Felicity Long
France's Loire Valley is known for its dramatic chateaux, but travelers turned off by the idea of traipsing from one musty castle tour to another might want to put the destination back on their radar this summer and fall -- especially if they're interested in music, lightshows, eye-popping gardens and cooking.
The Chateau Royal of Blois, for example, is hosting live concerts in its historic gardens every Friday through the end of July in a variety of genres. This year's program features everything from jazz, classical and Renaissance music to bossa nova, folk and French standards. Accompanying the performances is an exhibition in the chateau called "La Renaissance des Femmes," which honors three famous former residents, Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers and Marguerite de Valois.
The grounds of Chateau de Villandry will host the "Nights of a Thousand Lights," Aug. 5 and 6, illuminating the gardens with more than 2,000 candles at night. There will also be an aerial performance by trained eagles and other birds of prey, followed by a fireworks display.
On Sept. 24 and 25, the chateau will showcase its vegetable garden, where the on-site gardeners will be on hand to share botanical tips with visitors. The grounds are open year-round and feature a maze, two ornamental gardens and a water garden.
Fans of sculpture can view a new exhibition in the 62-acre Domaine de Poulaines, created in collaboration with French sculptor Olivier Giroud. The artist uses clay, metal and wood to explore the ways nature and man-made design can be combined through art.
And because this is a garden, after all, visitors can check out the more than 1,200 plants at its arboretum.
Oenophiles headed to the Sancerre vineyards to sample one of the Loire Valley's most celebrated wines, can take a side trip to Le Jardin de Marie, now under new owners. New attractions in the works will include new guest accommodations for 12, a cafe, an educational garden for children, a permaculture orchard and cooking classes.