Loire à Vélo: cycle tour from Orléans to Saumur

Your cycling tour in Loire the Valley:

Day 1 : Arrival in Orléans

Discover Orléans, the nice city settled on the Loire river banks with its imposing cathedral dominating the town.

Day 2 : Orléans – Beaugency | 26 km

Leave the city easily by following the “Loire à Vélo” trails and follow the Loire river banks up to the nice chateau de Meung-sur-Loire. Continue to the flower-filled city of Beaugency overlooked by its 11th century dungeon.

OptionVisit of Château of Meung-sur-Loire (Included in the "Visit Package")

P-Forget CRT Centre-Val de Loire

Free visit of this chateau which has two faces: a mediaeval facade and a classic style facade. It is one of the oldest chateaus in the French department of the Loiret and hosted many famous names in French history, like François 1st or Louis XI. It also served as a prison… so don’t miss the dungeons and the torture chamber!

Day 3 : Beaugency – Blois | 45 km

Leaving Beaugency and the loire river, discover the Sologne area and of course Chambord, a masterpiece of the French Renaissance period. Continue following the cycling paths in the direction of Blois which presents a rich historical heritage with the château, a perfect illustration of how French architecture evolved between the Middle Ages and the 17th century.

OptionVisit of the Chateau of Chambord (Included in the "Visit Package")

RandoVélo

Free visit of the chateau, the Renaissance Splendour built for the glory of François Ist. Chambord boasts 440 rooms and 282 chimneys, it’s the most impressive and prestigious from the Loire Valley. And take time to enjoy the new French style gardens.

Day 4 : Blois – Amboise | 42 km

Follow the ‘pays des châteaux’ cycling tracks to the château of Chaumont-sur-Loire, which majestically dominates the Loire river and the little town, before reaching the city of Amboise and its royal château. The castle’s chapel shelters Leonardo Da Vinci’s tomb, and a few streets further on, you can see the last residence of this genius : The Clos Lucé Manor house.

OptionVisit of the International Garden Festival & Chateau of Chaumont-sur-Loire (Included in the "Visit Package")

C. Diaz

Free chateau entrance which proudly dominates the town and the river and where Catherine de Médicis queen lived.
Follow on your visit discovering the extraordinary International Garden Festival. It’s a real laboratory for contemporary gardens where many landscape creators challenge their imagination with originality.

OptionCanoe trip on the Loire river (Mosnes > Amboise)

ADT37 – JC Coutand

Vary the pleasures and treat yourself a new way to discover all the wealth that the Loire river can offer. From your canoe, peacefully tame the last wild river in Europe and admire extraordinary views of its fauna and flora, combined with an incomparable feeling of being far from civilization (approx. 1h30).

Day 5 : Amboise – Tours (via Chenonceaux) | 53 km (or 24 km)

Leave Amboise following the beautiful bike path through the forest of Amboise to join the famous Château de Chenonceau, straddling the Cher river, and which was the scene of a famous rivalry in French history: that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Then cycle the brand new bike paths of the Cher à Vélo! Ride along the river, lined with private castles and pretty typical Touraine houses to Montlouis-sur-Loire and the chateau of Bourdaisière. Now reach the city of Tours to discover the old neighbourhood with its typical half-timbered houses.

Possibility to shorten the stage following the « Loire à Vélo » cycling paths through Montlouis vineyards and allowing to discover the numerous cellars producing the region’s famous sweet white and sparkling wines.

OptionVisit of the Clos Lucé – Parc Leonardo Da Vinci (Included in the "Visit Package")

Clos Lucé

Free visit of the Manor House where Leonardo da Vinci, at the request of the French King François 1st, spent the last three years of his life. Discover his workshop and the fabulous machines designed by the inventor. Then go for a walk in the park landscaped around the artistic and visionary universe of the greatest creative genius.

Day 6 : Tours – Azay le Rideau | 43 km

A start along the Cher river, still on the “Loire à Vélo” trails up to the famous French classical gardens of Villandry. Continue towards the castle of Langeais, splendor of the 15th century, then towards Azay le Rideau in the Indre Valley, with its romantic château, a Renaissance marvel in a water and greenery setting.

OptionVisit of the Gardens of Villandry (Included in the "Visit Package")

chat. Villandry

Visit on your own of the famous « French style » Renaissance gardens and castle. The richness of the gardens at Villandry comes from their diversity, which is unique in Europe: a perfect harmony between the immense, decorative kitchen garden, and an ornamental garden based on the theme of ‘love’, water and music gardens, etc.

Day 7 : Azay le Rideau – Chinon | 39 km

From one valley to the next: the Vienne Valley. This stage reveals several marvels, such as the Château d’Ussé, which inspired Perrault to write his “Sleeping Beauty” fairytale, and Chinon “la Médiévale”, in the heart of the vineyards and dominated by its mediaeval castle, where Joan of Arc met the King of France there in 1429! No need to say that Chinon is famous for its red wine …

OptionVisit of the Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau (Included in the "Visit Package")

Léonard de Serres

Free visit of this chateau, which is a real jewel of the Loire Valley. Built during the reign of the French King, François 1st, today it is considered a model of French Renaissance architecture. Its exceptional location, on an island in the middle of the River Indre, gives it a pleasant, romantic atmosphere.

OptionWine tasting in Chinon (Included in the "Visit Package")

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Discover and taste the ‘Chinon’ appellation wines, in the cellar of a winegrower.

Day 8 : Chinon – Saumur | 36 km (+ option 12 km)

To end your journey, the “Loire à Vélo” routes lead you to the village of Candes-Saint-Martin (where you can visit the magnificent 12th and 13th century collegiate church) and to the beautiful village of Montsoreau. Continue along troglodyte sites and vineyards before reaching Saumur overshadowed by its imposing château.
Option : you have the opportunity to reach Fontevraud abbey, Europe’s largest remaining monastic complex which is the Necropolis of the Plantagenêts kings!
Departure at the end of the stage.

Possibility to book an extra night in Saumur.

OptionCanoe trip on the Vienne river (Chinon > Montsoreau)

Clan

Embark on a canoe trip on the Vienne river! From the fortress of Chinon, glide over the water between freshness and silence, to reach the superb village of Candes-Saint-Martin, at the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne. Now sail the Loire river to Montsoreau and its castle, the only one in the whole Loire valley to welcome you with its feet in the water! (approx. 3h).

The little extra with Biking France:

• Private return transfer from Saumur to Orléans – (rate on request).

• Our « Visit Package », with entrance fees to

. Domaine de Chambord (chateau & gardens)
. château de Meung-sur-Loire
. Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire (château + Garden Festival)
. Clos Lucé – Parc Leonardo Da Vinci in Amboise
. Villandry Gardens (Gardens & Château)
. château d’Azay-le-Rideau
+ a wine tasting in Chinon