When you Visit France’s Loire Valley This Winter . . .
Visit the châteaux of the Loire Valley under the winter lights. The winter season does nothing to tarnish the splendor of the châteaux of the Loire-rather the contrary. The châteaux can be visited from December to March; under the changing lights of the cold months, their charming interiors are open to winter visitors. Casting elegant silhouettes around the Loire Valley, these gems are listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
The châteaux of Chenonceau, Amboise, Blois and Chaumont-sur-Loire invite you to discover the history of France. Their façades provide a panorama of French architecture throughout the centuries: the medieval fortress of Chinon shows the harshness of the Middle Ages, the château of Chambord and the gardens of Villandry display the elegance of the Renaissance, the château of Cheverny reveals the pure lines of the classical era… An enchanting interlude in the midst of winter.
Nature Photography Exhibition
The Natural History Museum in Bourges is hosting a nature photography exhibition (for the 20th year) through January 31, 2009. Organized by the National History Museum in London, the exhibit allows visitors to discover stunning, dramatic, and sometimes disturbing photos of nature as it is today. This is a unique event that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.
The gardens at Villandry go organic
The iconic French gardens of Château de Villandry in Tours, are going organic. No more artificial fertilizers or chemical pesticides. From now on, the new gardeners at Villandry are using natural predators to eradicate the insects responsible for attacking the plants. As consumers of aphids, ladybird larvae watch over the rose bushes and cochineal insects ensure the box trees remain in good health. And that’s not all! Thermal equipment has been replaced by electrical devices that create less noise and less pollution. A positive development for both man and nature.
For more information,
www.loirevalleytourism.com or email tourisme-en-val-de-loire@visaloire.com
January 2, 2010
Posted in: France