Experienced agents with houses for sale in all areas of Loire Valley

The Centre Val de Loire encompasses six departments and takes in the beautiful Loire valley, one of the most attractive and most visited areas of France. Indeed, the French government are being lobbied to change the name of the region from the inaccurate (and dull) "Centre" to the more evocative Val de Loire. Either way, there are six departments within the region:

Loir et Cher
The Loir et Cher region takes it name from the two rivers that flow through it, the Loir is not to be confused with the Loire which also flows through the department! The capital of the department is the pretty and historic town of Blois, famous for its grand chateau once occupied by King Louis XII. Blois is built upon two steep hills and the chateau dominates the town and is surrounded by winding and steep staircases with lovely views over the river valley. As well as the chateau of Blois this department has a host of other remarkable castles including the chateaux of Chambord, Chaumont and Cheverney.

Indre et Loire
The Indre et Loire is renowned throughout the world for the quantity and quality of its chateau. The capital of the department is Tours which is the largest city in the region and known as "Le jardin de France", it has a beautiful od city (vieux Tours) as well as two sumptious parks and, of course, a spectacular cathedral. Within a short drive you can visit some of the most famous chateaux in the world including Amboise, Chenonceau, Chinon, Loches and Tours itself.

Indre
Indre is a most attractive department with its capital in Chateauroux which sits comfortably on the river Indre 250km's south of Paris. The splendid old town of Chateauroux contains some delightful churches and the castle from which the city takes its name was built in the latter part of the 10th century. There are plenty of other fascinating places to visit in the Indre including two villages which have been awarded the "most beautiful villages in France" status - St Benoit du Sault (a medieval village perched above the river Portefeuille) and Gargilesse Dampierre (the Romanesque church and steep roofed houses attract painters from all over France).

Cher
The Cher is often overlooked because of the famous chateau hosted by its adjoining siblings but it has plenty to offer including some of the best value properties in the region. The capital of the department is Bourges which has an interesting history. The forces of Julius Caesar destroyed the original city in 52BC killing all but 800 of the inhabitants. The city was then rebuilt by the Romans including a monumental gate, aquaduct and ampitheatre. The cathedral was started in the 12th century and is now a world heritage site. Other places to visit in Cher are the farming town of Saint Amand Montrond (noted for its goldsmiths and jewellers) and Vierzon (with a delightful 12th century church).

Eure et Loir
Eure et Loir is one of the original departments created during the French revolution in 1790 and is named after the two rivers that flow through the countryside. The Prefecture is in Chartres which is just 96km's south west of Paris. Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure river. The city was bombed heavily during the second world war but fortunately the beautiful gothic, medieval cathedral survived intact and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The department does not just rely on agriculture for its economy and proudly hosts "cosmetic valley" around Chartres as well as leading the way in the pursuit of renewable energy in France.

Loiret
The Loiret river is a tributary of the famous river Loire and boasts the city of Orleans as its capital. Tourists visit Orleans from all over the world and New Orleans in the USA derived its name from this beautiful city. Orleans is located on a bend in the river Loire and five bridges span the river in the town centre. There are eight parks in the town (including a botanic gardens) six museums including Joan of Arc's house and, of course, the cathedral. The university of Orleans is well regarded and has produced some of the finest lawyers in France. The second largest commune in Loiret is to be found in the town of Montargis which is sometimes called the "Venice of the Gatinais" due to the numerous canals and bridges that give the medieval town plenty of charm.

The Loire Valley has some of the most affordable housing in France, but there is a big differential between areas. The region as a whole has an average price of 1,560 euros per m2, with buyers coming from both the domestic and international markets. Overseas buyers are particularly attracted to property in the Loire Valley because of its international reputation as a tourist destination.

Prime prices can be found in the Indre et Loire, which has an average property price of 2,160 euros per m2. Much of this is because of the popularity of the city of Tours where prices reach well over 4,000 euros per m2 for a prime location.

In contrast, the lowest prices are found in Indre, where the average property costs 980 euros per m2, although you will pay more than this in it’s largest town, Chateauroux.

The average house price in Loir et Cher varies greatly upon location. Blois and the surrounding villages are popular (and beautiful) and attract the highest prices, whilst prices are generally lower in the north of the department.

The department of Cher is sometimes overlooked by overseas buyers, as it does not have the famous chateaux hosted by its neighbours. Prices are lower here, with an average property costing 1,100 euros per m2, with the cost reducing in the south of the department. There are plenty of bargains to be had, particularly in the more rural areas.


Prices are higher in the Eure et Loir (averaging out at 1,760 euros per m2), particularly around the beautiful and historic town of Chartres, where the glorious cathedral is a UNESCO world heritage site. Be prepared to pay a premium to own a home in the historic old town though!

Finally, the Loiret department is another where property prices are driven up by proximity to a vibrant and historic city. This time it is Orleans, with many buyers looking to buy a holiday home within striking distance of it’s spectacular old town. The average property price across the department is a most reasonable 1, 730 euros per m2, attracting both French and international buyers.

The Loire valley attracts tourists from around the world who come to enjoy the food, sunshine and, above all, the chateaux. This link lists 19 chateaux to visit in the region from which we have chosen to highlight five

Amboise - built on a spur above the river Loire this strategically placed chateau was a royal favourite up to the 17th century.
Chenonceau - this manor house was built on the site of an old mill on the river Cher. A favourite with tourists because of the historical bedrooms, gallery, guards room and chapel the grounds are spectacular and immaculately presented.
Chinon - this castle is built on a rocky outcrop looking over the river Vienne giving natural defences on three sides. It hosts a museum and underwent a €14.5m renovation a few years ago.
Loches - The Chateau de Loches was built in the 9th century 500m above the Indre river. Famous for its huge, square, keep it dominates the landscape and was built by Henry II and his son, Richard the Lionheart.
Tours - built in the 11th century the castle now hosts contemporary exhibitions of paintings and photographs as well as a small museum.

Once you have had your fill of visiting chateaux there are still plenty of things to see and do in the Loire valley.

This is a region teeming with some of the finest and most colourful markets in France. Daily markets are held in Tours with a particularly fine flower market on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Boulevard Berenger. In the summer don't miss the "moonlight market" in Loches on the second Thursday in July & August which begins at 5pm and goes on until midnight. Indeed on selected Friday and Saturdays during the summer you will find night markets in Tours, Azay-le-Rideau, Bourgueil, Langeais and Chateau-le-Valliere.

The cathedral in Chartres is a "must see" or for something completely different why not try the "Parc Oriental de Maulevrier", these are immaculate Japanese gardens that look particularly effective at night. For a family with children you could try donkey trekking along the Loire valley, starting from La Boutiniere, the children are also likely to love the "La recreation" theme park in Tours with its water slide, go karts and other attractions.

Golfers are well catered for too with 20 courses to choose from in the region. In the Cher you should not miss the golf course in Bourges which was built in 1991. The Domaine du Vaugouard is another spectacular course near Montargis with tight fairways and wonderful views of the chateau. The "Golf de Limere" is an excellent test and has been voted the 7th best course in Europe - beware the 94 bunkers.

If you are feeling in an energetic mood then why not try canoeing down the Loire river or cycling some of the hundreds of km's of dedicated bike lanes and tracks.