If the Burgundy and the Centre regions sound familiar, it's likely that you've heard of them for different reasons. While Centre, known more commonly as the Loire Valley, is already an established destination for expats, Burgundy is full of place names that read like a tasty shopping list Dijon, Cháteaneuf, Bourbon Chablis but has yet to really enter the consciousness of Brits looking to live in France.

The regions are two of the largest in the country, both located near Paris, though the Loire Valley has a much larger population with approximately 2.5 million compared to Burgundy, or Bourgogne as the French call it, which has only about 1.6 million people living there. The last time the neighbouring regions came to blows was back in the 15th century, when the ruling dukes of both tried to unseat the king and subsequently let France fall to England. Joan of Arc famously defended Orléans, the Loire Valley's capital, from the Burgundians and their British allies, and was injured in battle and betrayed by the French soon after.

Ancient history (and World Cup matches) aside, the only Brits you'll see in either region these days are less likely to be on the warpath and are far more interested in trying the fantastic local cuisine and buying up gîtes than razing villages to the ground or burning national saints.

Lure of the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is made up of six departments: Eure et Loir in the north of the region; Loiret and Loir et Cher just below it; Cher in the south-east; Indre at the south, bordering the Limousin region; and Indre et Loire to the south-west. Eure et Loire is the closest department to Paris, and has been especially influenced by the Ile-de-France region to its east. Its main city, Chartres, has a population of around 40,000 and shows obvious ties to its Christian past in the form of two ostentatious cathedrals and fine art museums displaying religious tapestries.
 
The Loire river that runs through the region and the prefecture capital, Orléans, is the longest in France and in 2000 was granted world heritage site status by UNESCO, which gives some idea as to how picturesque the Loire Valley is.

Bombed heavily during the Second World War, it's surprising how many medieval cathedrals and chateaux can still be found in Orléans and the Loiret department in which the small city is situated. The Cathédrale Sainte-Croix (Cathedral of the Sacred Cross) is a 13th Century gothic monolith that took six hundred years to build and certainly inspires onlookers with reverent awe.

Another aspect of Orléans is the student culture, especially in La Source, the University quarter, and the Loiret department itself is full of market towns, fairytale chateaux and well over a hundred bridges that span the numerous channels and rivers that cut through the countryside.

The river that runs adjacent to the Loire and joins it in Loir et Char is called the Loir. This might make getting directions a bit tricky, but it does make the department enviably scenic. It also boasts the Chambord Chateau, arguably one of the finest in France, with a roof terrace designed by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci. The capital, Blois, is set on the banks of the Loire (not the Loir) and is a relaxed, peaceful town, again with no shortage of impressive chateaux. Further south, Indre is seen by some as the Loire Valley's 'jewel in its crown'. It has over 180 churches and castles, and Châteauroux, its capital, is a beacon for lovers of culture and festivities, with numerous events held there throughout the year. The houses in this department, and the neighbouring department of Cher, are similar. Built quite literally on the waterfront, they are covered in exposed oak beams, fruity colour schemes and delicate wooden trim round the windows. Indre et Loire is the area's main wine-growing region, and has a scattering of small communities and architecture that hasn't changed much in over 300 years.

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Article first published in May 2006