Ronsard, the "Prince of poets", also drew his inspiration from the Loire Valley. He was born in La Possonnière, and chose the Priory of Saint-Cosme at the end of his life as a refuge from the world.
It was at Château de Talcy that he found his muse, Cassandra, the owner's daughter. The rose climbing on the well was perhaps the origin of his famous ode Mignonne, allons voir si la rose. It was also in this setting that Diane, Cassandra's niece, inspired Agrippa d'Aubigné.

In Touraine, the town where philosopher Descartes spent his childhood actually adopted his name, while Balzac elected domicile in Saché, far from the torments of life in Paris. He shut himself away for seven highly prolific years, writing Le Père Goriot there, among other works, while the surrounding area served as the setting for Le Lys dans la Vallée.

If Touraine was home to Balzac, Berry is associated with George Sand, who set her novels there. The family home of Nohant was her base, and she invited the great names of the century to visit her there (Chopin, Flaubert, Delacroix...). She also enjoyed the peaceful charms of her little cottage in Gargilesse. Her contemporary, Eugène Labiche, bought a château in Souvigny-en-Sologne and became mayor of the town.
At the end of the 19th century, two authors made Touraine their adopted home: Anatole France and Jules Romains.

The young Marcel Proust felt his first emotions in the family home in lliers-Combray in the Perche region. It has now become a museum under the name of Aunt Léonie, one of the characters in In search of time lost.

In the 20th century, the Loiret was home to some celebrated men of letters: Charles Péguy, Max Jacob and songwriter Gaston Couté among others. Maurice Genevoix located the action of his Raboliot in the heart of Sologne, while Alain-Fournier spent his childhood in Berry and drew inspiration for the setting of Le Grand Meaulnes from the school of Epineuil-le-Fleuriel, where his parents were teachers.

The writer and adventurer Henry de Monfreid put down his bags full of memories in Ingrandes. Like many other film directors, Jacques Tati came to film the region, choosing Sainte-Sévère as the setting for "Jour de Fête", while Hergé drew inspiration from Cheverny when he created Tintin's Marlinspike Hall.

Among the region's actors, Jean Carmet was a child of the Bourgueil region and foremost fan of its wine appellation, while another great wine-lover, Gérard Depardieu, discovered the joys of acting in his hometown of Châteauroux. Jacques Villeret spent his childhood in Loches, before going on to study at the Tours Conservatory.

The Loire Valley can also boast the presence of rock star Mick Jagger who much appreciates the pleasant Touraine lifestyle. Today more than ever before, the Centre Region is a source of happiness for all!

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