Paris? Well, of course — but don’t overlook the rest of France, brimming over with lovely towns and villages worth your time. Regarded as the birthplace of the French Renaissance, the Loire Valley should definitely be on your radar this year. A whole slew of celebrations are taking place to mark the 500^th anniversary of Renaissance-related events, including the death of Leonardo da Vinci at Amboise, the birth of Catherine de’ Medici and the start of construction on the Château of Chambord.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Loire Valley (and the Chartres and Bourges cathedrals located there) was once the home of France’s royal Valois family, who helped promote the arts and architecture, leaving behind a legacy of stunning castles. The region still strongly champions the arts and serves as the address for important contemporary art venues, including the regional contemporary art collection at FRAC Centre in Orléans, the Olivier Debré Center for Contemporary Creation (CCC OD) in Tours and the Regional Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire, an Arts and Nature Center.

Celebratory events and festivities will be held throughout the year. Visitors can access a calendar of dates, times and places part of the cultural program on the Loire Valley visitor’s website. Planned events include a digital traveling show that blends contemporary art and music, along with exhibitions, an international architecture competition, guided tours, international symposia, banquets and culinary events.