vue sur le moulin à Montsoreau entouré de vignes, au loin on aperçoit des habitations et la Loire

A Park – why here?

Beyond the famous river and castles of the Loire valley, the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Park federates a territory with rich and diversified naturel, cultural and landscape heritage. Its creation over 20 years ago proves the growing awareness of its remarkable but also fragile characteristics.

Show all

From the prestigious to the unexpected

The Loire valley is the territory’s backbone. The Kings’ river along with its castles enjoy international reputation. But the Park members’ common interests are also elsewhere. Agricultural landscapes follow forests. In comparison to other Parks of France, the territory is rather urban. Its agriculture is a mix of cultivations and livestock farming. The large variety of landscapes and atmospheres all have things in common: tufa, shelly sand and slate are omnipresent both on small houses and on big castles. The territory offers great quality of life for residents and an unlimited playground for visitors…

Once upon a time …

Well aware of the assets and specificities of this interregional territory, the regional councils of Pays de la Loire and Centre initiate an association in the 1990s to prepare the future Regional Natural Park. At the time, two elected representatives particularly support this classification: Yves Dauge, senator of Indre-et-Loire, and Jean Bégault, deputy and mayor of Doué-la-Fontaine. The two men share a passion for the territory, knowing its potential. The Regional Natural Park is finally created in 1996.

From the very beginning of the project, the Park is perceived as an undeniable asset for the preservation of the quality of life and the dynamization of the region. In 2000, it actively participates in the inscription of the Loire valley as a World Heritage Site for cultural landscapes.

Ever since, the Regional Natural Park has been working to fulfil its missions by taking concrete actions. The Park has been encouraging innovation and experimentation on different subjects for years, such as the adaptation to climate change or the promotion of bio-based building materials. Today, some of them are main society issues.

You will also appreciate
Château de Langeais©Philippe Body

The Loire-Anjou-Touraine Park is packed with heritage. It is where short stories meet great history. Landscapes switch between cultivated plateaus and...

Created in 1996, the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Park is one of the 54 Regional Natural Parks of France. These inhabited rural areas are recognized on a...

sur le site naturel de la confluence à Candes-Saint-Martin, des personnes en groupe longe la Loire après avoir profité d'un atelier sur les paysages du Parc
Val de Loire

The Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park was founded over 20 years ago. Together with local authorities and stakeholders, it implements an...

Most popular
Guided tour Plants
Savigny-en-Véron

Parc naturel régional Loire-Anjou-Touraine

An inventory of the flora of Savigny-en-Véron. Some comments are available on request.

 

Guided tour Plants
Ports-sur-Vienne

Parc naturel régional Loire-Anjou-Touraine

For this botanical outing, we will explore the commune, its hillsides, its woods, the banks of the Vienne, in search of calcicultural plants...

18 Apr. 2022 - 17 Sep. 2022
Hike Gastronomy and terroir
Souzay-Champigny

Domaine Ratron - Clos des Cordeliers

Au cœur du vignoble du village de Champigny, avec la vigneronne Marie-Françoise Ratron-Galet, partagez le quotidien et la philosophie du Domaine. Sans...