Centre

The bland name Centre does the region no justice. At its heart is the Loire river, with its many chateaux, built to signal the wealth and importance of their owners.

Centre is a region rich in cultural heritage. Go to Chartres to see its magnificent Gothic cathedral, with its 12th and 13th century stained glass still in remarkable condition.

Bourges also has a well-preserved 12th-century cathedral. On the Cher River is the chateau of Chenonceau, which was extensively restored in the 1950s. The second-most visited chateau in France, after Versailles , it has a mix of Gothic and Rennaissance influences and attractive gardens.

Orléans, the regional capital, sits on the banks of the Loire. Joan of Arc - the maid of Orléans - is celebrated throughout the town, which she liberated from the English in 1429.

The Centre region features Sancerre wine, and the cuisine is rich in honey, goats’ and sheeps’ milk cheese. In Orléans try their speciality macaroons.