The regional appellation in the eastern area of the middle Loire is named after the city and episcopal see of Tours. It joins the Anjou-Saumur area to the east. Both the city and viticulture date back to Roman times. According to legend, pruning was invented here in the 4th century when the donkey of Martin of Tours, later canonised, ate young vine shoots. The name derives from the Gallic tribe of Turons. The area was early called the Garden of France and was the favourite residence of French kings in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Its numerous châteaux, such as Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Loches and Villandry, are well known. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) lived in the Château Clos Lucé (part of the Château Amboise complex) for three years until his death.
By Lieven Smits - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The vineyards...
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