Voyages Terra Natura: Detail page

The famous royal castles are impressive on the cycle tour along the Loire in France. Names like Chenonceau or Chambord are world-famous and stand as witnesses to a time when the Loire Valley was the political and cultural center of France - pleasure garden and lifeline of the "Grande Nation". The green, naturally beautiful river landscape presents itself to you as impressive and lovely at the same time. The Loire has created a river bed, some of which is several kilometers wide, with gravel banks, islands and dreamy side valleys. A little paradise in the heart of France. Our journey begins in Anjou, a graceful stretch of land where the freshness of the Atlantic is palpable - as fresh and serene as the wine that is pressed here. The prevailing westerly winds give us additional impetus on our way to the most beautiful Renaissance castles in the Loire Valley and into the wooded Sologne.

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Day 1 : Arrival in Angers

In the afternoon, you will meet your guide in Angers. This charming student city has a rich historical and cultural heritage. We first admire the monumental "Apocalypse" tapestry, the most important set of mediaeval tapestries remaining in the world, during a guided tour of the castle of Angers. Then we stroll through the old town with its early Gothic cathedral and 15th century half-timbered buildings. In the evening, we enjoy our dinner in a restaurant near the hotel.

Day 2: Up the Loire in Anjou - approx. 55 km

We leave Angers and enjoy a first cycling stage along the Loire River, admiring the beautiful views of the fertile lands of Anjou. We reach Saumur in the afternoon. Sparkling wine and equestrian sports are the specialties of this town with its magnificent panorama of the Loire Valley. We will learn more about this sparkling pleasure during the visit of a wine cellar. Afterwards, we will cycle back to the hotel at a leisurely pace and enjoy dinner at a small and welcoming restaurant.

Day 3: Fontevraud and Rabelais - about 36 km

In the morning, we stroll through Saumur to the castle and then ride through a beautiful landscape overlooking the Loire Valley to Fontevraud, one of the largest abbeys in France. Eleanor of Aquitaine and her son Richard the Lionheart are buried here. The imposing estate, with its original octagonal monastic kitchen, offers a glimpse of its mediaeval life. Following the delightful valley of the Vienne River, we travel to the small town of Chinon, home of the famous humanist and poet François Rabelais, among others. We discover Chinon in detail during an evening guided tour (2 nights).

Day 4: Vienne and Indre valleys - approx. 40 km

Following the Vienne valley, we arrive at the small picturesque village of Crissay-sur-Manse, classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. After a walk, we visit the castle of Azay-le-Rideau, a magnificent Renaissance building surrounded by the waters of the Indre. In the afternoon, we take a cab to Chinon.

Day 5 : Villandry and Tours - approx. 35 km

This day we will enjoy cycling on a beautiful path along the Loire River. We admire the view of the castle of Langeais before pedalling to our picnic area by the river. It's only a short ride to Villandry, where we take time to visit the amazing, artistically landscaped Renaissance gardens. In the afternoon, we will return to our hotel in the center of Tours. We'll learn more about Tours on a guided walk through the old town, with its beautifully restored half-timbered buildings. In the evening, we have dinner in a traditional local restaurant.

Day 6: The Ladies' Castle and Leonardo da Vinci - approx. 55 km

In the morning, we cycle through the Cher valley to the water-filled castle of Chenonceau. Known as the "Château des Dames", it has an undeniable romantic charm. We continue our journey to Amboise, home of the most famous Italian, Leonardo da Vinci. In his residence of Clos Lucé, we can admire a collection of his technical drawings, reproduced identically by IBM. We overnight in Amboise.

Day 7: Chambord - the 440-room hunting lodge - approx. 62 km

Our journey takes us through orchards and vineyards until we catch a glimpse of the captivating Chaumont Castle perched on the banks of the Loire River.. We then continue our route through the forested Sologne region to reach the most magnificent castle - a symbol of the Renaissance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Chambord.. We let ourselves be guided through the apartments. At the end of the day, we arrive at the Manoir Bel Air, a former manor house transformed into a hotel, ideally located on the banks of the Loire. We end the day with a delicious evening meal.

Day 8: Blois and departure

We transfer by car to the nearby town of Blois. The famous royal castle of Blois, often referred to as the Versailles of the Renaissance, is the city's landmark. We relish in the bustling atmosphere of its streets before saying our goodbyes at the train station.