Are you cynical, pragmatic? Distrustful of “pink” appeal, of fairy-tale facts or stories with princes and princesses? I`m going to  tell you only two words: Loire Valley!

The perfect place for retrieving one`s belief in Disney models, in the fabulous potential of each and every day, in stories with peony perfume and a taste of café au lait and mornings under umbrellas with broad brims and quietness like in Mr.Renoir`s world.

You will enjoy every second you are going to spend in this corner of France, you`ll love exploring its tastes, liquids, parks, history, you`ll become obsessed with the castles, legends and the exaggerated, flamboyant, exquisite atmosphere in the most famous region of the whole world. I repeat: write down: Loire Valley !

“Loire Valley Colored list”:

   1. Choose to stay in a village or in smaller towns (you can find many accommodation opportunities) and from that place you can rent a car and visit the whole area. If you fancy a more romantic spot, choose a castle which was turned into a hotel, such as the Château of Curzay or Château de Noizay Hotel, that have very good restaurants, too

   2. The best period for visiting is in June or September, so, you`d better avoid coming here in July or August, when it`s extremely crowded

   3. Try to see as many castles as possible and don`t miss: Chenonceau, Chambord, Villandry, Cheverny, Azay-le-Rideau. You`ll get to understand why, the following days, still here, on coloredideas.one!

   4. However, if you should get to Loire Valley in July, don`t miss Les Nuits de Mille Feux at Château Villandry, when, after sunset, thousands of lights are lit and you have the opportunity to listen to live classical music (on 3^rd and 4^th of July, this year)

   5. Go for a walk in the old centers of  towns like Blois, Amboise, Orleans, Chinon, Saumur, Vendôme, to seize their genuine “taste”, but check villages like Montresor, Montrichard or Beaugeancy, too

   6. Visit Abbaye de Fontevraud (the biggest and the best preserved abbey in France); on the way to the famous abbey, stop in the beautiful, little village of Montsoreau and have lunch or drink something on the terrace at  Le Bussy Hotel, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the castle

   7. For those who are very keen on plants and flowers, there`s Château Chaumont, where the Festival of Gardens, a flowery delight is held every year, from spring till autumn;

at the Château de Riveau, too you can also enjoy a Festival of Pumpkins if you go there in the autumn time!

   8. Don`t miss the sound and light show at the Château Royal de Blois or Chambord (it is usually held every day in June until the end of September, but you`d better check in advance, on the sites of the castles.)

   9. Enjoy a balloon flight to Chenonceau or Amboise, or go boating at sunset, from Candes-St-Martin or from Chiseau, on the river Cher, floating leisurely under the arches of Chenonceau castle. How romantic is that!!

   10. Leonardo da Vinci`s last dwelling house, Clos Lucé, as well as the Royal Palace of Amboise, with the St-Hubert Chapel, where he was buried, are definitely worth checking!

   11. If you get to Amboise, go to Bigot Chocolaterie, the most famous pastry/chocolate shop and to Le Choiseul Restaurant, to indulge in some gourmet dinners, from where you can watch some magnificent sunsets.

   12. Taste some exquisite wines in Vouvray (Domaine Huet or Vodanis) and in Sancerre  paying a visit to a wine producer