Visit Indre-et-Loire
Featuring some of the most famous and attractive of the Loire chateaux, Indre-et-Loire is also home to some fine towns and beautiful villages: perhaps the perfect introduction to the Loire Valley experience!
Selected places to visit in Indre-et-Loire
Indre-et-Loire sights and places to visit
The Indre-et-Loire department of France is the most westerly of the departments in the Centre (Val de Loire) region of central France
Castles play an important role in tourism in the region, and the department features several of the most important chateau in the Loire Valley region, along the stretch of Loire River from east of Saumur and passing through Tours.
The most well known of these chateaux include:
- Chateau d'Amboise
- Chateau Chinon
- Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau
Chateau de Chenonceau- Chateau de Villandry
- Chateau du Rivau
- Chateau Langeais
Rochecorbon town and chateau, a little north-east of Tours, and the chapel at Champigny-sur-Veude (all that remains of the castle that once stood here) to the south-west of Indre-et-Loire, should also feature in your visit.
Among the towns to visit in the department, Chinon, Le Grand Pressigny, Loches, Richelieu, Tours and Vouvray are among these that are enjoyable to explore.
Enthusiasts of the adventures of Rabelais will want to visit his birthplace at La Divinere, to the west, where a museum is now dedicated to the great author.
Note: Tours airport falls within this department.
See a list of all Indre-et-Loire communes
Map of Indre-et-Loire
Page in French? See Indre-et-Loire (Francais)
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