DRAC and regional culture
In many respects, the Centre-Val de Loire is a fragmented region, composed of territories with strong historical, cultural and geographical identities (Touraine, Sologne, Berry, Orléanais, etc.) but not constituting a homogeneous entity. There are serious imbalances within it, inviting proactive approaches to spatial planning. Similarly, a real problem of regional image and identity gives heritage and culture a special role.
The Centre-Val de Loire’s Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs thus has a huge cultural heritage within its scope, including some of the most famous historical monuments in France: the Bourges Cathedral, the Chartres Cathedral, the residence of George Sand in Nohant, the castles of Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Villandry, Loches, Chambord, Blois, Cheverny, and many others.
The region was also the cradle of many literary celebrities including Honoré de Balzac, René Descartes, François Rabelais, George Sand, Marcel Proust, Anatole France, etc.
Responsible for conducting the State’s cultural policy in the regions, under the authority of the regional prefect, the DRAC Centre-Val de Loire, taking into account the specific territorial characteristics, has defined a number of guidelines aimed at:
- to correct marked imbalances corresponding to heterogeneous development dynamics;
- take into account the large monumental complexes that have four times justified the UNESCO World Heritage classification (cathedrals of Bourges and Chartres, Chambord Castle, Val-de-Loire);
- rely on the presence of leading artistic teams and high-level dissemination structures that help to qualify the cultural offer in the region.
The DRAC Centre-Val de Loire has its headquarters in Orléans and has six territorial units: Bourges pour le Cher, Chartres pour l'Eure-et-Loir, Châteauroux pour l'Indre, Tours pour l'Indre-et-Loire, Blois pour le Loirand-Cher; the territorial unit of Loiret has been installed in the premises of the DRAC since July 2011.
For a few years, the DRAC Centre-Val de Loire has occupied part of the buildings of the former Orleans Tobacco Factory, which was disused in 1984, on two sites. This installation was made after work combining rehabilitation of the existing and architectural creation (documentation center in particular) by the architect François Chochon.
