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A charming circuit in the heart of the Loire, this tour follows the wonderful Loire River, as well as the Indre, the Cher and the Vienne, taking in numerous Unesco World Heritage classified châteaux along the way: Amboise, Chenonceau, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Langeais,... An enchanting cycle tour that makes the most of a superb cycle network along tranquil waterways, all the while discovering the immense cultural and architectural heritage of the region. An opportunity to visit the area’s many wine cellars and vineyards, as well as the troglodyte caves of Turquant and Souzay-Champigny. To top it all off, the majority of the itinerary is on green lanes and dedicated bike routes.
Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9am in Tours with the baggage drop off (rendez-vous close to the railway station). On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Tours.
A secure car park is available next to the train station. The "sud" section offers the cheapest tarifs. For more info: www.resaplace.com. If you arrive by car, a train service is avalable in order to return to Tours from Langeais at the end of your trip.
Beginning in the city of Tours, we follow the magnificent Loire River, taking the time to appreciate the many châteaux and charming country manor houses along the way. The tranquillity of this great river, the longest in France, quickly works its charm with its thickets and leafy hedgerows, its fields and pastures, its isolated hamlets and farms. The river is also an oasis for a large variety of maritime and continental birds. As we reach Montlouis, the small amount of elevation gained so far is enough to offer beautiful panoramic views of the Loire. We then arrive in Amboise, the first notable historical site of our tour. The town has a rich and colourful past with its Royal château and the Clos Lucé, former residence of Leonardo de Vinci. The charming cobblestoned streets and street side cafés offer plenty of opportunities to explore and relax. Night in Amboise.
Distance covered: approx. 25 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m
We gain a little altitude this morning in order to reach the forest of Amboise which we cross before taking the time to visit the fabulous Château de Chenonceau, built in 1513. After our visit we continue our journey by means of a little known route that offers an unforgettable view of the château from the banks of the Cher. We follow the river along its quiet banks bordered with weeping willows, vegetable gardens, charming country houses and "chalands" (small flat-bottomed barges) on riverside moorings. We reach our overnight stop, Azay-sur-Cher, nestled on the banks of the Cher River.
Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m
The tranquil waters of the Cher lead us gently on to the city of Tours. We skirt round the south side of the city, following the banks of the river, before winding our way through fields and pastures to reach Villandry and its 16th century château, famous for its splendid geometrical gardens. We make the most of the beautiful late afternoon light which sets the château, gardens and water garden ablaze. We then reach the “Bec du Cher”, meeting point of the Cher and Loire rivers. We find ourselves once again on the banks of the Loire, which seems surprisingly large after the previous day’s riding along the comparatively narrow Cher... The "chalands" drift peacefully on the slow current of the river, accompanied by a wealth of birdsong from the abundant variety of birds to be found along the river's banks. We reach a small suspension bridge, enabling us to cross the Loire and join the village and château of Langeais. An optional visit of the Château de Langeais and a stroll through the narrow lanes of the village, dominated by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, before we head to the train station and return to Tours.
Distance covered: approx. 40 km / Altitude gain: approx. 100 m
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end in Tours with your baggage collection close to the SNCF railway station at 6pm. On request we can book an early baggage pick-up. We can also book the following night's accommodation for you in Tours (see the supplementary services). Return to Tours by train at the end of your bike trip: many TER trains run between Langeais and Azay-le-Rideau and Tours (trains accept bicycles, 20-30 min train ride).
Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9am in Tours with the baggage drop off (rendez-vous close to the railway station). On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Tours.
A secure car park is available next to the train station. The "sud" section offers the cheapest tarifs. For more info: www.resaplace.com. If you arrive by car, a train service is avalable in order to return to Tours from Azay-le-Rideau at the end of your trip.
Beginning in the city of Tours, we follow the magnificent Loire River, taking the time to appreciate the many châteaux and charming country manor houses along the way. The tranquillity of this great river, the longest in France, quickly works its charm with its thickets and leafy hedgerows, its fields and pastures, its isolated hamlets and farms. The river is also an oasis for a large variety of maritime and continental birds. As we reach Montlouis, the small amount of elevation gained so far is enough to offer beautiful panoramic views of the Loire. We then arrive in Amboise, the first notable historical site of our tour. The town has a rich and colourful past with its Royal château and the Clos Lucé, former residence of Leonardo de Vinci. The charming cobblestoned streets and street side cafés offer plenty of opportunities to explore and relax. Night in Amboise.
Distance covered: approx. 25 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m
We gain a little altitude this morning in order to reach the forest of Amboise which we cross before taking the time to visit the fabulous Château de Chenonceau, built in 1513. After our visit we continue our journey by means of a little known route that offers an unforgettable view of the château from the banks of the Cher. We follow the river along its quiet banks bordered with weeping willows, vegetable gardens, charming country houses and "chalands" (small flat-bottomed barges) on riverside moorings. We reach our overnight stop, Azay-sur-Cher, nestled on the banks of the Cher River.
Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m
The tranquil waters of the Cher lead us gently on to the city of Tours. We skirt round the south side of the city, following the banks of the river, before winding our way through fields and pastures to reach Villandry and its 16th century château, famous for its splendid geometrical gardens. We make the most of the beautiful late afternoon light which sets the château, gardens and water garden ablaze. Overnight stay near Villandry.
Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m
We join the “Bec du Cher” this morning, meeting point of the Cher and Loire rivers. We find ourselves once again on the banks of the Loire, which seems surprisingly large after the previous day’s riding along the comparatively narrow Cher... The "chalands" drift peacefully on the slow current of the river, accompanied by a wealth of birdsong from the abundant variety of birds to be found along the river's banks. A short detour takes us to a small suspension bridge, enabling us to cross the Loire and join the village and château of Langeais. An optional visit of the Château de Langeais and a stroll through the narrow lanes of the village, dominated by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, before we continue our journey along the banks of the Loire. A welcome break in the small port of Bréhémont, with panoramic views from the terrace of its café, before we leave the Loire behind us and head to the banks of the Indre. Fields, hedgerows and thickets of leafy trees give way now and then to reveal splendid country manor houses. We visit the Dufresne Museum, home to an impressive collection of vehicles, machinery and antique objects from the 1850's through to the middle of the twentieth century. A little further on, and in a completely different style, we arrive at the Château de l'Islette on the banks of the Indre. The many “barques” (small boats) entice us to take a tour on the water. The château was host to the tumultuous love affair between the two famous sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin, who produced some of their greatest work here. A few more pedal strokes take us to the magnificent Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre, the château is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture, built under the reign of François the 1st. Our tour finishes with a short ride to the nearby train station where we take the train to come back to Tours.
Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Altitude gain: approx. 100 m
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end in Tours with your baggage collection close to the SNCF railway station at 6pm. On request we can book an early baggage pick-up. We can also book the following night's accommodation for you in Tours (see the supplementary services). Return to Tours by train at the end of your bike trip: many TER trains run between Langeais and Azay-le-Rideau and Tours (trains accept bicycles, 20-30 min train ride).
Return to Tours by train at the end of your bike itinerary: many TER trains runs between Langeais or Azay-le-rideau and Tours. Approximately 20 or 30 minutes per journey and 6€ per person. TER trains accept bicycles. It's up to you to check the timetables and book with the SNCF.
Average tour rating:
