The support The Loire (IGN Touring And Leisure Guides)|Institute Geographic Nationale and the writer were professional and the paper was delivered 1 day sooner than I expected. [1], Most amphibians of the Loire are found in the slow flow areas near the delta, especially in the floodplain, marshes and oxbows. Reine claude (Prunus domestica italica) tree species was planted in the gardens of the Château. The six regions in France named after the Loire River include Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, Saone-et-Loire, and Loire. When the French kings began constructing their huge châteaux here, the nobility, not wanting or even daring to be far from the seat of power, followed suit. The tributaries host brown trout (Salmo trutta), European bullhead (Cottus gobio), European brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), zander (Sander lucioperca), nase (Chondrostoma nasus and C. toxostoma) and wels catfish (Siluris glanis). The flooding season of the Loire River is usually in February and March. Five of the city’s bridges across the Loire River. In between are the regions of Anjou, Saumur, Bourgueil, Chinon, and Vouvray. Here are some of the cities on the Loire River: Nantes is the largest city on the Loire River, located some 31 miles from the Atlantic coast. Most of these cities can trace their origin from the activities along the river. Other vegetation in the valley, mostly under private control, consists of tree species of oak, beech and pine. The great Loire salmon, a subspecies of Atlantic salmon, is regarded as the symbolic fish of the river. [14] The English defeated the French in 1356 and Aquitaine came under English control in 1360. On a Seine River cruise, you most always begin and end your trip in Paris, where ships dock within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. The Gauls arrived in the valley between 1500 and 500 BC, and the Carnutes settled in Cenabum in what is now Orléans and built a bridge over the river. The resulting delta forms the Camargue region. This lies in the north-eastern part of the southern Cévennes highlands, in the Ardèche commune of Sainte-Eulalie of southeastern France. Until the 15th century, it was a medieval castle belonging to the Counts of Blois, which is revealed by the two massive round guard towers at the entrance of the building. [42] That year, the Upper Loire Valley Farmers Association was also established through a partnership between SOS Loire Vivante and a farmers’ union to promote sustainable rural tourism. [42] The French government proposed a construction of a dam at Serre de la Fare on the upper Loire which would have been an environmental catastrophe, as it would have inundated some 20 km (12 mi) of pristine gorges. It was also a dumping ground for prisoners in the War in the Vendee since they thought it was a more effective way of killing. [25] But competition from the railway, beginning in the 1840s, caused a decline in trade on the river. [4] With a length of 1,006 kilometres (625 mi),[2] it drains 117,054 km2 (45,195 sq mi), more than a fifth of France's land[1] while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône. But where goes the Murray get its water from, and Where Does The Murray River Start? They are dominated by the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), frogs and toads. Its population has decreased from about 100,000 in the 19th century to below 100 in the 1990s that resulted in the adoption of a total ban of salmon fishing in the Loire basin in 1984. Heterotrophic bacteria are represented by cocci (49%), rods (35%), colonies (12%) and filaments (4%) with a total density of up to 1.4×1010 cells per litre. Other cities on the Loire River include Roanne, Chartres, Saumur, Amboise, Chinon, and Loches. River Severn | River Thames. [45], This style was replaced by the religious architectural style in the 12th to 14th centuries when the impregnable château fortresses were built on top of rocky hills; one of the impressive fortresses of this type is the Château d'Angers, which has 17 gruesome towers. Pays de la Loire, waterways guide No. It forms the western section of the EuroVelo 6 route (linking Black Sea to Atlantic). helveticus). It rises 18 miles (30 kilometres) northwest of Dijon and flows in a northwesterly direction through Paris before emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre. Found inside – Page 247This is not conclusive however: the lower Loire was a constantly changing environment and nowhere more so than at the head of the narrow estuary, ... The Loire River's watershed (area of land drained by the river) is 45,195 square miles, roughly 20% of France's entire country. Portrait of the Loire, by Jean-Max Albert, 1988. A key transportation route, it served as one of the great "highways" of France for over 2000 years. Start off your castle exploration with a lesser-known Loire Valley chateaux, Chateau de Meung-sur-Loire, a 30-minute drive southwest of Orléans. Many have been taken over by a local government authority or the giant structures like those at Chambord are owned and operated by the national government and are major tourist sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The Rhône is a major river in France and Switzerland, arising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. The largest tributary of the river is the Allier, 410 km (250 mi) in length, which joins the Loire near the town of Nevers at 