As the Loire River glides gently east to west, officially separating northern from southern France, it has come to define one of France’s most popular tourist regions.

With more than 700,000 visitors a year, the Château de Chambord is the biggest and most visited castle in the Loire Valley. Château de Chambord, 41250 Chambord, France.

LOIRE VALLEY, France -- I wasn't sure how to explore the castle-filled Loire Valley on my first trip to the region years ago, but the travel guide Let's Go France provided the inspiration.

And the Loire, which is also dotted with vineyards, is a large part of that success. The 300-kilometre-long valley stretches between Orléans and Angers, lining France’s longest river, La Loire.

It's a majestic stretch of river that's home to the biggest concentration of castles in the world. It's hard not to be amazed by the Renaissance treasures of France's Loire Valley. Between Tours ...

With more than 700,000 visitors a year, the Château de Chambord is the biggest and most visited castle in the Loire Valley. Château de Chambord, 41250 Chambord, France.