Accueil Discover Destination nature Discovering our three regional nature parks
Between Angers and Tours, in the heart of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park covers just over 277,000 hectares along the Loire Valley. On foot or by bike, explore its hiking and interpretation trails and discover its magnificent range of landscapes. Just a stone’s throw away, you can also discover the Perche Regional Nature Park and the Brenne Regional Nature Park.
D. Darrault – CRT Centre-Val de Loire
THE LOIRE-ANJOU-TOURAINE REGIONAL NATURE PARK: THE ESSENCE OF NATURE
Majestic forests, hedged farmland, moors, valleys, sandbanks… The Loire-Anjou-Touraine Park offers a wide variety of landscapes. Cradled by its many tributaries, the Loire is all the more mysterious where it meets them. To admire this spectacle, head to Candes-Saint-Martin, where the Loire and Vienne rivers meet.
C. Lazi – CRT Centre-Val de Loire
In the park, flora and fauna flourish. You will find a ballet of not only butterflies and dragonflies, but also the many species of birds that make their home here, starting with the emblematic osprey. As for the shy beaver, its work can be seen on the tree trunks lining the Loire.
The vegetation also flourishes here. On the paths of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park admire orchids and snake’s head fritillary. These pretty little bell-shaped flowers, mauve spotted with white, are found in humid meadows. They should be admired, but not picked. This delicate flower has become a rare species and is protected.
If you would like to find out more, head for the Maison du Parc. Located in Montsoreau, the centre holds all the secrets of the Loire’s thousand landscapes, from forests to vineyards, from troglodyte dwellings to typical villages. Throughout the year, a number of guided tours are available, introducing you to these unspoilt landscapes.
C. Lazi – CRT Centre-Val de Loire
Near the Loire Valley, there are two Regional Nature Parks to discover: the Brenne Regional Nature Park and the Perche Regional Nature Park.
BRENNE REGIONAL NATURE PARK: THE LAND OF A THOUSAND LAKES
G. Martin – CRT Centre-Val de Loire
Although the area is nicknamed the land of a thousand lakes, it actually boasts more than 3,000! Here, you have a date with a green and blue mosaic. The Brenne lakes are home to many colonies of birds. Black-necked Grebes, Marsh Harriers, Whiskered Terns and the rare Bitterns all find an ideal habitat here.
The Brenne Regional Nature Park has set up a number of observatories for birdwatching. It’s also the perfect place to admire the European pond turtles. These little turtles are emblematic of the Park and can be admired as they bask in the sunshine.
Discover this exceptional region on foot, by bike or even on horseback. And don’t forget to pack a pair of binoculars so you don’t miss any of the action.
The Maison du PNR is located in the charming little hamlet of Le Bouchet in Rosnay. Here, you will find an information area, a shop and food. A recommendation: try the delicious carp fries.
D. Darrault – CRT Centre-Val de Loire
PERCHE REGIONAL NATURE PARK: ROLLING COUNTRYSIDE
D. Commenchal CRT Centre-Val de Loire
The Perche Regional Nature Park offers bucolic surroundings of wooded hills, hedged farmland and small valleys that you should take time to discover at your own pace. As you follow the winding paths and quiet country lanes, villages and pretty manor houses come into view. You can also stop off to admire the emblem of the region: the Percheron horse.
The Perche Regional Nature Park offers a variety of attractive landscapes. Firstly, there are the hedgerows. They are typical of the region, lining the roads and surrounding the meadows. There is also a large amount of forest, which is home to a host of animals: amphibians, birds, mammals, etc. You will be struck by the strange silhouettes of heavily pruned, pollarded trees.
D. Commenchal – CRT Centre-Val de Loire
Make a visit to a producer or market to taste the delicious apple juice from the countless Perche orchards.
The Maison du Parc awaits you in the magnificent Manoir de Courboyer. You’ll find everything you need to know about the Park, as well as a wealth of information revealing its secrets!
