Loire Valley Loire Valley The Loire Valley (, ), spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France, in both the administrative regions Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire. The area of the Loire Valley comprises about . It is referred to as the "Cradle of the French" and the "Garden of France" due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards (such as cherries), and artichoke, and asparagus fields, which line the banks of the river. Notable for its historic towns, architecture, and wines, the valley has been inhabited since the Middle Palaeolithic period.
French frigate Loire (1796) had no casualties but "Egyptienne" had 8 wounded, one mortally. "Libre" was badly damaged and had lost her masts so "Loire" took her in tow and reached Plymouth with her on 4 January 1806. "Libre" had sailed from Flushing on 14 November in company with a French 48-gun frigate but the two vessels had parted in a gale on 9 November off the coast of Scotland. The Admiralty did not purchase "Libre" into service. On 22 April 1806, "Loire" captured the Spanish privateer "Princess of Peace", 14 guns, 23 men. "Loire" was paid off at Deptford in October 1806. In