Loire Valley is a French region of castles and grapes, located along the river of the same name. Here you will see how kings lived back then when there was no Palace of Versailles. Medieval country residences, of which there are at least 60 in the Valley, are now accessible to tourists — many of them have museums. The most famous castles are Château d'Amboise, Montsoreau, Chenonceau, Cheverny, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau. The cities of Blois and Tours are a perfect starting point for exploring these beauties. As for vineyards, they grew in this region even during the Romans. The Loire Valley ranks second in the country for champagne production. It is not by chance that the "Loir Valley Wine Route" is one of the most exciting routes for tourists. It takes just over two hours by train from Paris to these wonderful places. The region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.