The future is in our hands...

We celebrated this anniversary on 3rd and 4th December in Tours by painting a panoramic picture of what has happened over this decade, from its initial listing until today, through presentations of progress made in knowledge and of concrete achievements. The results are the fruit of work by myriad stakeholders and institutions: reconciliation with the river through developments of the Loire ports and banks, new perceptions fostered by such proposals as La Loire à Vélo, initiatives in favour of gardens, restoration and promotion of monuments and improvement of public spaces, etc. 

This event also gave those associations and other stakeholders who wanted to the chance to meet up on 4th December and present their activities in a forum. 

"The future is in our hands", said the poster chosen to mark this occasion.

Yes, local authorities and State departments may plan the development of the region, and the economic community may shape the landscape through its activity, but inhabitants also model the landscape through their everyday life. The future of our landscapes is in all of our hands: inhabitants or visitors, citizens, managers, economic stakeholders, volunteers or associations in the Loire Valley. 

The challenge of the Mission Val de Loire is to help to combine preservation and development so as to lend a hand in maintaining the quality that earned the region its recognition by UNESCO, and which also stems from the quality of our living environment. 

We are beginning the next decade with this same mission in mind – along with new projects. 

For my part, appointed exactly three months ago to head up the Mission Val de Loire, I would like to thank all those who got involved during the anniversary celebrations, and more generally all those who are working on knowing, promoting and improving life in the Loire Valley. 

I would like to pay tribute to the State departments – the guarantors as regards UNESCO – and particularly the Centre and Pays de la Loire regions, as well as the City of Tours, for their flawless support for this undertaking. 

Isabelle Longuet, 

Director of the Mission Val de Loire