Domaine de la Tortiniere Hotel, Veigne

This 18-hole course is set in the grounds of an 18th-century château which is now a leisure complex with outdoor pool and tennis courts as well as a charming hotel.

Austin Lehman Adventure Travel has been sharing their love of adventure holidays with guests for around 40 years. Their insider's knowledge and extensive contacts in La Loire allow them to offer cultural and artistic experiences and encounters that give guests an in-depth feel for the local people and their way of life.

The Golf de Sologne is the oldest course in the Centre region, and probably one of the most beautiful natural settings.

This zoo opened in 1946 and is the oldest zoo in France. It is located in a lovely natural environment and gardens. It is one of the most popular attractions by the river Loir and a whole day out for the family.

This train dating from 1950s travels from Thoré to Trôo taking in troglodyte dwellings, Saint-Rimay tunnel, the town of Montoire and Varennes and more.

Take in the magnificent scenery of the Loire by air in a hot air balloon. Offering a number of different tours and launch sites along the Loire river, what better way to take in the châteaux from up above where their size and splendour can really be seen.

This modern restaurant is located at the top of an art gallery and its floor-to-ceiling glass windows and terrace offer great views of the quays. Simple white chic tables and chairs with dark walls and a splash of colour give this place a fun trendy feel. The cuisine is modern European, with lots of excellent fish dishes.

Chef, Didier Edon, has a Michelin star for his excellent restaurant in the Hautes Roches manor house.

This wonderful restaurant run by Bernard Robin, the renowned chef, used to be a coaching house. Today is serves excellent traditional cuisine in a fine dining setting accompanied by an excellent wine selection. A top dining spot in the Loire with a Michelin star to match.

This restaurant brands itself as 'almost traditional' and offers contemporary twists on classic French cuisine.

This restaurant located at the south gate in the grounds of the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire offers a refined and inventive cuisine which is created around the theme of the annual garden festival. Only open from April.

This excellent restaurant in Tours was named after the original chef and serves gastronomic delights from a contemporary ambitious menu. The talented Hervé Lussault now heads up the kitchen and was awarded a Michelin star in 1998. Lussault is also famed for his excellent bread. The restaurant is light and spacious, feeling luxurious and warm, and has a lovely garden for when the weather permits.

This Renaissance château was bought by François Briçonnet, Mayor of Tours and Financer to Louis XII. A beautiful building, most famous for being the site of the marriage between the former King Edward VIII of England and his lover Wallis Simpson. Edward VIII abdicated the throne of England in 1936 after falling in love with the twice-divorced Mrs Wallis Simpson. Given the stigma attached to divorce in England, he decided his position as King would be untenable should he marry her and, rather than lose the woman he loved, he gave up the throne to his brother, changing the course of the British monarchy. This dramatic story is depicted in the Oscar award-winning film The King's Speech.

Founded in the 11th century, this priory has long been a place where pilgrims took shelter en route to Santiago de Compostela. In the 16th century Pierre de Ronsard, the French Renaissance poet, became the prior - the priory still features the prior's house with de Ronsard's workroom. The rose gardens pay an appropriate homage to the poet who is buried in the church apse.

The building of this impressive Roman Catholic cathedral commenced in the 12th century and not completed until the 16th century. It is a national historic monument, in a glorious Gothic style, though it has Romanesque features such as its tower buttresses. It is nearly 100 metres long.

This museum is dedicated to modern stained glass and mosaic producing techniques and contains pieces of art which are famous paintings depicted in glass colours. It is located in the Hôtel Raimbault which dates back to the early 19th century. This particular stain glass technique was developed by Jean Cocteau.

Dating back to the 14th century, this Renaissance château was home to many royal mistresses. Nowadays it is visited more for its beautiful grounds which include a vegetable garden with a massive 650 varieties of tomato, the contemporary and colourful Dalhia garden and a medicinal garden. It is possible to stay in the château and take cookery classes there.

Located in the Indre river Valley, this château was frequently visited by the author and playwright, Honoré de Balzac, as a result of his mother's affair with the owner, Monsieur de Margonne. He wrote many of his famous works here. This 16th century building is more of a grand house than a château and contains an exceptionally detailed museum dedicated to Balzac and his works.