The Loire valley is famous for its beautiful landscapes, vineyards and gardens and for its mild climate and its soft warm-coloured light. For centuries many French kings and their courts chose to live in this region in their beautiful castles.

Chinon is a picturesque Medieval town, bordering the river Vienne. The famous author Rabelais (1494-1553) lived in Chinon. The impressive castle of Chinon that dominates the town can be visited as well as many other famous castles. Many of them are less than 25 km from La Chaussée: Ussé, Azay le Rideau, Saumur, Langeais ,Saché (Balzac) , and Villandry (magnificent gardens). La Chaussée is also near the very impressive Royal Abbey of Fontevraud.