Cycling Loire Valley (West)

You arrive in Tours by yourself, preferably in the morning. Walking to our bike store is easy: it is only 150m away from the train station. We give you your road-books and your bikes as well as all needed information.

Cycling on the “Loire à Vélo” itinerary, along the Cher River, you soon reach Château de Villandry which offers the best example in France of formal Renaissance gardens. You keep on pedaling through the country towards Azay-le Rideau, a pretty little town which delicate Renaissance castle seems to float on the Indre River.

Today you cycle towards Langeais and its 15th Century fortress, and later you reach Château d’Ussé, the enchanting castle of Sleeping Beauty. You proceed through woods and vineyards of the Chinon area – wine tasting is recommended en route! – and you arrive in the medieval town of Chinon.

(long option: +14km)​

You cross a picturesque landscape enameled with white stone villages and smaller chateaux: here you are in the heart of the Touraine County. For a longer option: cycle to Crissay-sur-Manse, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. You come back to Chinon along the “Route des Vins“, following the hillside overlooking the quiet course of the Vienne river. All along the way you pass many wineries and vineyards.

Across the peaceful countryside where famous medieval French author François Rabelais spent his youth, you reach the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, one of the biggest abbeys of western Christendom. Discover the exceptional sites of Candes-Saint-Martin and Montsoreau, two of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Ride across the Saumur-Champigny vineyards where wine tasting is recommended! Discover Saumur and its Château overlooking the Loire River.

You leave the bikes at our bike rental place in Saumur and you walk less than 1 minute to the train station.