St Valentin: the Most Romantic Place in France

The quaint French village of St. Valentin is truly adorable. Tucked away in Indre, the central Val de Loire region of France, it’s proudly known as the ‘Village of Love’. It’s the only village in France to carry the name of the Patron Saint of Lovers, and with good reason.

Nowhere in France celebrates Saint Valentines day like they do in St. Valentin. There are three whole days (not just one) dedicated to the festival from February 12th to 14th, with romantic attractions all around. During the celebrations, the village is decked out with more red roses than you could imagine, making even the hardest of hearts melt.

The Lovers’ Garden (Jardin des Amoureux) is the most romantic place in the village. If you sit beneath the Willow of Hearts (le Saule aux Coeurs), you’ll be weeping only tears of joy – some couples choose this spot to propose. There’s a local market bursting with fresh, rustic produce, so bring a picnic blanket and enjoy lunch in the arms of your lover.

Forget Paris, where loved-ups couples are known for tying a “love lock” to the Pont des Arts bridge before tossing the key into the River Seine. This tradition has now been banned so all the more reason to pin your love notes elsewhere.
When you visit St. Valentin, make sure to marvel at the “Tree of Vows”, which is adorned with endless heartfelt confessions. You can then even hang a heart up yourself.

Many people come to commemorate their love by the Tree of Eternal Hearts and swear to be faithful ‘with an eternal heart’. There’s a good chance you’ll spot a marriage taking place, or see loved-up couples reconfirming their vows.

People can even choose to plant a tree in the garden as a symbol of the love they hope will flourish. It also gives the perfect excuse to make a pilgrimage back here next year to see how much the tree has grown.

St Valentin village | © Experience Loire

St Valentin village | © Experience Loire

Before you leave, you can pen an epic love letter and post it in the designated cupid postbox. You can even get it adorned with an elaborate stamp in the local post office.

If you miss St. Valentine’s Day, fear not. You can come back on August 9th when it’s the turn of Saint Amour.
For more information on the town of Saint-Valentin, or to make reservations, contact the tourist office at:

(33) 02 54 21 41 77

info@village-saint-valentin.com

www.village-saint-valentin.com