While it does - just - include the point which is
the geometric "centre" of continental France, the region of France
known as "le Centre" does not generally coincide with the middle of the
country. It could more aptly be described as being the centre
section of northern France. It is an area stretching from a latitude
slightly north of Paris, down to the north of the Limousin and Auvergne
regions, and is bordered to the west by
Normandy,
the
Pays de la Loire
region and
Poitou, and to the east by the Paris region (Ile de France) and
Burgundy. Its regional capital is the
city of
Orléans.
Unlike many other regions, the Centre is
not a
historic province; it is, as its name perhaps implies, the heart of
historic France, the area between the Paris region and the Loire valley
that was for many centuries the centre of the kingdom of France
–
at times when the territory which is today known as France was
divided among the kingdoms or duchies of Normandy, Burgundy, Aquitaine,
Anjou and others less important. In this respect, the regions of the
Centre and the Ile de France
are
France.
The region is composed of six
departments, the
Eure
et Loir *
(28), the
Loiret
(45), the
Loir
et Cher (41), the
Cher
(18),
the
Indre et Loire (37)
and the
Indre
(36).
In the north of the region lies the area
known as la
Beauce,
one of the two historic breadbaskets of France. This is a
gently undulating plateau where vast wheat fields stretch as far as
they eye can see. The area's main city,
Chartres, is famous
for its
magnificent cathedral, one of the earliest and finest gothic
cathedrals in France. The middle of this region is
characterised
by the low-lying valleys of the river Loire and its tributaries. This
area was very popular with the kings of France and their dukes in the
Middle Ages and Renaissance, and is rich with magnificent
châteaux - notably the most famous of the "
Chateaux de la
Loire"
such as Chambord, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois or Chenonceaux.
Between
Orleans, Blois and Vierzon lies a vast area of forest and heathland known as La
Sologne,
once the favoured hunting grounds of the nobility, and today popular with hunters, nature-lovers and hikers. The Loire
valley is also characterised by a number of vineyards, producing mainly
white wines, including the sparkling whites of Touraine and Vouvray.
In the south and south-east, covering
the
departments of the Cher and the Indre, the Centre region rises gently
towards the hills of the Limousin and the Auvergne; this area, known as
le
Berry,
is a deeply agricultural area, with mixed farming. Its
capital is the city of
Bourges.
Finally, to the south-west of the town
of
Chateauroux lies
an area known as La
Brenne,
the "area of a
thousand lakes", and one of the most important wetlands in France.
The northern half of the Centre region
benefits,
economically, from its proximity to Paris, and by excellent transport
links to the capital.
Tours
is served by TGV, and
Orleans
by fast
express trains; all the major cities in the region also have direct
motorway access to Paris. The The cities of the Loire valley have
become important centres for the pharmaceutical and high-tech
industries, and the north of the region is also a centre for the French
cosmetics industry.
As for the exact location of the "centre" of
France,
several communes in the south of the Centre region - and a some in the
north of the Auvergne - are rivals for this title - depending on the
criteria used. But according to various criteria, the centre of France
lies at some spot in the commune of Saint-Armand-Montrond, in the very
south of the Cher department.
Access:
by
train
(TGV) from Paris Gare Montparnasse or Gare d'Austerlitz. Access
by road from
the UK,
via any
of the Channel ports, then via Paris or Rouen. The Centre region is
crossed by the main motorways between Paris and western / southwestern
France, the A10 (Paris-Tours-Bordeaux), the A11
(Paris-Chartres-Rennes), the A71( [Paris] -
Orleans -Clermont-Ferrand)
and the A20 ( [Paris]
-Vierzon-Toulouse).
Air access
is easiest via Paris Orly airport, or Tours.
Footnote: the Loir
and the Loire are two different rivers. The Loir is a tributary of the
Loire.... confusing !
Main
tourist attractions in
the Centre region of France
The castle at Chenonceaux, litterally "on" the river Cher.
Amboise, on the River Loire - Photo J Schlabotnik
Chartres cathedral - statues on west portal - Photo Turloughmor
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- Orleans
(45), Regional capital, a historic city on the banks of the Loire.
- Blois
(41) . Historic town on the northern bank of the Loire,
with a magnificent Renaissance castle.
- Tours
(37): largest city in the region, Tours boasts an attractive historic
centre with old half-timbered houses, St Gatien's cathedral,
and
also a castle.
- Bourges
(18): Another great gothic cathedral, later than that of Chartres; also
the famous Renaissance town residence of Jacques Coeur.
- Chartres
(28) - One of the most famous gothic cathedrals in France, famous in
particular for its magnificent mediaeval stained-glass windows.
- The
river Loire (37 / 41 / 45 ) The wide slow-moving Loire
is one of Europe's great rivers. The river, excellent for
fishing, is bordered by many attractive small towns, and the
flat land is good for cycling. There are also many vineyards in the area of Tours.
- Les
Châteaux de la Loire (37, 41, 45, 18)
- the castles of the Loire. Many of these are actually on tributaries
of the Loire. The most famous are Chambord,
Chenonceaux, Villandry (with its famous gardens) and Azay le Rideau. But
there are many others, including Langeais, Rigny-Ussé,
Amboise etc
- La
Brenne (36). Area of 1000 lakes, major wetland renowned
for its birds.
- La
Sologne: great wooded area, formerly favoured as hunting
grounds by kings and nobles.
- Les
Bordes (41) : in the Sologne, reputed to be the finest
golf course in France.
- Zoo Parc de Beauval, (41) in the Loire valley area. Over 4000
animals, including koalas & orang-utangs. the largest wildlife
collection in France.
- Gargilesse (18) Picturesque village, with the home of 19th century novelist George Sand.
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