Grand Hotel de l'Abbaye, Beaugency

Bateaux Nantais offers cruises along the river Erdre or the river Loire on their modern and sleek boats. Particularly popular are their lunch or dinner cruises and their themed evenings.

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.

Windsurfing, Stand-Up paddleboarding, Catamaran sailing and Kayak tours ranging from half day to several days can be taken with this canoe and kayak company based on the Ile Millocheau in Saumur.

This golf course is part of the Blue Green group of golf courses.

In the grounds of the 17th century Château Perrièrre, the golf club is within ancient trees, water features and different plant varieties that create this undulating course offering a diverse round.

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.

This cute traditional French restaurant in Blois serves good quality food on, as the name suggests, red benches! The dishes are innovative and work well, and the is atmosphere charming.

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 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.

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

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.

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

The Château Meung is one of the largest and most ancient châteaux in the Loire Valley. Until the Revolution, it was the prestigious residence of the bishops of Orléans and welcomed some great names in French history. Everything began with the 1st château which served as the framework for the treaty of 861 between Robert le Fort (the Strong) and King Charles le Chauve (the Bald). Significantly, this treaty marked the start of the ascent of the Capetian dynasty. The château was also a strategic location during the Hundred Years' War; Joan of Arc released it after her victory in Orléans. The château also has its dark side; it served as a prison. Its most famous prisoner was the poet François Villon. Bought by one of the founders of the Banque de France, the Château Meung is a private residence open for tours.

This arboretum is a national conservatory of the Holly tree, with over 400 different species of Holly in a landscaped park. The park is recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Communication as a Remarkable Garden.

Taking its name from Valois history, the impressive Cléry basilica is of such size because purportedly a farmer dug up a statue of the Virgin Mary which was invested with miraculous powers. As a result, the location attracted the attention of King Philippe IV who funded the basilica's construction. It continued to attract royal patronage over the years and is the burial place of Louis XI.

This impressive château looks down onto the small village of Talcy, and dates back to the 16th century. It has a medieval feel and original 18th century interior covered with tapestries and paintings. Its grounds house an orchard of apples and pears.

This grand royal château is a castle of palatial standards. Building commenced in the 16th century in a classic Renaissance style and took 20 years to complete. It was built for François I as a hunting lodge. The source of its exuberant design is not totally clear, some mention Leonardo da Vinci, though it is more likely to have been designed by Hilbert Delorme. Its extensive surrounding lands are a game reserve. The interior matches the grandeur of the exterior, with lavish ceremonial bedrooms and over 80 staircases. Take a trip up to the roof to admire the views. Château de Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley.

The Hôtel Cabu was built in 1548 by the architect Jacques Androuet for Phillipe Cabu, an Orléans attorney. It is said that the mistress of Henry II, Diane de Poitiers, stayed here a year later. The Orléans Museum of History and Archaeology is now housed in this Renaissance brick hotel, charting the history of Orléans from the Roman period though to modern times. It's definitely worth a trip to this elegant building.