Touraine

[too-ren; Fr. too-ren]

Touraine, region and former province (until the French Revolution), W central France, centering around Tours (the historic capital) and drained by the Loire, Cher, and Vienne rivers. Roughly coextensive with Indre-et-Loire dept., Touraine, with its fertile valleys, orchards, and vineyards, is known as the "garden of France." Its numerous châteaus (see Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord, Amboise), built mainly in the 15th and 16th cent., are noted tourist attractions. Descartes, Rabelais, and Balzac were born in Touraine, and the latter two celebrated their birthplace in their writings. Originally the county of Tours, Touraine passed (10th cent.) to the counts of Blois, who ceded it (11th cent.) to the counts of Anjou. Touraine then passed (1152) under English domination and was retaken (1204) by Philip II of France and united with the French crown.

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Touraine

Historical region, northwestern central France. It encompassed the former province of Touraine; its capital was at Tours. In Roman times it was inhabited by the Gallic Turones. In the 5th century AD it was incorporated in the Visigothic kingdom, and it passed to the Franks in 507. Contested by various powers over the succeeding centuries, it came under French influence in the early 13th century. It began to decline circa 1700, and the province was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution. The region, which includes the Loire River valley, known for its magnificent chateaus, is sometimes called the Garden of France.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Touraine

Touraine may also refer to Alain Touraine, French sociologist.

The Touraine is a former province of France. Its capital was Tours. During the political reorganization of French territory in 1790, the Touraine was divided between the départements of Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher and Indre.

Geography

Traversed by the Loire and its tributaries the Cher, the Indre and the Vienne, the Touraine makes up a part of the Paris Basin. It is well-known for its viticulture. The TGV, which connects Tours with Paris in less than an hour, has made the Touraine a place of residence for people who work in the capital but seek a different quality of life.

History

The Touraine takes its name from the Celtic tribe called the Turones. Nicknamed "The Garden of France," it was the retreat of kings at the end of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Touraine's history cannot be told without knowing how the name came to be. A Celtic tribe called the Turones inhabited the land later known as Touraine, nearly 2000 years ago. In 1044, the control of Touraine was given to the Angevins, who became kings of England in 1154 with the castle Chinon as their greatest stronghold. In 1205, Phillip II Augustus of France regained Touraine. It was then that Touraine was made into a royal duchy. The next historical event was in 1429 when Saint Joan of Arc had a historic meeting with the future Charles VII at Chinon. Throughout the late 1400s and 1500s, Touraine was a favorite residence of French kings and the dark and gloomy castles were converted to beautiful Renaissance châteaux. These same châteaux are very popular tourist attractions today. The royal duchy later became a province in 1584, and was divided into departments in 1790.

Sights

The Touraine is celebrated for its number of châteaux, for example at Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chaumont, Chenonceaux, Chinon, Langeais, Loches, Villandry and Blois.

The historic region of Touraine is home to many wonders and tourist attractions. Touraine's châteaux number over a dozen, and their regal splendor stands out even more than the lush green valleys and beautiful farmlands and scenery.