A genuine medieval fortress, complete with towers, keep, rampart walk and moats, the Château de Sully-sur-Loire built in the 14th century, is the former residence of the dukes of Sully. The interior has paintings and tapestries on display, as well as a magnificent roof structure dating from the 14th century.

Visitors can also walk around the pleasant tree-lined park surrounding the château.

Every third weekend in May, the château and park host a medieval festival called 'Les Heures Médiévales'.

The town of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire is renowned for its Benedictine abbey: the Fleury abbey, founded in the 7th century. Its basilica constitutes a remarkable example of Romanesque art. The bell tower-porch contains magnificent carved capitals that will delight fans of religious architecture. The church's Romanesque choir is also stunning. The crypt dating from the 11th century contains the relics of Saint-Benoît.

The village of Germigny-des-Prés possesses one of the oldest churches in France: the Carolingian oratory. This building is also unusual in that it boasts a magnificent 9th-century Byzantine mosaic representing the Ark of the Covenant.

Majestically overlooking the Loire River, the Château de Gien, made of brick and stone, is home to the International Hunting museum. This museum groups together collections dedicated to hunting and to animal art: paintings, ceramics, tapestries, trophies and hunting buttons are displayed there.

Famous for its earthenware tradition, Gien also has an earthenware factory museum, located in a former cellar, with magnificent china collections on display. This place also hosts temporary exhibitions.

With a 35,000-hectare surface area, Orléans forest constitutes the biggest national forest in France! Offering numerous hiking trails, this area is divided into three mountain areas: the Massif d'Orléans, Massif d'Ingrannes and Massif de Lorris. Nestling in a peaceful and green environment, the Vallée lake, near Combreux, is perfect for fishing, swimming and windsurfing.

The pride of the Berry area, the town of Aubigny-sur-Nère has kept many treasures from its rich past, for example its half-timbered houses. These timber-framed buildings, some of which date back to the 16th-century, blend in tastefully with the stone structures. One of the most famous is the Bailiff's house on Rue du Bourg-Coutant. It has remarkable carved posts and a medallion depicting King Charles VII. In addition, the Francis I house on the corner with Rue de l'église features some very pretty carved windows.

As well as this emblem of Aubigny-sur-Nère, the village still shows the traces of its Scottish past. Following an alliance during the Hundred Years War, Aubigny-sur-Nère was effectively given to Scotland by the King of France, at the turn of the 15th century. This earned it the name of City of the Stuarts, in reference to the head of the Scottish army. So be sure to pay a visit to the castle that bears their name! Admire some of its treasures, such as the entrance pavilion with its corbelled turrets and a porch whose keystone bears the arms of Robert Stuart. There are other gems tucked away inside, including a stunning wooden ceiling in the shape of an inverted boat hull.

If you are visiting Aubigny-sur-Nère in July, don't miss the Franco-Scottish festival celebrating the two cultures. Expect costume parades to the sound of bagpipes and lots more entertainment!

Nicknamed the Fishermen castle, the charming Château de La Bussière, surrounded by water, is home to a collection of works of art related to fresh water fishing. Visitors can also explore and daydream in its wonderful gardens, including a formal garden designed by Le Nôtre, an 18th-century vegetable garden where heritage plants, fruit and vegetables grow, and a lakeside walk. Children are also catered for with a hut trail, two mazes and giant wooden games!

Situated south of Orléans, the Parc Floral de la Source is a magnificent 35-hectare landscaped garden divided into wonderful themed areas: a dahlia garden, an extraordinary vegetable garden, an iris garden, a rose garden opposite the château and a garden where the Loiret River has its source. There's also a large aviary and an exotic butterfly house.

A rose show is held there every year in September.

The 35-hectare National Arboretum of Barres in Nogent-sur-Vernisson is home to more than 2,500 species of trees and shrubs from all five continents of the globe. Three discovery footpaths take visitors on a tour of these remarkable collections.

Built from 1890 to 1896, the 662-m long Briare aqueduct carries the Canal Latéral à la Loire over the Loire River. The longest steel canal aqueduct in France, this magnificent piece of civil engineering charms sailors and walkers alike with its waterway lined with pavements, elegant lamp posts and beautiful view of the Loire River and its banks.

