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Atlantic coastline near Saint Nazaire
Saumur Castle with its Museum of the Horse
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St
Nazaire
From the glorious rugged coastline of the Atlantic, the Loire surprises
and entrances. St Nazaire, was the birthplace of "Le France"
the greatest luxury liner of all time later to be known as "The Norway".
Here too you can visit one of the remains of WW2 - the Espadon submarine
that is housed in one the once ominous underground locks built by the
Germans. For really ancient history, visit 2 of the most stunning dolmens
in France (two chamber tumulus) dating back 6000 years
Nantes
Surpringly
Nantes was once the capital of Brittany, so here you can see the magnificent
castle of the Dukes of Brittany, which now houses 3 museums, including
the Salorges Museum, which tells Nantes history (including shipbuilding,
and the slave trade which paid for some of the magnificent buildings in
the city). Visit the 19th century shopping mall of Passage Pommeraye,
with glass ceiling and cherub statues. Also do not miss the Gothic St
Pierre cathedral - which is lit up impressively at night. Nantes is a
city of adventure - as it was here that Jules Verne was born.
Saumur
With its four
powerful towers Saumur castle, bristles the sky with its presence. It is
also home to 2 museums - the Decorative Arts Museum with a beautiful collection
of objets d'art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and the Museum
of the Horse - with the history of the horse throughou the world. It is
in Saumur that there is the famous Cadre Noir cavalry school where french
officers were trained, and close by is now the National Riding School.
Also visit the Musee de Blindes (a tank museum with over 150 vehicles on
display.
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Blois
Surrounded by forests, Blois was named after the celtic name for wolf, but
now between the white stone and the slate rooves, the town is known for
corn, wine, strawberries, asparagus, and chocolate (The Poulain chocolate
factory). Discover the grandeur of the Chateau, with Fine Arts Museum, archaeology
museum, and the grand staircase leading to Queen's apartments with Catherine
de Medici's renaissance furniture and tapestries. Visit too the Saint Louis
Cathedral, rebuilt in Gothic style after the hurricane of 1678, and walk
in the pretty gardens of what was once the Bishop's gardens (18c, Hotel
de Ville).
Orleans
Orleans, is best seen from the river. It was here that Joan of Arc, that
made her triumphant entry, after she had routed out the English. The town
has been greatly rebuilt, after much damage during WW2 - with pretty streets
full of grand mansions such as Rue d'Escures. In 1560 Frances II died in
the renaissance Hotel de Ville. Visit too the grand Saint Croix Cathedral,
with primative sanctuaries in the crypt (4th and 10th century). Go to nearby
Orleans La Source with very pretty Parc Florale de la Source - where flowers
abound close to the source of the Loiret.
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Chenonceau near Tours and Blois |
Canal bridge across the Loire at Briare, near Nevers
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Nevers
Situated on a bend of the river Loire, the town is known for its Faience,
and had belonged to the Dukes of Burgundy, until Francis I had made it and
the Nivernais an independant Duchy. Visit the Ducal Palace a mixture of
Medieval strength and Renaissance delicacy; and the Municipal museum with
its collection of Faience. Take a trip to St Gildard Convent where Bernadette
Soubirous (Lourdes) lived as a nun, and where her embalmed body lies in
a glass casket.
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