Like in a fairy tale: Val de Loire

The picturesque Loire Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) south of Paris, situated on the river, offers a fairytale setting: in the medieval villages, time seems to have stood still and the region offers a selection of impressive castles that were and are the models for Walt Disney films. The most beautiful places include Amboise, Nantes, Loire, Angers, Orleans and of course Chenonceaux with probably the most impressive of all castles (see picture below).

But basically all the villages in the valley are worth seeing and several hours should be planned for each location in order to really slow down and take in all the impressions. The Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in Le Clos Lucé Castle can be recommended as a hidden gem, which shows what a brilliant mindset this genius already had in his time. Art lovers will love the Château de Montsoreau-Musée d'Art Contemporain, which has a really impressive collection (Art & Language Movement). As an accomodation tip, we recommend staying overnight in one of the castles that have been converted into hotels to fully immerse yourself in the spirit and be inspired by the region's rich history. Anyone who loves luxury, comfort and enjoyment will fall in love with the Val de Loire.

For garden fans, there are of course numerous castle gardens with incredibly inspiring facilities that invite you to think big when gardening, to strive for beauty and sophistication and not to let yourself be limited (because there are no limits to creativity in the garden and a green space does not have to look like all the others in the neighborhood). For example, this year we planted our first large bed in front of our new house and it was so much fun to be creative and come up with solutions for an area that was previously a field. The French way of life and garden art can provide a lot of ideas for turning your own garden into a paradise. But we also recommend to use plants that are suiting the local environment and are nurturing for bees, butterflies and all eco-friendly insects.