Appealing as it always will be, Paris wasn't our final destination. The Loire Valley is only a further hour’s drive southwest of the city via the minibus that awaited us at Paris's Gard du Nord station. As we cleared the urban edge of the city, the wide plains of the Upper Loire came into view, not as picturesque as I had expected. Miles upon miles of wheat fields supply the essential ingredient to Paris legions of "Boulangerie" (hot bread shops). The French insist on fresh bread everyday and a visit to the local boulangerie is part of daily routine. As we travelled on, evidence of mixed market agriculture became more evident. The Loire Valley, otherwise known as the Garden of France, is one of the most fertile regions in Europe and fruit and vegetables grow in abundance.
The Loire River starts in Auvergne in the French Massif Central and works its way west to the Atlantic coast around the town of Nantes, a wild, meandering waterway that was for centuries the area’s main transport route. French kings chose to build their châteaux here and nobility soon followed suit. From the mid 17th century until the French Revolution, this lush, fertile valley with its moderate climate and easy river access became the playground of the French elite.
Cheese
& Wine
It has to be said, the lures of the Loire are so
strong it is perfectly possible, dare I say this,
to disregard
le golf!
‘Non, non monsieur, this cannot be! There are lots
of magnifique golf courses 'ere in the
Loire’
This only emphasises the fact that a holiday in the
Loire could never be
‘just for golf’.
It has to be a combination of all the good things
available in this delightful valley;
‘La joie de vivre’!
Fabulous food, the finest wines and a few good
rounds of golf. What more could you ask
for!
And
here in the Loire you will find some of the best
food & wine in the world! This trip, you’ll
therefore not be surprised to learn, included one
or two samplings of the local viniculture, which is
always best balanced with some fresh, local
cuisine.
The Loire is a veritable larder of some of the
finest culinary ingredients. However, it’s what
they do with them that makes this the ultimate
gastronomic destination. There are great variations
in the specialities of each area. Goats Cheese
seems to be highly regarded throughout the area.
High
quality fruits come from the Middle Loire including
cherries grown for desserts and the liqueur
Guignolet and Belle Angevine pears. Strawberries
are also of high quality. Fresh, seasonal
vegetables are also used to superb effect.
The region around Orléans produces some of the best
sausages such as Andouillettes de Jargeau. Blésois
is a wooded region around Blois that is famous for
its truffles, game terrine and trout or carp à la
Chambord. Touraine is known for charcuterie
delicacies. Pates, Rillons and Rillettes are all
favourites in addition to Crepes Tourangelles,
which are a savoury selection of pancakes
The Loire Valley is also known as a game-lovers
paradise with its large forest areas providing
superb wild boar, venison and pheasant along with
all sorts of wild mushrooms.
Wine
And let’s not forget the fruit of the vine. Loire
wine is renowned for its quality, diversity and
affordability. The Loire’s mixture of terrain,
geology and climate creates a wide range of
viniculture. Red, white or rosé, still or
sparkling, dry or sweet, Loire wines are among the
best of their kind. We particularly enjoyed the
freshness of the young whites and of course brought
back a bottle or two.
