Discover Indre-et-Loire

Indre-et-Loire lies at the heart of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley, where the Loire, Cher, Indre and Vienne rivers carve through soft tuffeau limestone, creating a landscape of extraordinary beauty and historical richness. Known historically as Touraine — the Garden of France — this department was the cradle of the French Renaissance, where kings built their most magnificent châteaux and Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years.

Châteaux and Heritage

Home to over 70 châteaux within a 50-kilometre radius of Tours, Indre-et-Loire offers the densest concentration of Renaissance architecture in Europe. Chenonceau, gracefully spanning the River Cher, is the most visited château in France after Versailles. The Royal Château of Amboise and nearby Clos Lucé — Leonardo da Vinci's last residence — bring the Renaissance to life. Villandry dazzles with its extraordinary ornamental gardens, while the fortress of Chinon echoes with Joan of Arc's historic 1429 encounter with the Dauphin.

Wine and Gastronomy

Touraine is one of France's most diverse wine regions. Vouvray produces exceptional Chenin Blanc in styles from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, while Chinon's Cabernet Franc reds rank among the Loire's finest. The local table features rillettes de Tours, the celebrated Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine goat cheese, and fouées — traditional hollow breads served in atmospheric troglodyte cave restaurants.

Cycling and Nature

The Loire à Vélo cycling route passes through the department, connecting châteaux along flat, traffic-free paths ideal for all ages. The Loire remains Western Europe's last great wild river, its sand banks and wetlands supporting rich birdlife. Tuffeau caves carved over centuries now house wine cellars, mushroom farms, and unique troglodyte accommodations.