Cycling Tours in france

The Loire is the largest river in France flowing from the Massif Central to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the rivers lower reaches and tribiturries are the ornate chateaux built by the french noblemen in the 300 years before the French Revolution. In the same area are the vineyards that collectively produce the Vins de Touraine, many of which can be tasted along the way.

Our tour starts at Amboise and ends at Saumur, providing an opportunity to visit the following chateaux: Amboise, Chaumont, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Usse, Chinon, and Saumur as well as Le Clos Luce (Leonardo da Vinci's home at Amboise), Balzac's house at Sache, the Abbey of Fontevraud and the superb classical gardens of Villandry. We can explore the vineyards of Chinon and Saumur, and follow the banks of the Rivers Cher, Indre and Vienne as well as of those of the Loire itself.

On your first days cycling you follow the Loire valley downstream for a few kms, then to the small market town of Blere on the river Cher. From Blere our route follows the Cher Valley upstream to the Indre Valley, where our hotel nestles below the Chateaux of Loches. The next day there is an easy ride following the peaceful Indre downstream to Montbazon. On day 5 you have a choice of routes. Either follow the Indre Valley to Azay-le-Rideau, which gives the opportunity to visit the home of the novelist Balzac, or ride from Montbazon to the celebrated gardens at Villandry. In Azay-le-Rideau, the famous chateau built on an island, is illuminated by night (mid May to mid September) for a son-et-lumiere show. From Azay-le-Rideau you can visit the Chateau d' Usse used by the fairytale writer Perrault as a model for 'Sleeping Beauty'. Before continuing on to Chinon the centre of a well known wine-growing region.

Your final day's cycling takes you from Chinon to Saumur through the Foret de Fontevraud to the celebrated Abbey. Continue along the steep south bank of the Loire to Saumur, which is dominated by its gothic chateau.