About Centre-Val-de-Loire
The central region of France, known officially as Centre-Val-de-Loire but often called simply Centre (population 2.4 million), contains the departments of Cher (18), Eure-et-Loir (28), Indre (36), Indre-et-Loire (37), Loir-et-Cher (41) and Loiret (45), the Loire and its tributary, the Loir, giving their names to several of the departments. The Loire is France's longest river (1,020km/628mi), with its source in the Vivarais mountains (south of Saint-Etienne) and its outlet at Saint-Nazaire in the Pays de la Loire. It's considered to be the dividing line between the colder regions of northern France and the warmer south, although the change is gradual.
The Loire valley is noted for its natural beauty and fertility, consisting of pleasant undulating woodland, lakes, rivers, orchards, and fields of maize and sunflowers (it's the market garden of France), as well as for its châteaux widely considered to be among the most beautiful in the world. The principal châteaux are in Loir-et-Cher (Chambord, Chaumont and Chéverny) and neighbouring Indre-et-Loire (Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceaux and Villandry, with its magnificent gardens).
The region's main towns include Blois, Bourges, Chartres, 0rléans and Tours (37), the regional capital. In fact, these last two towns were recently rated the second and third best places to live in France by Le Point magazine. One of its most attractive areas is the old province of Berry (comprising the departments of Cher and Indre), whose ancient capital was the majestic city of Bourges.
The Loire valley is unspoiled by industry, mass tourism or a surfeit of holiday homes, although it's quite popular with retirees and second homeowners. Property prices vary considerably depending on the proximity to major towns, although they're generally well above the French average and bargains are rare. The region has excellent road connections via the A10, All and A71 motorways, which converge on Paris, as well as via the TGV from Paris to Poitiers and Bordeaux.
©Text by David Hampshire, from Survival Books' Buying a Home in France