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Life in The Loire sometimes appears to have stood still in time, ancient traditions prevail and the routine of everyday life is celebrated in many forms. Mills to museums, religious artefacts to galleries, evidence of the region’s colourful past can be found throughout its ancient villages, towns and cities – symbolised by Roman walls, cobbled streets, timber and tuffeau stone houses. The creamy white tuffeau stone, quarried from the cliffs along the Loire (the tunnels were later made into wine cellars and for mushroom growing), is found across the Valley.
In 2000, UNESCO designated the region as an official World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding natural beauty. The diverse and unspoilt landscape of rivers, hills, woodlands and caves lends itself to almost every outdoor pursuit. Whilst the longest river in France, the River Loire, and many tranquil lakes accommodates a range of water sports, sailing, canoeing, fishing (coarse and trout) or splashing around on one of the constructed beaches. The surrounding thick forests and rolling hills provide ideal terrain for hikers, golfers and cyclists, unsurprisingly the region is home to an abundance of wildlife. If you are lucky you may see the wild boar, coypu and deer.
Saumur’s reputation as France’s centre of equitation can be experienced at one of the many horsemanship displays, or take a ride in the horse-carriage tour and for the enthusiast have an hour’s intensive riding instruction or hack. If the heat of the sun gets too much retreat to the miles of troglodyte caves, whether it be wineries, mushroom tours or museums, all are great for cooling down. Guided tours of all descriptions can be obtained from the local tourist office.
With all these options you may not want to relax in the courtyard with a book and a bottle of wine. But if you do, then it will be peaceful with only the sound ofthe birds to keep you company while you soak up the sunshine .