dossier

Loire Gastronomic Cycling

Day 1: Arrive at Chissay
We meet you and take you to your fabulous château hotel where you’ve time for a swim before dinner.

Day 2: Chissay /Chitenay  (31km/17mi)
You first follow the river into Montrichard with itscharming old quarter huddled beneath the 11C keep. Then along the Cher,possibly stopping for lunch on the terrace beside the fortifiedmediaeval château of Fougères-sur-Bièvre. Then it’s through acres ofvineyards, still on wonderfully quiet back roads, to the elegant littlevillage of Chitenay, where Gilles Martinet and his team run theirlovely hotel - the food here is superb!

Day 3: At Chitenay
The traffic-free roads around this area are ideal fordiscovering caves offering dégustations of Touraine wine. Among thechâteaux, Beauregard is magnificent: it has a rare 16C kitchen, and aportrait gallery with a Delft paved earthenware floor and hundreds ofpictures. The château at nearby Cheverny, a 17C grand family house witha wonderful white stone façade, still has its original furniture andfittings. In mediaeval Blois there’s a way-marked walk round thehistoric royal sites including the amazing château, with its famousoctagonal staircase. Or you can cycle to the magnificent château atChambord, considered by many to be the finest of the Loire sights.

Day 4: Chitenay/St Aignan  (38km/21mi)
Cycle through well-tended vineyards and sleepy hamlets,perhaps stopping off to explore the nearby manor house at Troussay. Alunch stop at Chémery gives you time to wander round its 15C moatedchâteau before setting off to ride through the leafy shade of the Forêtde Gros Bois. You emerge into Noyers-sur-Cher with its 13C church and12C chapel, then cross the Cher into the charming mediaeval town of StAignan-sur-Cher where our hotel overlooks the river.

Day 5: At St Aignan
A staircase lined with trees leads down from St Aignan’sfine Renaissance château to a huge Romanesque collegiate church with an11C decorated crypt and fine views from its tower. You can take acruise along the river and there’s a lovely open air swimming pool too(Jul/Aug only). A 6km bike ride away is the beautifully landscapedBeauval Animal Park, dedicated to breeding endangered species, whererare white tigers, gorillas, manatees and other animals live in spaceand comfort. Selles-sur-Cher (home of a delightfully fresh creamygoat’s cheese), with its historic abbey and museum of local life, isabout 12km east, along the river.

Day 6: St Aignan/ Chissay (22km/12mi or 30km/17mi)
Another quiet ride along country lanes takes you pastthe private Château de Razay and then head through woodland to the 15CChâteau de Montpoupon, with its charming Renaissance gatehouse. Thechâteau has long been an important centre for hunting deer and wildboar, and the Venery Museum is not for the faint-hearted! Then on to StGeorges-sur-Cher, with its 12C Romanesque church, totally unspoilt portand vineyards, where you cross the river before the final stretchthrough woods to our hotel - and a welcome dip in the pool!

Day 7: Leave Montrichard