Largest cities

  • Tours with 139,963 inhabitants (2016)
  • Orléans with 114,644 inhabitants (2015)
  • Bourges with 66,528 inhabitants (2015)
  • Blois with 46,351 inhabitants (2014)
  • Châteauroux with 43,732 inhabitants (2015)
  • Chartres with 38,875 inhabitants (2015)

What are the major cities in Pays de la Loire?

The largest cities of the region of Pays de la Loire (compared to the number of inhabitants in 2007) are : Nantes (44), Angers (49), Le Mans (72), Saint-Nazaire (44), Cholet (49), La Roche-sur-Yon (85), Laval (53), Saint-Herblain (44), Rezé (44), Saumur (49), Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire (44), Orvault (44), Vertou (44).

What town is the center of France?

As for the exact “centre” of France, it is generally accepted as being close to the little town of Saint Amand Montrond, south of Bourges. The northern half of the Centre region benefits, economically, from its proximity to Paris, and by excellent transport links to the capital.

What is the capital of Centre-Val de Loire?

Orléans
Centre-Val de Loire/Capitals

The majority of the population is divided between the Loire Valley (the Ligerian axis ) and the territories close to the Paris region. The Centre-Val de Loire has two metropolises, the regional capital Orléans and the capital of Indre-et-Loire, Tours.

What city is in the Centre of the Loire Valley?

The Centre-Val de Loire Region The administrative capital is Orléans, but the largest city is Tours. Like many contemporary regions of France, the region of Centre was created from parts of three historical provinces: Touraine, Orléanais, and Berry.

Which city lies on the bank of Loire?

The artsy city of Nantes on the banks of the River Loire has often been praised for its quality of life and is a healthy, green city, awarded the European Green Capital Award in 2013 and offering thousands of hectares of green space.

Where is the Loire region in France?

Pays de la Loire is in western France, bordered by Brittany on the northwest, Normandy on the north, Centre-Val de Loire on the east, Nouvelle-Aquitaine on the south, and the Bay of Biscay of the North Atlantic Ocean on the southwest.

What is the Loire region famous for?

The Loire Valley wine region is one of the world’s most well-known areas of wine production and includes several French wine regions situated along the river, from the Muscadet region on the Atlantic coast to the regions of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north-central France.

Why are there so many castles in the Loire Valley?

The Loire Valley is chateau central. The accident of geography, battles between armies and the patronage of royal families brought fantastic castles into the area of the Loire Valley. …

Where are the best places to visit in the Loire region?

In Chartres, Orleans and Bourges it has some of France’s best cathedrals. The villages and towns of the region, Centre-Val de Loire, are as diverse as its landscape with pretty villages and historic towns, many with their own chateau and almost all built around beautiful churches.

How many villages are in the Loire Valley?

The villages of the Loire Valley include 8 of the ‘Les-plus-beaux-villages-de-France’ including the beautiful Montresor. 9 if you include the beautiful village of Angle-sur-l’Anglin which has been ‘adopted’ by the local tourist board due to its location on the border of Southern Touraine.

Why visit the Indre-et-Loire?

The centre of the French Renaissance, the Indre-et-Loire possesses an exceptionally rich heritage, from natural and historic treasures to artistic and architectural gems.

What are the best places to visit in France?

Although probably best known for the architectural heritage of its famous chateaux such as Chenonceau and Chambord, it is also blessed with other fine examples in its historic towns such as Amboise, Chinon and Loches . In Chartres, Orleans and Bourges it has some of France’s best cathedrals.