46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E / 46.95944°N 3.07889°E / 46.95944; 3.07889. [1], Although only one native fish species has become extinct in the Loire, namely the European sea sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) in the 1940s, the fish population is declining, mostly due to the decrease in the spawning areas. The reason behind this situation are as follows: 1. I ended up loving it and am so happy I stayed overnight in the Loire Valley. [50], The Loire river has a significant effect on the mesoclimate of the region, adding the necessary extra few degrees of temperature that allows grapes to grow when the areas to the north and south of the Loire Valley have shown to be unfavourable to viticulture. The Loire flows through the following départements and towns: The Loire Valley in the Loire river basin, is a 300 km (190 mi) stretch in the western reach of the river starting with Orléans and terminating at Nantes, 56 km (35 mi) short of the Loire estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. The river's source is the Rhône Glacier, at the east edge of the Swiss canton of … However, one of the oldest such structures in France is the Donjon de Foulques Nerra built in 944. they also claimed a workforce of more than 25,000 employees. Tours is located in the Centre-Val de Loire of France and is the largest city in the region with a population of 136,565 people. Most species of freshwater fish found in France can be found in the Loire River. The Loire River originates from the Massif Central and flows through several French cities before reaching the Bay of Biscay. When combined with the Missouri river, it makes up the fourth longest river system in the world after the Nile, Amazon and Yangtze Rivers. During the harvest months rain can cause the grapes to be harvested under ripe but can also aid in the development of Botrytis cinerea for the region's dessert wines. It is originally a mere trickle of water located at 1,408 m (4,619 ft) above sea-level. It has a drainage area of approximately 45,195 square miles or more than 20% of France’s total area. The Atlantic coast is home to several aquatic herbs, the important species is Salicornia, which is used as a culinary ingredient on account of its diuretic value. Their presence in the lush, fertile valley began attracting the very best landscape designers. It is known as the Jardins de France thanks to a wide variety of beautifully-manicured gardens that decorate the grounds of elegant estates. Activity centred at, Internecine fights and killings among the, Decline of monarchy or rule of Kings. Found inside – Page 1598.5.2.6 Berry and the Loire valley The morphostructural features of Lorraine—escarpments ... At the end of the Pliocene and the beginning of the Quaternary, ... Then, from 5000-4000 BC, modern man took over and started cultivating the land and raising livestock there. The Loire Valley has to be one of the most romantic places in France you can visit. [43] The Loire is unique in this respect as the Atlantic salmon can swim as far as 900 km (560 mi) up the river and spawn in the upper reaches of the Allier. The Loire River flows 634 miles from the Cevennes region to the Atlantic Ocean at St. Nazaire. Liga comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *legʰ-, meaning "to lie, lay" as in the Welsh word Lleyg, and also which gave many words in English, such as to lie, to lay, ledge, law, etc. [11] By around 5000 to 4000 BC, they began clearing forests along the river edges and cultivating the lands and rearing livestock. Editing & Rewriting. [12] In 877 Charles the Bald died, marking an end to the Carolingian dynasty. The toads include Bufo bufo, Alytes obstetricans, Bombina variegata, Bufo calamita, Pelobates fuscus and Pelobates cultripes. Found inside – Page 183Table 2 Trends in the Loire River flow rate variables between 1976 and 2004 ... was 17 days earlier at the end of the time lapse than at the beginning (Fig. Some Sancerre vineyards have as many as 10,000 plants per hectare. Six regions in France have been named after the Loire River whose riverbanks in the Loire Valley support many vineyards along its route today. The banks of the Loire River are lined with dikes to help prevent flooding. The Loire River is rich in algae with more than 100 species. A quayside vista that takes in the Seine, a passing boat, Notre-Dame, the Eiffel tower, and mansard roofs all in one generous sweep is enough to convince you that this is indeed the most beautiful city on Earth. In 2021 the Tour de France will take riders right across France twice, once from the northwest to the Alps, and then from the Alps to the southwest, taking in some inevitable days of gruelling mountain roads in the Alps and the Pyrenees. [26][27] The 261 km (162 mi) Canal de Berry, a narrow canal with locks only 2.7 m (8.9 ft) wide, which was opened in the 1820s and connected the Canal latéral à la Loire at Marseilles-lès-Aubigny to the river Cher at Noyers and back into the Loire near Tours, was closed in 1955. In 853 they attacked and destroyed Tours and its famous abbey, later destroying Angers in raids of 854 and 872. The River Loire courses through the center of the city, and the River Erdre, a tributary to the Loire, also runs through Nantes; it is reputed to be one of the most beautiful rivers in France and is the scene of romantic dinner cruises. The human history of the Loire river valley is thought by some to begin with the Middle Palaeolithic period