LA CHARTRE SUR LE LOIR. Is a good base for exploring the ‘little’ Loir valley, north of Tours, from Château-du-Loir to Vendôme. We stayed at the Hotel de France. A good French hotel in the village centre with good food and good rooms. We have used this twice as a good stopping off point on our journeys the main square of this very pleasant town, which has a number of interesting shops.