Wildlife and nature in Loire

The Loire Valley, known as “The Garden of France”, boasts a remarkably tranquil and lush landscape; a region sure to impress the naturalist or country enthusiast. There are a vast variety of touristic services providing visitors with the opportunity to discover the regions wilder, unspoilt areas.

Visitors can discover, on board a traditional boat trip along the Loire River the unspoiled surroundings and witness its many contrasting habitats; from open waters to dense mature forests. It is important to note that swimming is in the Loire River due to its extremely dangerous currents.

In 2000, UNESCO declared the Loire River as a World Heritage Site; making it the first river in the world to be recognised as a heritage site. This distinction was bestowed upon the 1012km stretch of river, which is home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and a major migration route for birds.

Bird species of the Loire include many that are absent or rare in Britain. These include: Osprey, Black Kite, Corncrake, Stone Curlew, Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gulls, Black and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, and Bonelli's Warbler.

The Loire is home to some native species of dragonflies, including the Yellow-legged and the Green Club-Tailed varieties. Also home to the Loire and the most recent addition to the natural habitat is the wild European beaver.

If you are looking for a truly unique and environmental friendly experience, we suggest you to have a look at our  Bivouac On The Loire River experience, but also at our Cycling the Loire Valley tour, two of our very poupular Loire Valley Tours.