Just 50 miles from Paris, the Loire has a little something for everyone from wine lovers to history buffs. In fact, its proximity to Paris has always been a draw – it’s the reason ancient French nobles built their glorious summer châteaux along the riverside here.

France’s longest river, the Loire winds through the French countryside for over 600 miles, through hundreds of magnificent castles, vineyards, and charming villages to the city of Nantes. The region is famous for its cycling tours, which allow active visitors to cruise through the famed vineyards and villages that led UNESCO to classify the entire Loire as a World Heritage site.

Known affectionately as “The Garden of France,” the Loire Valley is also home to iconic French foods including beurre blanc sauces, tarte tatin (AKA glorious French apple pie), a slew of goat cheeses, and rillettes. From Medieval cave complexes to top restaurants, the Loire Valley is an adventurer’s dream destination!

Because the Loire Valley is such a large region, it’s home to a huge range of grape varieties and styles of wine, so there’s really something for everyone to enjoy from traditional-style sparkling wines to robust, spicy, age-worthy Cabernet Francs. Or, as Katherine puts it, “The Loire Valley is perfect for travelers who like to mix history and sublime scenery with their glasses of Muscadet.”

We’ll raise a glass to that!