and Hill Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... it doesnt exist ... The Château dAngers overlooks Angers and the Maine River. ... Azay-le-Rideau is a commune of the Indre-et-Loire département, in France. ... The rear of the Château de Blois Staircase in the Château de Blois The Royal Château de Blois is located in the Loir-et-Cher département in the Loire Valley, in France. ... The Château de la Bourdaisière is a castle in the countryside in the Commune of Montlouis-sur-Loire, in the Indre-et-Loire département of France. ... The front façade of the Château de Chambord, viewed from the south. ... Château de Chaumont The Château de Chaumont is a French castle. ... View of Château de Chenonceau from Jardin de Catherine de Medici1 Château de Chenonceau as seen from Diane de Poitiers gardens The Château de Chenonceau, near the small village of Chenonceaux, in the Indre-et-Loire département of the Loire Valley in France, was built on... Châteaudun is a commune of the Eure-et-Loir département, in France. ... Château de Cheverny The Château de Cheverny is located at Cheverny, in the département of Lair-et-Cher in the Loire Valley in France. ... Main entry. ... The chateau, as seen from the front. ... The Château de Menars across the Loire. ... The Château de Montsoreau, in the market town of Montsoreau, Maine-et-Loire, France, was constructed in 1455 by Jean de Chambes, a senior councillor to King Charles VII. Erected on the bank of the Loire river, it was a strategic fortress, controlling river traffic between Chinon and Saumur. ... Chateau du Plessis-Bourre Château du Plessis-Bourré is a Châteaux of the Loire Valley in France situated in the commune of Écuillé in the Maine-et-Loire departement. ... Château du Rivau. ... Located in the French town of Saumur, in the Maine-et-Loire département, the Château de Saumur was originally constructed as a fortified stronghold. ... The Château de Sullys ancient towers and donjon are on the right The Château de Sully-sur-Loire is a castle, converted to a palace, situated in the commune of Sully-sur-Loire, Loiret, France. ... Old vegetable garden at Talcy. ... The principal façade of the château, the side named after François I The Château de Troussay is one of the smallest Châteaux of the Loire Valley, and is situated in Cheverny, in the Loir-et-Cher. ... Towers The Château dUssé is located in the commune of Rigny-Ussé in the Indre-et-Loire département, in France. ... Chateau de Valençay Château de Valençay is a residence of the dEstampes and Talleyrand-Périgord families in the commune of Valençay, the Indre département of France. ... At the Château. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1846x778, 223 KB) en: Roof of the Château de Chambord with its numerous towers. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Saint Savin, also referred to as Saint-Savin sur Gartempe, is a commune of the Vienne département, in the former province of Poitou, France. ... The cathedral in Amiens Close-up of a stained glass window The Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame dAmiens), or just Amiens Cathedral, is the tallest complete cathedral in France with the greatest interior volume, estimated at 200,000 m³. The vaults of the... Coordinates Administration Country Region Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Department Bouches-du-Rhône (Subprefecture) Arrondissement Arles Canton Chief town of 2 cantons: Arles-Est and Arles-Ouest Intercommunality Agglomeration community of Arles-Crau-Camargue-Montagnette Mayor Hervé Schiavetti (PS) (2001-2008) Statistics Altitude 0 m–57 m (avg. ... For the Municipality in Quebec, see Avignon Regional County Municipality, Quebec. ... Bruges Antwerp Ypres Ghent Mons Tournai Boulogne-sur-Mer Abbeville Fifty-six Belfries of Belgium and France are collectively designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, in recognition of an architectural phenomenon that arose during the emergence of the historic Flanders and neighboring regions from feudalism. ... For other uses, see Bordeaux (disambiguation). ... Bourges Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges) is a cathedral, dedicated to Saint Stephen, located in Bourges, France. ... The Canal du Midi or Canal des Deux Mers (Occitan: Canal de las Doas Mars / Canal del Miègjorn) is a 240 km long canal in the south (le Midi) of France. ... Calanques de Piana Calanches de Piana are Corsican calanques located between Ajaccio and Calvi. ... For other uses, see Corsica (disambiguation). ... The Scandola Nature Reserve (19. ... For other uses, see Carcassonne (disambiguation). ... Façade of the Notre-Dame de Reims The Notre-Dame de Reims (Our Lady of Rheims) is the Cathedral of Reims, where the kings of France were once crowned. ... The Abbey of Saint-Remi is an abbey in Reims, France, founded in around AD 1000. ... The Palace of Tau in Reims. ... Reims (alternative English spelling Rheims; pronounced in French) is a city of the Champagne-Ardenne région of northern France, standing 144 km (89 miles) east-northeast of Paris. ... The Cathedral of Chartres (Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres), located in Chartres, about 50 miles (80 km) from Paris, is considered one of the finest examples in all France of the Gothic style of architecture. ... The church and convent building seen from the gardens. ... Le Havre is a city in Normandy, northern France, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Seine. ... This article is about the French city. ... For the car ferry, see MV Mont St Michel. ... The Royal Château of Fontainebleau (in the Seine-et-Marne département) is one of the largest French royal châteaux. ... Coordinates Administration Country Region ÃŽle-de-France Department Seine-et-Marne (sous-préfecture) Arrondissement Fontainebleau Canton Fontainebleau (chief town) Intercommunality Communauté de communes de Fontainebleau-Avon Mayor Frédéric Valletoux (2005-2008) Statistics Altitude 42–150 (avg. ... Hall of Mirrors redirects here. ... This article is about the river in France. ... The Place Stanislas, known colloquially as the place Stan, is a large pedestrianized square in Nancy, Lorraine, France. ... The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct in the south of France constructed by the Roman Empire, and located near Remoulins, in the Gard département. ... Vézère is a 190 km long river in south-western France. ... Coordinates Administration Country Region ÃŽle-de-France Department Seine-et-Marne (sous-préfecture) Arrondissement Provins Canton Provins (chief town) Intercommunality Communauté de communes du Provinois Mayor Christian Jacob (2001-2008) Statistics Altitude 86 m–168 m (avg. ... Pyrenees National Park (French: Parc national des Pyrénées) is a national park located within the French départements of Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. ... Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is an IUCN Category II National Park situated in the Pyrenees of Huesca, Aragón (Spain). ... In 1998, several sites in France were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the description: Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. Below is a detailed list of these sites: Périgueux: cathedral Saint-Front - Aquitaine Saint-Avit-Sénieur: church - Aquitaine Le Buisson-de-Cadouin: former abbaye... Théâtre dOrange Théâtre dOrange The Théâtre antique dOrange is an ancient Roman theatre, built early in the 1st Century A.D. and located in Orange in Southern France. ... Orange (Provençal Occitan: Aurenja in classical norm or Aurenjo in Mistralian norm) is a town and commune in the département of Vaucluse, in the south of France. ... The Saline Royale (Royal Saltworks) at Arc-et-Senans, in the forest of Chaux near Besançon, France is notable as an early Enlightenment architectural project to rationalize industrial buildings and processes according to a philosophical order. ... Saint Emilion Saint-Émilion is a small town near Bordeaux, France that is famous for the eponymous wine region that surrounds it. ... For other uses, see Strasburg. ... Grande ÃŽle, the historic centre of Strasbourg, France, is an island in the Ill River. ... Vézelay Abbey was a Benedictine and Cluniac monastery in Vézelay in the Yonne département in Burgundy, France. ...