Whole Earth Guide


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Centre is one of those regions of France that you don't hear a lot about and, for the most part, is probably a place that you've passed through but not really considered stopping in. It consists of the Departments of Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher and Loiret.

Stretching from the outskirts of Paris to the Loire Valley it's a relatively homogenous region. The main problem that it has is that in tourist terms it can be lumped in with outer Paris or the outskirts of the Loire Valley and therefore it can often come across as a nondescript region which is a shame and is something that we hope to correct in the months to come.

However, that relative unfamiliarity of the region is to your advantage as the region makes an excellent base for exploring those that border on it. You can visit chateaux such as Culan, Meillant or Ainay-le-Vieil or venture further into the Pays-de-la-Loire region if those aren't enough. There's the Grand Prix circuit at Magny Cours and the popular Futuroscope at Poitiers. Moving just outside the region you have the Atlantic port of La Rochelle or, in the other direction, Paris.

Amongst the collection of Les Plus Beaux Villages in this region are Apremont-sur-Allier, Gargilesse-Dampierre, Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, Candes-Saint-Martin, Crissay-sur-Manse, Montrésor, Lavardin and Yèvre-le-Châtel.

The region isn't particularly well served in terms of airports with the closest options being those in Paris.

The rail network is extensive as elsewhere in France.