Towns of inspiration, towns of art, towns for living in - they all offer endless new sights which make a welcome change of scene at any time of the year. The superb city of Orléans, nestled in a loop of the Loire, is both intimate and lively, with its Medieval alleyways, Renaissance façades, 'hôtels particuliers', collections of art and ornamental parks brimming with sumptuous blossoms. Other moods await you at Montargis, the 'little Venice' of the Gâtinais with its network of canals; or at Gien, home of faïence; at Beaugency, a key site in the LLoire valley with its Renaissance château and its half-timbered houses; at sensuous Pithiviers; or at Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, which recreates the heyday of the Loire boat-builders. And explore the city of Ferté-Saint-Aubin which stands at the gateway to Sologne, or the charming historic town of Lorris, steeped in its memories of its wartime Resistance movement, honoured today in a fascinating museum.