Page 287 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

Boating in the waters surrounding the Châteaux Chenonceau

THE LOIRE VALLEY

Colonized by the Romans in 52 BC, the peaceful
Loire Valley has been blessed with long periods of
stability, punctuated by short bursts of unrest or
invasion. The Romans attempted to quell these
periods of disruption by building walls around
major towns, such as Le Mans and Angers. During
the Hundred Years’ War, the English invaded the
Loire, bringing a long period of strife to the valley.
In the midst of the struggle, Joan of Arc rallied the
French at Orléans to free the city and oust the
English from the Loire – a victory that would
reawaken the French spirit. Leonardo di Vinci made
the valley his home for the final years of his life,
and his influence can be seen in the exquisite gar­
dens and châteaux all along the Loire. Chambord
and Chenonceau, the two greatest Renaissance
chât eaux, were created as prestigious symbols of
royal rule, resplendent amid vast hunting forests
and waterways. Industry, especially textiles,
thrived as stability took hold of the region, even
when the Wars of Religion divided the valley. The
region’s fortunes waivered as the effects of the
French Revolution took hold, only to rebound in
time for World War I. From 1917, the American
Expeditionary Force set up its headquarters in
Tours and served as a temporary base for the
French government. Today, known for its easy­
going atmosphere, tranquility again reigns across
the fertile vineyards and valley of Loire.
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