On this page: Loire — Parents: Europa › Frankreich — Photography, Technology & Science at the Tenckhoff Photo Archive.
The Loire is France’s longest river, stretching over 1,000 kilometers. It rises in the Massif Central and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Nazaire. Along its middle course lies the famous Loire Valley, renowned for its many castles, historic towns, and vineyards, and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Loire has shaped both the landscape and the culture of France and is often called the “royal river.”