The Cher Valley
The Cher Valley is an ideal destination for families and groups of friends with a wealth of diverse attractions including Beauval Zoo, vineyards, good food, tuffeau stone caves, troglodyte villages and bike rides along the Cher à Vélo cycle paths.
The Cher Valley : Beauval Zoo
The Cher Valley is an ideal destination for families and groups of friends with a wealth of diverse attractions including Beauval Zoo, vineyards, good food, tuffeau stone caves, troglodyte villages and bike rides along the Cher à Vélo cycle paths.
Classed as one of the 10 best zoos in the world, the ZooParc de Beauval is THE family destination in Loir-et-Cher. The 40 hectare park is home to more than 10,000 animals of 600 different species ranging from white tigers through manatees, okapis, different birds and the Big Five to great apes. Not forgetting the famous pandas, Huan Huan and Yuanzi and baby Yuan Meng born in 2017. Shows featuring birds of prey and sea lions are a delightful experience for everyone. Throughout the day in different parts of the park, zoo staff tell visitors about the lifestyle of the creatures that live at Beauval, often during feeding time.
After a day (or two !) at Beauval, stay in the Val de Cher area - there are lots more surprises in store!
Architecture in Val de Cher
Stop off at Saint-Aignan, a pretty village with plenty of medieval character, or at the small town of Montrichard on the banks of the Cher. After visiting the keep and walking through the streets to admire the numerous half-timbered houses, head for the beach to relax, hire a pedalo or do various water sports. Other attractions include the Château at Selles sur Cher, the little village of Pontlevoy built around its famous abbey, the medieval village of Mennetou sur Cher and its cob-built houses, the Château de Chèmery and the Gallo-Roman ruins of Thésée…
To find out all about tuffeau, the local stone used to build all the châteaux, head for Bourré, a little troglodyte village with huge quarries. Visit the Ville Souterraine (underground town) created by stone cutters and carvers and discover mushrooms caves and a silk worm farm.
You can’t leave the area without visiting Troglo Dégusto, winner of the Tops du Tourisme du Val de Loire 2017. A tour of underground wine cellars to learn about troglodyte history and traditions followed by a delicious tasting session of wines from Domaine des Tabourelles.