Itinerary through the châteaux of Touraine
La Loire à Vélo: a route to explore the Châteaux of the Loire.
Map in hand, set off on a week’s journey among the châteaux of Touraine. Day by day, discover the stages of this tour, with breathtaking views and gourmet stops.
Famille en Vélos au Château de Chenonceau
vélos en forêt de chinon - TouraineEach day has its own stage
Saturday – Amboise, at the heart of the Renaissance
Your journey from home will take up part of this first day. If you arrive early, you may have time to visit one of these three châteaux in the afternoon: the Royal Château of Amboise, the Clos Lucé, the royal estate of Château Gaillard.
Dinner at Lion d’Or (Master Restaurateurs, adept at “home-made”, with local and seasonal produce).
Night: the bed and breakfast La vie en rose, the hotel Le Clos d’Amboise, or the “bivouac” or equipped tents at the camping de l’Île d’Or.
Sunday – 20 km, 1h30 – Chenonceaux, between nature and splendour
Well-rested, devote your morning to another visit, or do some food shopping at Amboise’s large market. After a little gourmet stopover at the chocolaterie Bigot, collect your hire bike (equipped with panniers, if necessary, and which you can return to another location), and set off for the village of Chenonceaux (via part of the loop 47 route known as “la voie royale”), through the Amboise national forest. If you’re not tired by the time you arrive, you should have time to treat yourself to a little ride in a Canadian canoe.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Auberge du bon laboureur (La clef verte label), or in a tent at the River Camp.
Monday – 35 km, 2h30 – Towards Tours, the Touraine Capital
The morning tour takes you to the park and castle of Chenonceau (no “x” in the name of the castle, unlike the village!). Steeped in history, each room is also adorned with magnificent bouquets, composed by Jean-François Bouchet, floral designer and… meilleur ouvrier de France! In the afternoon, pedal leisurely along the Coeur de France cycle route to the capital of Touraine.
Night at The People Hostel (a concept halfway between hotel and youth hostel) or at camping Only Camp Tours Saint-Avertin.
Tuesday – 30km, 2h – Tours to Azay-le-Rideau via Villandry
Once again, we don’t linger on this journey of the châteaux of the Loire by bike: to visit Tours, we’ll have to come back another time! In the morning, take the La Loire à Vélo route, heading for Savonnières(lunch at the guinguette La soupette de Mémère, near the Cher) and then the extraordinary gardensof Villandry. After this sightseeing break, you’ll need to set course for Azay-le-Rideau.
Dinner at the Aigle d’Or and overnight at the hotel (au Grand Monarque or the Biencourt) or Le Sabot campsite.
Loire A Velo Montlouis Amboise Credit Adt Touraine Jc Coutand 2034 81
Cave de la Sibylle à PanzoultWednesday – 15km, 1 h – Towards Langeais, in the footsteps of History
After visiting the château d’Azay-le-Rideau (Centre des Monuments Nationaux) or l’Islette (a place of refuge for housing the love affairs of Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel), take up the aerial that winds its way up the Loire by bike to your next base camp: a camping Loire et Châteaux, a night on the Loire aboard the toue Reine, or the pretty chambres d’hôtes at Domaine du Val Sauvage. Two addresses to remember for gourmets:
- Au coin des halles: the refined dishes and value for money are unanimously acclaimed;
- La cabane à matelot: Loire fisherman, Romain Gadais supplies his restaurant, which boasts a lovely view of the royal river, directly.
Thursday – 28km, 1h45 – Head for Chinon, fortress and vineyards
Medieval on one side, Renaissance on the other, the château de Langeais has many facets to seduce you, not to mention its large wooded park. It was here that Anne de Bretagne’s marriage to Charles VIII sealed Brittany’s integration into the kingdom of France. This may well be on your mind as you wind your way towards Chinon, in the heart of its imposing vineyards.
Dinner at the wine bar of la cave des Silènes, then overnight at the hôtel Diderot, or in a canvas bungalow at the l’Ile Auger campsite.
Friday – 30km, 2h – Heading for Saumur: between fortresses and the gentle way of life
Richard the Lionheart, Charles VII,Jeanne d’Arc or even Jacques de Molay (Grand Master of the Templar Order): all these personalities passed through the royal fortress of Chinon, whose high ramparts dominate the Vienne. These walls have many stories to tell.
For the final cycling section of your week, three choice stops await you: Candes-Saint-Martin and Montsoreau (two neighbouring communes, members of the Most Beautiful Villages in France), as well as Turquant, Petite Cité de Caractère.
Saturday
A little last on the route of the Loire Valley châteaux by bike? That of Saumur, and then it’ll be time to catch the train back home!
Candes Saint Martin Credit Jc Coutand Meheut 2027 5
