Loire Valley

Get the Michelin Guide to Loire Chateaux for some tips on castles and other sights not covered in Rick's guidebook, including lots of wineries. If you are a sparkling and/or white wine lover, Loire is the place for you. We lucked out; our B & B owner's friend owned a winery (with caves) and we received a private tour. The winery is Domaine Gendron and I believe they do public tours. Its up the hills a bit but an amazing view.

Umm... drive around farm towns and look at nuclear power plants? I'm not a big fan of the Loire. I've called it the San Joaquin Valley with castles. Or, what's that valley in Minnesota I've driven through that has the big Jolly Green Giant statue? It's like that... Seriously, the Loire is a beautiful area of forests and farms. In the times I've been there, it's the scenery (minus the nuclear plants) I've enjoyed the most. But after seeing a castle or two, I skedaddle south to the Dordogne or north to Normandy.

uummm..that would be the MN River Valley (Ho!Ho!Ho!)

We much prefer the Anjou area of the Loire to the Touraine. There are amazing underground cave dwellings, troglodytes, that people lived in until the end of the 19th century that you can visit. Complete farms were dug out of the tufa rock. If you had another child and needed another room, you just kept digging. In fact, the medieval section of the Chateau de Breze is completely underground: stables, bedrooms, kitchen, etc. This is not to be missed. We also found pre-historic standing stones and some Roman ruins in the Anjou. Good wine in the Anjou, too.

Anne, my wife and I just returned from Europe for our 6th time using Rick's guide and tips. We stayed in Amboise on the Loire Valey and thoroughly enjoyed the hotel (Le Clos De Amboise), the all day chateau tour using Acco Dispo, and the Light and Sound show at Amboise castle (a great pagent with local folks). We were also pleasently surprised visiting Leonardo Davinci's home.

You go to the Loire to see the chateaus. many many choices, each one special. But you must do the chateaus. Wine is great throughout the area. Most restaurants are good I would go with a local tour group- at least one complete day. Then you can do your own thing if you wish If you stay, you must attend one of the "son et lumiere'- sound and light shows. We found the smaller chateux shows are great "Azay le Rideau' (sp?)

Drive east along the south bank of the river from Amboise in the direction of Blois. You´ll see a few wine caves along the way.

In Amboise, try to pair your wine purchases with "Tarte au Nougat." And bring me back some, 'cause I wish I'd bought a lot more. A Shortbread base with the delicately candied-fruit-scented, meringue-like confection baked into the top. Crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth, palate porn,... seriously!