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Introduction
to Langeais |
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| Nestling between the forest and the Loire, backing onto a hillside peppered with troglodytic homes, the town of Langeais has a close relationship with water and nature. Over a total area of 6,038 hectares, the forest predominates, covering almost 4,000 hectares. At a crossroads between the Châteaux trail and the "route des vins", a crossing point over the Loire with an unusual bridge, Langeais is popular both for the beauty of its landscapes and for its fine heritage. A prestigious 15th century château, in which the union between Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne was sealed in 1491, makes Langeais a vital tourist attraction in the Loire Valley. This mediaeval fortress holds many marvels: one of the oldest square keeps in France, a working drawbridge, a walk round the battlements with machicolations, a superb collection of tapestries and furniture… However, Langeais is also a major Indre et Loire financial centre. With almost 4,000 inhabitants, over 130 craftsmen, traders and manufacturers pursue their activities, creating 2,000 jobs along the way. Langeais classed among the UNESCO world heritage sites In November 2000, the Loire Valley, between Chalonnes and Sully-sur-Loire, was put on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. "The Loire Valley is an outstanding cultural landscape, including historical towns and villages, great architectural monuments - the châteaux - and cultivated land, fashioned by centuries of interaction between the people and their physical environment, including the Loire itself." http://whc.unesco.org (pages devoted to the Loire Valley) www.unesco.org |
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