The Loire Valley is known as the "garden of France" because here art and nature blend enchantingly, creating dreamlike landscapes and handing down stories that smell of the past. Each year numerous travelers choose this destination to indulge in a journey of discovery of Renaissance castles, medieval fortresses, and monumental gardens, but another aspect not to be underestimated is the gastronomic one. Here are the typical dishes of the Loire Valley to taste to live a truly unforgettable taste experience.

Typical dishes of the Loire Valley: our recommendations

The Loire Valley is the largest French site ever included in the UNESCO World Heritage as a "cultural landscape", but another of its great pluses is the quality of the raw materials and dishes of the local gastronomic tradition.

Whether you are in a market or in an elegant restaurant, here you can taste flavors with an unmistakable taste, here are the typical dishes of the Loire Valley that we recommend you try.

The cheeses

If you are a cheese lover, the Loire Valley will quickly become your dream place. The crown jewel is goat cheese, such as theCrottin de Chavignol, which comes in different variants, from the sweetest to the bleu, or the Sainte Maure de Touraine, with its unmistakable cylindrical shape crossed by the inevitable rye stick and wrapped in ash. The region's cow's cheeses, such as L'Olivet, a close relative of Camembert with a melting texture that comes wrapped in ash, hay or pepper, and finally theCuré Nantais, typical of the Loire Atlantique, made with raw milk and perfect paired with a glass of red Saumur, in all its versions: flavored with seaweed, herbs, chili or smoked.

Rillettes and Rillons

Already in the 19th century Honoré de Balzac praised the charcuterie of Tours, of which the Rillettes and the Rillons are the undisputed sovereigns: small pieces of pork cut more or less finely, cooked for a long time in their own fat and seasoned with salt and pepper or caramelized, perfect to taste as an aperitif on a slice of toasted bread, accompanied by a glass of Vouvray wine.

La Balzacienne

And now that we've mentioned Balzac, how can we not talk about the specialty dedicated to him? It is a savory tart made with Saint Maure cheese and dried fruit: a unique culinary experience.

Le Fouées

If you find yourself strolling through the streets of the magnificent historic center of the city of Tours, after an unmissable aperitif on Place Plumereau, one of the obligatory gastronomic stops is certainly in one of the restaurants that offer menus based onFouées, mini buns cooked in the wood oven to be filled with local products that will adorn your table.

Le Nougat de Tours

To sweetly close a meal or to regain energy between one bike ride and another, one of the specialties to taste is Le Nougat de Tours, a cake made of puff pastry, jam or blended fruit (apples or pears), candied and almonds, not to be confused with its Provencal namesake.

La Tarte Tatin

Among thetypical dishes of the Loire Valley, there is also the famous Tarte Tatin, the typical French upside-down cake that is prepared with apples, pears, or other types of fruit.

And after having tasted the delicious typical dishes of the Loire Valley, what can you do to burn off the excess calories? Thanks to our bike tours in the Loire Valley, you can enjoy an experience among nature, good food, and history, feeling fitter than ever!