Sologne centrally located in France encompasses over 500,000 hectares (1 800 square miles) stretching north to the Loire and south to the Cher. Due to its poor soil, basically sand and clay, there is little farming or stock raising.  But the abondance of game has made hunting one of the area’s major source of revenue.

In the mid-19th century Napoleon III became enamoured with the region when he purchased the Domaine of Lamotte-Beuvron (which now houses the National Equesterian center). He oversaw vast planations of pine and birch trees, constructions of canals and roads and transformations of marshes turned ponds. The flore and fauna are truly spectacle ; heather and water lilies in the summer to superb mushroom hunting in the fall ! Not to mention the ducks, geese, wild boar and deer that you may encounter. There are 1 500 kms of walking/riding trails throughout Sologne where you can appreciate close up nature at its best.

Ligny le Ribault is a small Solognot village located in the region known as Sologne.

Domaine de Ciran, find more at www.domaineduciran.com.

Blois – Yes François Premier played an major part in the castle of Blois but visit www.ville-blois.fr to find out more.