Not well known, even in France, it is now a museum devoted to Leonardo's startling inventions. In terms of the Loire Valley's glorious history—for some three centuries, this is where the kings ...

South of Brittany and Normandy and just a short drive or train journey from Paris, the Loire Valley straddles the frontier between northern and southern France and is synonymous with majestic châteaux ...

This history has also given the region the nickname ... and lavish hotels to make visitors feel like royalty. A trip to France's Loire Valley will transport you to another world, one where the ...