of 90–40 kya (thousand years ago), followed by modern humans (about 30 kya), succeeded by the Neolithic period (6,000 to 4,500 BC), all of the recent Stone Age in Europe. On December 2, 2000, UNESCO added the central part of the Loire valley, between Bouchemaine in Anjou and Sully-sur-Loire in Loiret, to its list of World Heritage Sites. [13] Many inhabitants around the present city of Orléans have names bearing witness to the Alan presence – Allaines. In 1700 the port of Nantes numbered more inland waterway craft than any other port in France, testifying to the historic importance of navigation on France’s longest river. pp 8–27, for the navigable section (guide in English, French and German), This article is about the river. [42], The WWF, BirdLife International, and local conservation bodies have also made considerable efforts to improve the conservation of the Loire estuary and its surroundings, given that they are unique habitats for migrating birds. The Loire Valley region of France was inhabited by Neanderthal man from 40-90 ka, a population that used boats made of tree trunks to navigate the river. Marvel at the Chateau de Chenonceau, which spans the banks of the Cher River, and the … I really wasn’t sure what to expect from it and was worried I would end up chateau’d-out. Major towns and cities that the Loire River flows through include Roanne, Nevers, Orleans, Tours to Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Nantes, Ancenis, Saumur, Tours, Amboise, Blois, Gien, Briare, Sancerre, and Feurs. Found inside – Page 137The ending of the tale is much more prosaic than expected, for his death was ... Loire," a striking audiovisual itinerary recounts life in the Loire valley. This style was perpetuated during the reign of Louis XVI (1774–92) but with more refinements; one such refined château seen close to Angers is the Château de Montgeoffroy. [1] The lower course of the river is characterized by wetlands and fens, which are of major importance to conservation, given that they form unique habitats for migratory birds.[1]. River flow is particularly high in the river area near Roanne and Vichy up to the confluence with the Allier. Its source is in the French region of Burgundy, and its mouth is the English Channel. [1], The geological formations in the Loire river basin can be grouped into two sets of formations, namely, the basement domain and the domain of sedimentary formations. Four nuclear power plants are located on the river: Belleville, Chinon, Dampierre and Saint-Laurent. 11 of these 57 species travel the Loire to spawn each year. Garrett, Martin, The Loire: a Cultural History. Christianity was introduced into this valley from the 3rd century AD, as missionaries (many later recognized as saints), converted the pagans. The Loire Valley is located in the middle section of the Loire River. There are two generic designation that can be used across the whole of the Loire Valley. A large stretch of the Loire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; in parts it’s also known as France’s Valley of … [30], Its main tributaries include the rivers Maine, Nièvre and the Erdre on its right bank, and the rivers Allier, Cher, Indre, Vienne, and the Sèvre Nantaise on the left bank. Explore Nantes for an authentic journey through one of the major cities in Brittany, and pay a visit to the Saint-Nazaire shipyard. Cycle along the Loire River, passing by classic quaint villages and the verdant countryside in the north west of France. Found inside – Page 160Cornas, also made entirely from Syrah, is another fine Northern Rhône red wine. ... of the Loire River from central France in the east to the Atlantic Ocean ... (36°47′46″S 148°11′40″E) [42] The French government adopted the Natural Loire River Plan (Plan Loire Grandeur Nature) in January 1994, initiating the decommissioning of three dams on the river. Visit France's finest formal gardens that surround Villandry Castle, standing beside the Cher River. Shallow-draught gabares and other river craft continued to transport goods into the industrial era, including coal from Saint-Étienne loaded on to barges in Orléans. It is situated between the city of Orleans and Atlantic Coast. The Loire Valley along the Loire River is also referred to as the Garden of France because of its beauty and abundant orchards, vineyards, and agriculture. Some notable Châteaux on the Loire include Beaufort- Mareuil sur Cher – Lavoûte-Polignac – Bouthéon – Montrond – Bastie d'Urfé – Château féodal des Cornes d'Urfé – La Roche – Château féodal de Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire – Saint-Pierre-la-Noaille – Chevenon – Palais ducal de Nevers – Saint-Brisson – Gien – La Bussière – Pontchevron – La Verrerie (near Aubigny-sur-Nère) – Sully-sur-Loire – Châteauneuf-sur-Loire – Boisgibault – Meung-sur-Loire – Menars – Talcy – Château de la Ferté – Chambord – Blois – Villesavin – Cheverny – Beauregard – Troussay – Château de Chaumont – Amboise – Clos-Lucé – Langeais – Gizeux – Les Réaux – Montsoreau – Montreuil-Bellay – Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet – Saumur – Boumois – Brissac – Montgeoffroy – Plessis-Bourré – Château des Réaux. The main Loire Valley towns start with Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne where the river is modest. With Crémant production throughout the Loire valley, it is the second largest sparkling wine producer in France after Champagne. 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