Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: loire region

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Amboise castle

French words: Château d'Amboise
alternative words: Amboise, Château d'Amboise
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related topics: Tours
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Amboise , http://www.chateau-amboise.com , http://www.renaissance-amboise.com , http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com
explanation: Occupying a strategic point on the southern bank of Loire river between Tours and Blois, King Charles VII confiscated the castle from the lord due to his treason. King Charles VIII, born at Amboise , began to enlarge it in 1492. After an expedition to Italy, he brought not only Italian furniture but also artists to make it very Italian. King Francois 1st, raised there, continued to improve the castle before moving his court to Blois. Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last life as a guest of Francois at Amboise.

Angers

French words: Angers
keywords: human heritage , loire region , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.angers.fr , http://www.angers-tourisme.com
explanation: Located on the bank of Maine river near the confluence with Loire, Angers was founded by the Celtic tribe Andes. After a marriage of the count of Anjou, Geoffrey V with English queen, Matilda, in 1127, their son Henri II founded Plantagenet dynasty. Though Angers was conquered by French king Philippe II in 1204, it continued to be disputed between English and French until 15th century. Angers is the capital of Amine-et-Loire prefecture with population 151,000. Its main activities are electronics and winery.

Azay-le-rideau castle

French words: Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
alternative words: Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Azay-le-Rideau
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related topics: Tours
related web sites: http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/chateaux-loire/7.shtml , http://www.loire-france.com/visites/chateaux/azay-le-rideau/ , http://www.casteland.com/pfr/chateau/centre/indreloire/azay/azay_hist.htm
explanation: There had existed already a medieval castle on an islet inside Indre, tributary of Loire, since 11th century, but the crown prince (future Charles VII) being insulted by the garrison of the castle in 1418, he ordered to burn it out. Later, King's treasurer and Tours' mayor, Gilles Berthelot, began to build a new castle in 1518, inspired by Blois castle. Though, Gilles, being accused of a fraud, couldn't add the eastern wing, its stairwell is one of the master pieces among French renaissance style castles.

Blois castle

French words: Château de Blois
alternative words: Blois, Château de Blois
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www-02.ville-blois.fr , http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/centre/loir_cher/blois/blois_desc.htm
explanation: Located at the hill which commands Blois on the northern bank of Loire river, there had existed already a medieval castle since Carolingian period, but only the Chamber of the Estates General in the north and the tower of Foix in the south remain until today. The real expansion of the castle started when King Louis XII installed his court there in 1498 and added a renaissance flavour to it. The next king, Francois 1st transformed it to a full renaissance style castle with a magnificent spiral stairwell.

Chambord castle

French words: Château de Chambord
alternative words: Chateau de Chambord, Chateau Chambord
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.chambord.org , http://www.chambordcountry.com , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Chambord
explanation: Located near Blois and 150km south of Paris, Chambord is the largest among "Chateaux de la Loire". Its construction started in 1519 as second residence of King Francois 1st and achieved only in 1559 after his death. Owning 4 central towers served by the stairs with a double spiral, a guest of Francois 1st, Leonardo Da Vinci may participate in conceiving this renaissance style castle. After Francois's death, the castle decayed slowly. Surrounded by a vast forest, Chambord belongs to UNESCO's human heritage.

Chenonceau Castle

French words: Château de Chenonceau
alternative words: Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau Chenonceau, Chenonceaux
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.chenonceau.com , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Chenonceaux , http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/chateaux-loire/5.shtml
explanation: The pre-existing castle on the northern bank of Cher River, tributary of Loire, having been erased due to a treason of its lord, the new owner, Thomas Bohier, Chamberlain for King Charles VIII, built a new one between 1515 and 1521, by keeping only the donjon. Then the castle was handed in 1555 to Diane de Poitiers, a mistress of King Henri II, who would extend the castle over Cher river. After the king's death, Queen Catherine Medici confiscated it to make her residence and to lay out a beautiful garden.

Chinon castle

French words: Château de Chinon
alternative words: Chinon, Château de Chinon
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jean-francois.mangin/capetiens/fenetres_filles/chateau_chinon.htm
explanation: Though there had existed already a fortress since Roman period on a spur on the northern bank of Vienne, tributary of Loire, Chinon increased its importance, when the count of Anjou, conquered the castle in 1044 and later the count Henri II became king of England in 1154. He fortified the castle by adding Moulin tower and Fort Saint Georges but French King, Philippe II conquered the castle in 1205. He reinforced further the fort of Coudry. French King, Charles VII met first Jeanne d'Arc in 1492 at Chinon.

Le Mans

French words: Le Mans
alternative words: Lemans
keywords: loire region , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.ville-lemans.fr , http://www.lemans.org
explanation: Well known for its car race "24 heures du Mans", Le Mans is in reality one of the oldest towns in France. In fact, called Vindinum, it had been a regional capital of the Roman Empire. During 12th century, Le Mans was disputed between dukes of Normandy and counts of Anjou, then English and French troops during 100 years war. Built between 11th and 15th century, Saint Julian cathedral is one of the largest in France. Owning an university, Le Mans is the capital of Sarthe prefecture. The population is 141000.

Nantes

French words: Nantes
keywords: loire region , tourist resort , town
related topics: Rennes
related web sites: http://www.nantes.fr , http://www.nantes-tourisme.com
explanation: Located in south of Brittany at estuary of Loire river, Nantes was conquered by Julius Cesar in 56 B.C. During the middle ages, Nantes disputed with Rennes the first place of Brittany. In 1598, Edit of Nantes was signed by Henri IV, allowing a religious freedom to protestants. During 18th century, Nantes had grown rich thanks to trades with new world, especially the slavery. Jules Verne was born there in 1828. Owning an university, Nantes is the capital of Pays-de-la-Loire region and the population 267,000.

Orleans

French words: Orléans
keywords: human heritage , loire region , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.ville-orleans.fr , http://morgann.moussier.free.fr/orleans/
explanation: Conquered by Julius Cesar in 52 BC, Orleans was rebuilt in 3th century by Roman Emperor, Aurelian from which derives the city name. During the middle ages, Orleans had been the capital of Merovingian dynasty then a dukedom in Capetian dynasty which came to succeed the latter as Valois-Orleans dynasty. During 100 years war, Orleans was saved by Jeanne d'Arc from a siege in 1428. Located 110km south of Paris on Loire bank, Orleans is the capital of Centre region and owns an university. The population 113,000.

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