The area along the river Loire between Sully-sur-Loire in Loiret and Chalonnes-sur-Loire in Maine-et -Loire (Anjou), a distance of 280km, has now become synonymous with the 'Loire Valley' or 'Val de Loire'. In November 2000 UNESCO formally included this stretch of the Loire River and the national parks of Chateau de Chambord and Anjou-Touraine on its list of world heritage sites. This of course takes in its premier towns and cities, the major Loire Valley Chateaux along with other important historical monuments.