Situated in the heart of Sologne, the Château de La Ferté-Saint-Aubin is open to the public and comprises 15 furnished rooms, large kitchens where you can taste honey madeleines, and stables containing dressage horses.

A great place to wander round, the vast 40-hectare park features the reconstruction of a 1930s train station, an enchanted island for the children and a wildlife park.

Nicknamed the 'Venice of the Gâtinais' due its network of canals, 17 bridges and pretty waterside houses, Montargis is a lovely town to wander round.

Visitors can also explore the town's museums: the Musée Girodet with its collections of paintings, drawings and sculptures, and the Musée du Gâtinais, which has objects dating from prehistory and the Gallo-Roman period on display.

Those of you with a sweet tooth can savour the famous local speciality, Montargis pralines: delicious caramelised roasted almonds.

In a pleasant setting at the gateway to the Puisaye region in Burgundy, the village of Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses is home to a very fine structure built in the 17th century on the Briare Canal: an impressive staircase of locks, now a listed historic monument, which was in use from 1642 to 1880. Its construction required all the ingenuity of its designers, whose work enabled the canal to cross the hill and thus link the Loire to the Seine via the Loing Valley. For this technical feat, some 12,000 men were needed to dig the steps in the marshy terrain! From the top of the seven locks, 24 metres above ground, you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the village. And from the bottom, admire the majesty of the site... At the end of July each year, the locks are illuminated at a superb pyrotechnic show that draws a big audience.

Apart from this unusual structure, so central to the local identity, you can also take a look at Rogny's bridges and footbridges over the Loing and the Briare Canal, stroll around its little harbour or visit its Romanesque church and washhouse. This charming spot has a water sports centre and no shortage of natural treasures, offering day-trippers a choice between a hike or a boat ride.

Nestling in the Ivoy forest in Oizon, in the department of Cher, the elegant La Verrerie Castle is one of the oldest in Berry. In around 1495, the Stuart family from Scotland set about extending the old estate to create a secondary residence for leisure activities. Now a listed Historic Monument, this Renaissance gem is reflected in a beautiful lake surrounded by greenery.

There are many eye-catching treasures in the castle, like the 19th-century grand drawing room, whose walls are hung with portraits immortalising the former owners. The 15th-century chapel is also worth a look as it still bears the traces of the Stuart family, with its star-spangled vault adorned with medallions depicting them.

Don't miss the gallery dotted with columns and arcades, decorated with arabesques, garlands and rinceaux. Then head for the verdant 40-hectare park, where you can stroll among the centuries-old trees.

Built in the 16th century by Lancelot I du Lac, the magnificent Château de Chamerolles, situated in Chilleurs-aux-Bois, also features a scents and perfumes museum introducing visitors to the history and evolution of perfume.

Its charming Renaissance gardens are a haven of peace and lovely to wander round.

A wild and peaceful area, the Sologne is covered with game-filled forests and numerous ponds and is therefore popular with hikers, fishermen and hunters. No fewer than 2,800 ponds are scattered over the Sologne countryside! Besides its beautiful landscapes, the Sologne is a wonderful place for walkers, with its beautiful villages, such as that of Chaumont-sur-Tharonne, typical with its brick-built houses. The village of Souvigny-en-Sologne is also worth the trip for its charming church with a timbered porch (caquetoir).

Fine food and patisserie fans should stop off in the little town of Lamotte-Beuvron, the birthplace of the famous upside-down apple tart, Tarte Tatin. Happy tasting!

The town of Romorantin-Lanthenay is also worth a trip for, among others, the Sologne museum.

The Château du Moulin, nicknamed "the pearl of the Sologne", in Lassay-sur-Croisne, the Domaine du Ciran estate in Ménestreau-en-Villette, dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Sologne, and the elegant Château de La Ferté-Saint-Aubin are among the places not to be missed.

Finally, the Maison des Étangs (Pond House) in Saint-Viâtre explains all about pond life in the Sologne, including displays on the history, fauna and flora of the ponds, as well as how they function and are maintained.