The image below shows approximately the area where the castles and other interesting historical monuments are the most concentrate.
Most of the castles are located between the cities of Orléans and Tours along the Loire river of course, but also along the Cher river and the Vienne river. Orléans is about 130 km at the south of Paris and Tours about 110 km at the south of Orléans, both via the motorway A10. Moreover, Tours and Orléans are the two biggest cities of the Region Centre - Val de Loire , Orléans being the prefecture.
Most of the castles are located near or inside the natural region of Sologne, delimited at the north and at the west by the Loire river. This natural region is known for its forests, moors and wild animals, because relatively preserved until nowadays. The presence of wild games was one of the reasons for which french kings and other great characters have decide to build castles and manors inside or at the edge of this area.
You can watch my videos recorded in Sologne (in particular deer roar) on this page.
The second map shows more exactly where are located the castles which will be described on my web site on separate pages. Some of them are well-known as Chambord or Chenonceau and some of them are less known.
