Loire Valley Attractions

Elephants and Castles in Nantes

Advantages: Pretty city, some good attractions, good places to eat out, transport links
Disadvantages: Everything comes to a standstill on Sundays

...region. As I'm living in Nantes, I haven't actually experienced any of the hotels, but I see them all the time - so they're there! If hotels aren't your thing, then there's a campsite on tram line two - Petit Port Camping. They have static caravans, but also allow touring caravans and tents. **Tourist Attractions** There's plenty to do in Nantes whatever your interest. Perhaps Nantes most well-known attraction is "Les Machines de L'Ile" - more ...
...selection of mechanical creatures, the biggest and best of which is the Nantes Elephant. It's quite bizarre to see - a huge wood and mechanical elephant trundling up and down, blinking and waving its trunk! You're able to ride on the elephant, and then look round the other attractions. If you want to see a video of the elephant, look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX3rLDPwA5I and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67eS2CzwwTY. I've also attached ...

amytheduck 28.02.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Nantes, Loire Valley

A beautiful chateau

Advantages: Beautiful, amazing History
Disadvantages: Pricey

...SOME HISTORY: Chateau de Chenonceau was originally a fortified castle built in the 1430s. In the early 1500s the castle was purchased by Thomas Bohier who demolished the fortified castle (apart from one tower) and began the building we see today. Unfortunately for Bohier his castle was seized by Francois I after Bohier's son failed to pay a debt. Francois's son Henry II then gave the castle to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Diane extended the castle ...
...Diane (but did give her Chateau Chaumont as an exchange!). Catherine added a long gallery over Diane's bridge. The castle was then passed to Henry III's wife, Louise de Lorraine, Gabrielle d'Estrees and then to her son by Henry, Cesar of Vendome. The Castle is now in private hands but is open to the public. LOCATION: Chateau de Chenonceau is in the village of Chenonceau. It is 34km from Tours which was where we were staying. It is on the D40. There ...

tartlette83 22.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Chateau de Chenonceau

Le Grand Parc, Tigers and Gladiators in France?!

Advantages: Unusual and brilliant spectacle
Disadvantages: Its all in French!

We have travelled to the Vendee region of France several times and we had heard about The Grand Parc at Puy du Fou but it is billed as a Medieval Theme Park and it really didn't appeal to me! However having "done" many of the attractions in the area and faced with another day of dodgy weather (we were very unlucky in 2008) we decided to give it a go. The tickets were about 25 euroes for adults and 15 for children. However when I enquired about directions ...
...buy tickets from them with a 5 euro discount each. This seems to be common practice in the area so either book online or through your accomodation if possible to bag a bargain! They also informed me that it was a simple journey and would be well signposted off the A87. They mentioned that the road to The Grand Parc gets busy--they were not kidding! The journey from Jean De Monts probably took about one and a half hours with at least the last half ...

Meggysmum 17.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Le Grand Parc, Puy Du Fou

All tanked up!

Advantages: Every tank that ever existed
Disadvantages: Needs to be better presented

..."Let's go to the Tank Museum," said my other half. Tank Museum? Now despite being a female wishy-washy liberal I'm quite happy to pore over things warlike, yomp over battlefields ancient and modern, and love places like the Imperial War Museum and Duxford. But tanks? I know nothing about engines - I have trouble locating the bonnet release catch on my car - and have little interest in heavy metal in any form. I was still iffing and butting as we ...
...now it is essentially a tank school. After world war 2 the hulks left on the battlefields of Europe were gathered together for investigation and Col Aubry, the Commandant of the School, acquired many for the instruction of his cadets. The Armoured Vehicles Documentation Centre was formed in 1965 and the project grew from there. Housed in enormous airplane-sized hangars, it is the largest tank museum in the world. There are 850 tanks, of which 200 ...

Chouchinciao 06.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Tank Museum (Musée des Blindés) Saumur

I'd Love A Hunting Lodge Like This

Advantages: A very impressive, historical location
Disadvantages: The audio guide isn't really worth the money

...of these would be the Chateau de Chambord. Designed in the French Renaissance style the Chateau is the best known within the region. The Chateau was originally built as a hunting lodge for King Francois 1st. Situated within 13,000 acre forest the setting for Chambord couldn’t be any more impressive. From your first view of the Chateau it is a truly magnificent building. Positioned on the side of an expanded River the Ford around the front of the ...
...as you would expect a Chateau or Castle to look as it towers above everything in the area and really gives that overall impression of its intended use. Of course these days rather than being a hunting lodge for any members of French Royalty the Chateau is now a very popular tourist destination within the area. The Chateau and it’s grounds are open for visitors 362 days a year for a very reasonable €9.50. During the summer there is a special light ...

Andy.mack 23.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Chateau de Chambord, Loir-et-Cher