On idyllic pathways to magnificent French castles
Gliding through the eternal gardens of France on an e-bike: The Loire meanders through a graceful, gentle landscape with blooming ornamental gardens, light-flooded forests and fields from which cornflowers rise. The beautiful and easy to ride cycle ways as well as the primordial landscape are already worth a trip. The uniqueness of the Loire Valley consists in hundreds of palaces and castles, all of which have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for several years. Honorable names such as Chambord Castle, Chenonceaux Castle and Villandry are on our route. You will visit magnificent Renaissance castles, impressive royal buildings and admire the meticulously laid out English gardens that surround the castles. The horticulture, often arranged in checkered shapes surrounded by boxwood, is pretty to look at with its roses, fountains, herbs and many colorful flowers that are planted according to the seasons.
On this e-bike journey you will also reach the impressive Abbey of Fontevraud. Along with Cluny, it is one of the most important monastic sites in Europe and was ruled by royal blood. Tours and Blois are two imposing cities steeped in history with beautiful old towns, châteaux and monumental Gothic cathedrals.
Wonderful accommodation awaits you in the evening. We have reserved rooms for you in two formerly private castles, which are now run as small, upscale hotels, as well as in family-run hotels in the old towns.
Highlights
- One of the most beautiful cycle tracks of France in the Loire Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Accommodation in picturesque hotels
- Visits and entrance fees to the most famous chateaux of the Loire
- Guided tours in the old towns of Tours and Blois
- Specialties & Wine Tasting
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This is what our guests say: “Extraordinary picnics! Excellent care and service by our two tour guides! Impeccable choice of hotels and restaurants especially for the final dinner in Blois!”
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ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO THE EPISCOPAL CITY OF TOURS
In the afternoon, your guide will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby for a guided tour of the city. Experience the historic old town and the magnificent town hall. On the "Plumereau" square there are residential buildings from the 16th century in the Renaissance style with mansard roofs and labyrinthine half-timbered houses. We will show you the impressive Gothic cathedral with its 70 meter high towers and the ornate rose window in the southern nave, which is still the archbishop's seat today. After the city tour, we will take you back to the hotel, which is located in the city center. For dinner we will take you to a selected restaurant in the old town of Tours. 1 night at Chateau Belmont in Tours.
DAY 2: THE FAIRYTALE CASTLE OF USSÉ | 49 kilometers by bike - easy stage
Your e-bikes are ready for departure at the hotel. After setting up and customizing the bikes and equipment for you, we cycle out of the city and along the gorgeous Loire Cycle Path to Villandry Castle. The first stretch is ideal for breaking in the bikes. It always runs parallel to the river, is flat and reserved almost exclusively for cyclists. In the late morning, the Renaissance Castle of Villandry appears in front of you. Built in the 16th century style within an English garden that extends over three levels. We will guide you through the original gardens with perfect, chessboard-like shapes, ornamental beds of boxwood and rose bushes, which are constantly tended.
After the visit, a tasty picnic with French specialties awaits you, which your guides will prepare for you. You then follow the course of the Loire again and at the end of the day's stage you reach Ussé Castle. The romantic castle inspired the writer Charles Perrault to one of his works, the French version of the fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty” (photo stop).
From there we drive you to your hotel in Chinon for the next two nights, which is located in the middle of the picturesque old town of Chinon. Dinner and 1st night at the Hotel De France.
DAY 3: ENJOYABLE CYCLING TOUR TO THE ROYAL ABBEY OF FONTEVRAUD | 35 km by bike - Very easy stage
"Chinon, Chinon – illustrious little town - built on old rock - high up the forest, at your feet the Vienne". With these verses, the poet Francois Rabelais created a literary monument to his hometown. You start today with a city tour through the town of Chinon, which rests on a mountain spur above the river Vienne. It is distinguished by the remains of the castle that Henry of Plantagenet chose as his favorite residence in the 12th century. Actually, the ruin consists of three different parts. Narrow streets and numerous houses in the village are still reminiscent of the lively court life. After the city tour, get on your bike and ride on tranquil paths past lush green meadows and bright fields to Candes St. Martin. In town, marvel at the seemingly fortified portal, decorated with many sculptures, before a picnic with regional cheese specialties and a good glass of red wine awaits you.
In the afternoon you will reach the largest monastic site in Europe, Fontevraud Abbey. Let the guided tour explain the importance of this building and its royal leadership. After the visit you have the choice to cycle back to Chinon or take a transfer from Fontevraud back to your hotel. 2. Overnight stay at the Hotel De France. The evening is free tonight. Your tour guide will give you a recommendation for a restaurant and will be happy to reserve a table for you.
DAY 4: FROM CHINON TO THE CASTLE OF AZAY-LE-RIDEAU | 44 km by bike - Easy stage
After breakfast your bike is ready for departure at the gates of Chinon. The first stage leads along the vineyards of Touraine, full of aromatic grapes. The wines produced here are among the best in all of France. Famous red wines from Cabernet-Franc are stored in the wine cellars. The cellars are actually caves hewn into the limestone, which make for ideal deposits due to their even temperatures. The extracted limestone was used to build mighty castles. Before noon you will reach the Château Le Rivau, which dates back to the 13th century. Hidden behind high walls are 12 themed gardens worth seeing (tour). In the afternoon you will overcome a hilly section by transfer to the village of Azay-le-Rideau. In an English park lies the 16th century castle of the notorious knight Ridel d'Azay, a masterly marvel of grace and purity. Outside it is dominated by small towers and inside it has one of the first straight internal staircases and a richly decorated interior (visit). After the tour, it is only a few meters to your hotel, which is located in the middle of the old town. 1 night and dinner at Hotel Le Grand Monarque.
DAY 5: CHENONCEAU WATER CASTLE | 37 km by bike - easy stage
From the hotel you will cycle out of town and along the floodplains of the Indre River. The cycle path does not always run parallel to the river. Again and again the path moves away. Then you cycle through the green, hilly landscape. Pretty French villages lie along your route. In the afternoon you will reach the Chenonceau moated castle. This structure is unique because it was built on a multi-arched bridge over the Cher River. Catherine de Medici had a three-story gallery with a banquet hall built on it in the 16th century. The interior of the castle houses valuable paintings by Rubens and Tintoretto, which you will view during the tour. It is only a few more kilometers to your romantic hotel, the Château de Chissay. 1 night and dinner at the Hotel Château de Chissay.
DAY 6: LEONARDO DA VINCI AND CHAMBORD CASTLE | 60 km by bike - very easy stage
In the morning we take you to Amboise with a short transfer. Leonardo da Vinci was the most
most famous Italian guest. His residence, Clos Lucé, houses a collection of his technical designs designs can be marvelled at. We continue through gardens and vineyards to soon reach the castle that towers above the Chaumont, a fairytale castle perched above the Loire. One of the most beautiful stretches of the of the Loire leads us to Blois. Visible from afar, the town of Blois is enthroned on a hill. Over a monumental bridge leads to the old town of Blois. The castle towers above the town on a rocky spur (visit). In the late afternoon we take you back to Tours, the starting point of your journey. Before dinner, we will take you for a walk through the old town and take you to an exclusive dinner.
DAY 7: DEPARTURE
Our trip ends after breakfast. Choose between departure by train or a transfer (extra charge) to Paris airport. We will be happy to book suitable flights for you. If you depart by TGV-train from Tours, your guides will take you to the TGV station. We recommend an extension in Tours or Orléans.
The minimum number of participants are 8 guests.
