Romantic, fairytale castles, serene green countryside and vineyards The Loire Valley, long known as the 'Garden of France', has green, hilly countryside, scenic vineyards and charming villages, but the main draw are the 1,000 plus extravagant fairy tale chateaux d'agrément – the pleasure palaces built by the nobility in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Many of the most splendid are open to the public for viewing, and some you can even stay in – such as the Chateau de Chissay, Chateau de Marcay and the Chateau de Pray, along with many others listed in our selection below. Add to this top-notch regional cuisine and wine, and the fact that the region is only two hours' drive from Paris, and it's not hard to see why the Loire Valley is such a draw for visitors from around the world.