From gardens to castles: 5-day bike trip from Blois to Tours

Departing from Blois, you cycle on the slopes of the Loire by Bike, following the river before entering the Chambord park. Visit the most famous castle of the Loire, the masterpiece of the French Renaissance, its numerous rooms spread around the famous double revolution staircase as well as the terraces which offer a panoramic view of the Domaine. Stroll through the new French gardens and treat yourself to a picnic on the lawns with an incredible view of the castle.

You reach Cheverny by bike passing through the Boulogne forest and through the vineyards. The Cheverny castle of classical architecture has a richly decorated interior. Around the castle, six thematic gardens adorn the park, from the vegetable garden to the orchard, including a labyrinth or a wave of 200,000 tulips to admire in spring.

For this second day of cycling, you cross the wine-growing Sologne, pass Troussay in front of the smallest of the Loire castles, follow the Beuvron and Cosson rivers and find the Loire along a beautiful cycle path which leads straight to Chaumont-sur-Loire. 

Put down your bike because the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire is worth spending a few hours there. You can visit the castle and above all don't miss the park and the International Garden Festival where each year around thirty landscape artists from all over the world present original and poetic creations around an ever-changing theme.

You cycle on the cycle paths and small roads of the plateau separating the banks of the Loire and the Cher to reach Chenonceaux. A route through the countryside, along the water and in the middle of the Amboise forest. 

A true jewel of the Renaissance, the Château de Chenonceau is famous for its gallery bridge spanning the Cher. Nicknamed the Château des Dames, Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici took turns to beautify it. It is therefore a very feminine atmosphere which reigns at the castle, highlighted today by magnificent floral arrangements that are renewed every day. As for the park, the French Renaissance garden and the Florentine garden are witnesses of this new art which marked the 16th century. Today they carry the very serious label of “remarkable gardens”.

You cycle along the refreshing banks of the Cher to Montlouis. With a succession of needle dams and small private castles, this course is enchanting. Then through the vineyards of Montlouis and along the Loire you reach Amboise. This itinerary is an opportunity for a short detour to the Château de la Bourdaisière to discover the tomato conservatory vegetable garden with a unique collection of more than 600 varieties in the world.

A variant offers a direct return with a new route on cycle paths in the Amboise forest.

In Amboise, visit the royal castle. From its gardens, enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Loire Valley and pay your respects to the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. Unless you prefer the Manoir du Clos Lucé, the final resting place of the Renaissance Master, which presents a collection of life-size models of his inventions and a very beautiful copy of the Mona Lisa!

In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the streets of the old town on the terrace, taste Loire wines and other local specialties.

On the hillside of the north bank of the Loire lies the famous Vouvray vineyard. This escape invites you to cycle through the middle of the vineyards, penetrate the depths of the troglodyte cellars and meet the wine producers. For a few more kilometers, go and admire the gardens of the Château de Valmer which, on 8 levels of Italian-style terraces, offer you a unique panorama of the vineyards.

The loop is completed with a final nod to the Loire, which you follow to Tours on a cycle path set up between the river and the hillside, dotted with troglodyte villages, cellars and bourgeois residences. 

Tours has an exceptional heritage. In the heart of its always lively historic districts, don't miss the St Gatien cathedral and the half-timbered houses of Place Plumereau. Take the opportunity to taste the local gastronomic specialties, rillons, rillettes, Saint Maure de Touraine…

End of your stay after breakfast.
Allow yourself a little more time to continue exploring the capital of Tours on foot and to do some souvenir shopping with the good local products from the merchants of Les Halles.