Editing Loire Valley (section)

==Architecture==
{{main|Châteaux of the Loire Valley}}
[[File:France Loir-et-Cher Chambord Chateau 03.jpg|thumb|The Château de Chambord]]
[[File:France Orleans Pont George V Cathedrale 01.JPG|thumb|[[Orléans]]]]
[[File:Place Plum Tours 4598.jpg|thumb|[[Tours]]]]
[[File:Loire Maine Angers2 tango7174.jpg|thumb|[[Angers]]]]
The architectural heritage in the valley's historic towns is notable, especially its châteaux, such as the [[Château de Montsoreau]], [[Château d'Amboise]], [[Château d'Azay-le-Rideau]], [[Château de Chambord]], [[Château de Chinon]], [[Château du Rivau]], [[Château d'Ussé]], [[Château de Villandry]] and [[Château de Chenonceau|Chenonceau]]. The châteaux, numbering more than three hundred,<ref>{{cite web|title=Nuvomagazine.com|url=https://nuvomagazine.com/travel/a-guide-to-chateaux-gardens-of-the-loire-valley}}</ref> include the necessary [[castle]] [[fortification]]s built in the 10th century but also the splendour of those built half a millennium later. When the French kings began constructing their huge châteaux here, the nobility, not wanting or even daring to be far from the seat of power, followed suit. Their presence in the lush, fertile valley began attracting the very best landscape designers. In addition to its many châteaux, the cultural monuments illustrate to an exceptional degree the ideals of the [[Renaissance]] and the [[The Enlightenment|Age of the Enlightenment]] on western European thought and design. Many of the châteaux were designed to be built on the top of hills, one example of this is the [[Château d'Amboise]]. Many of the châteaux had extremely detailed and expensive churches on the grounds, or within the actual château itself.

The [[Château de Montsoreau]] is the only château to have been built in the Loire riverbed, it is also the only one to be entirely dedicated to [[contemporary art]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.contemporaryartdaily.com/tag/chateau-de-montsoreau/|title=Château de Montsoreau (Contemporary Art Daily)|website=contemporaryartdaily.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiac.com/en/agenda/around-paris-and-in-France/chateau-de-montsoreau/|title=Chateau de Montsoreau - FIAC|date=2017-09-23|website=www.fiac.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.les-chateaux-de-la-loire.com/en/accueil/1-montsoreau-castel.html|title=Château de Montsoreau-Contemporary Art Museum - Les Châteaux de la Loire|website=Les Châteaux de la Loire|language=en-us|access-date=2018-10-06}}</ref>