On idyllic pathways to magnificent French castles
By e-bike through the eternal garden of France: 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 cycle paths and the unspoiled countryside are worth the trip in themselves. The uniqueness of the Loire Valley lies in its hundreds of châteaux and castles, all of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for several years. Reputable names such as Chambord Castle, Chenonceaux Castle and Villandry are on our route. You will visit the magnificent Renaissance châteaux and most important royal buildings and admire the meticulously laid out English gardens that surround the châteaux. The gardens are often laid out in a checkerboard pattern and surrounded by boxwood, with roses, water features, herbs and many colorful flowers that are planted and removed depending on the season. Wonderful accommodation awaits you in the evening. We have reserved rooms for you in two formerly private castles, which are now run as upscale, small hotels, as well as in personal, family-run old town hotels.
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 Saumur
- Specialties & Sparkling 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 tour 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, you will see 16th century Renaissance-style houses with mansard roofs and winding half-timbered houses. We will show you the impressive Gothic cathedral with its 70-meter-high towers and the richly decorated rose window in the southern nave, which is still the seat of the archbishop today. After the city tour, we will take you to a selected restaurant in the old town of Tours for dinner. One overnight stay at the Chateau Belmont in Tours.
Day 2: The Fairytale Castle of Ussé | 41 kilometers by bike - easy stage
Visit to the artistically designed gardens of the Renaissance castle of Villandry on three levels. We will guide you through the original gardens with their perfect chessboard-like shapes, ornamental boxwood beds and rose bushes, which are constantly tended. The first cycling stage is ideal for getting to know the area. It runs parallel to the river again and again, is flat and almost exclusively reserved for cyclists. The e-bike takes you to Ussé Castle (photo stop). The writer Charles Perrault was inspired by the romantic castle for his work, the French version of Sleeping Beauty. After the visit, a tasty picnic with French specialties awaits you, prepared for you by your tour guides. You will reach Saumur by transfer in the afternoon. 1st overnight stay in the old town of Saumur.
Day 3: Champagne in Saumur | 37 km by bike - easy stage
Sparkling wine and equestrian sports are the passions of this town, which offers one of the most beautiful views of the Loire Valley. After visiting the castle, you cycle along the Loire around Saumur. During a visit to a sparkling wine cellar in the afternoon, we will learn all kinds of interesting facts about the sparkling pleasure. 2nd overnight stay and dinner in a restaurant in the old town.
Day 4: Cycle tour to the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud | 44 km by bike - easy stage
Today you cycle along tranquil paths past lush green meadows and bright fields to Fontevraud Abbey. Experience the largest monastic site in Europe. Eleanor of Aquitaine and her son Richard the Lionheart are buried here. Let the guided tour explain the significance of this building and its royal management. In St. Martin, you can visit the place where St. Martin died and then, after a tasty lunch break, you will reach Chinon, the home town of the famous humanist and poet Francois Rabelais and a royal seat in the time of Joan of Arc. “Chinon, Chinon - small, famous town - built on ancient rock - high above the forest, with the Vienne at its feet”. With these verses, the poet Francois Rabelais created a literary monument to his home town. You start today with a tour of the town of Chinon, which sits on a mountain spur above the river Vienne. It is crowned by the remains of the castle, which was chosen by Henry of Plantagenet as his preferred residence in the 12th century. The ruins actually consist of three different parts. Narrow alleyways and numerous houses in the town are reminders of the lively court life. Get to know the pretty town on an evening stroll. Dinner and overnight stay in Chinon.
Day 5: From Chinon to the castle of Azay-le-Rideau | 44 km by bike - easy stage
At the gates of Chinon, your bike is ready to set off. The first stage takes you along the vineyards of Touraine, full of aromatic grapes. The wines produced here are among the best in France. Famous red wines made from Cabernet-Franc are stored in the wine cellars. The cellars are actually caves carved into the limestone, which provide ideal storage facilities thanks to their even temperatures. The extracted limestone was used to build the mighty castles. In the morning, you will reach Château Le Rivau, whose origins date back to the 13th century. Hidden behind high walls are 12 interesting themed gardens (tour). In the afternoon, you will overcome a hilly section with a transfer to the village of Azay-le-Rideau. The castle of the infamous knight Ridel d'Azay, built in the 16th century, is located in an English park and is a masterful wonder of grace and purity. Outside, it is dominated by small towers and inside it has one of the first straight interior staircases and a richly decorated interior (visit). After the tour, it is only a few meters to your hotel, which is located in the heart of the old town. Overnight stay at the Hotel Le Grand Monarque.
Day 6: River meadows & Chenonceau moated castle | 63 km by bike - easy stage
From the hotel, you cycle out of the town and along the floodplains of the Indre. The cycle path does not always run directly parallel to the river. Time and again, the route diverge. Then you cycle through the green, hilly landscape. Pretty French villages are on your route. In the afternoon you reach the moated castle of Chenonceau. This building is unique as it was built on a multi-arched bridge over the River Cher. In the 16th century, Catherine de Medici had a three-storey gallery with a banqueting hall built on top. The interior of the castle houses valuable paintings by Rubens and Tintoretto, which you can admire during your visit. It is only a few kilometers to your romantic hotel, the Château de Chissay. 1 overnight stay and dinner at the Château de Chissay hotel.
Day 7: Leonardo da Vinci & Chateau Chambord - | 59 km by bike - easy stage
In the morning, a short transfer will take you to Amboise. Leonardo da Vinci was the most famous Italian guest here. A collection of his technical designs can be admired in his residence Clos Lucé. The route continues through gardens and vineyards before soon arriving at the fairytale castle of Chaumont, perched above the banks of the Loire. One of the most beautiful sections of the Loire takes us past Blois to Chambord, the most imposing of all Loire castles. The impression is unforgettable when the multi-towered silhouette of the huge castle complex appears in the middle of the parkland. A transfer takes you to the hotel in Tours in the evening, where you end the day with an exclusive dinner. One overnight stay at the Chateau Belmont in Tours.
Day 8: Au Revoir Loire - Departure
Your trip ends in Tours after breakfast. Choose between departure by train or a transfer (to be booked) back to Tours. We will be happy to book the right train connection or flights for you.
The minimum number of participants are 8 guests.
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PRIVATIZE A TRIP
Experience the Freedom of Bespoke Travel. Imagine all the possibilities, and let us bring them to life. With our bespoke travel option, you have the power to design your perfect cycling adventure. Whether it's for a group of friends, a couple, or a family, we can customize our bike tours to suit your preferences.
You decide who joins you, how and when you want to travel, and where you want to explore. Our Experience Designer will work closely with you to craft a personalized itinerary, infused with insider knowledge, local connections, and a touch of magic.
Ready to start planning? Before we begin, we'd love to hear more about your vision. Get in touch today to begin your bespoke cycling adventure: Info@terranova-touristik.de | +49-69693054.
