Central Virginia, also known as the Piedmont, is the largest region of the state of Virginia and contains the state capital, Richmond. It is marked on the east by the Fall Line, and on the west by the Appalachian Mountains. The southern part of this region, bordering on North Carolina, is generally referred to in the state as "Southside Virginia".

Cities and Towns

• Ashland
• Charlottesville
• Culpeper
• Danville
• Farmville
• Fredericksburg
• Hanover
• Lynchburg
• Martinsville
• Petersburg
• Richmond
• Amherst
• Locust Dale

Other Destinations

• Appomattox Court House National Historic Park
• Fairy Stone State Park
• Kings Dominion
• Monticello
• National D-Day Memorial

Understand

Richmond began as a small trading town on the James River, at the Fall Line, where ships could no longer progress inland. Cities such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Martinsville grew as trade centers on roads traveled by pioneers heading west through gaps in the Appalachian Mountains.

The capital of Virginia was moved from Williamsburg to Richmond during the Revolutionary War, as it was inland and was safe from the firepower of the British Navy (it was captured by the British Army at a later date). Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death," speech took place at St. John's Church.

Richmond was named the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. In the spring of 1865, the city was captured and burned by Union Forces. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, east of Lynchburg, shortly after.

Talk

As with most of Virginia, the farther south you go, the stronger the accent gets.

Get in

• Richmond Amtrak
• Interstate 95 from the north or south.
• Interstate 64 from the east or west.

Get around

• Interstate 95 runs through the region north and south.
• Interstate 64 runs through the region east and west.
• Route 29 runs from Charlottesville to Lynchburg.

See

• Appomattox Court House National Historic Park, Appomattox, Virginia. The site of the surrender of the Confederate forces, marking the end of the Civil War, is restored to tell the story of that day.
• Fairy Stone State Park, west of Martinsville, Virginia. Located near the southern border, Fairy Stone State Park is named for the unique cross-shaped brown crystals found here. Local legends claim they guard against sickness and danger.
• Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia. The house depicted on the back of the nickel is more than yet another Presidential residence. Monticello reflects a wide variety of third President Thomas Jefferson's interests and hobbies, including his inventions, the neo-classical architecture repeated at UVA, and mementos from the William and Clark expedition.
• National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, Virginia. Bedford was chosen for the memorial for having lost more young men during the invasion of Normandy than any other town in America, per capita.

Do

• Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia. One of Virginia's two nationally known theme parks.
• Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia. The other nationally known theme park.

Eat

If visiting the shopping district of Historic Fredericksburg, all of the restaurants on Caroline St. are popular with locals.

Drink

• Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville, Virginia. A vineyard set on a historic estate in Jefferson country.