7-Day cycling holiday in the Loire Valley from Orléans to Tours

Departure from Orléans. The Johannine city is marked by more than 2000 years of history and many buildings such as the Sainte Croix cathedral, the Place du Martroi or the Hôtel Groslot deserve a little attention.

Then you get on your bike. Along the quays designed for safe cycling, the Loire takes center stage to become the common thread of this day. You make a short detour via its tributary the Loiret, and follow the small roads and cycle paths through the orchards and market gardens typical of the Loire Valley.

A few discreet nuggets punctuate your way to Beaugency, such as the small town of Meung-sur-Loire, the basilica of Cléry Saint André, which houses the tomb of Louis XI, and the Gardens of Roquelin.

On today's program, the Loire, and always the Loire! You cycle between Beaugency and Blois on cycle paths which offer incredible panoramas of the Royal River. The villages on the banks of the Loire with their wash houses and the long wall of the Château de Ménars enhance the route.

You pack your bags in Blois for two nights. Take the opportunity to discover the old neighborhoods spread out at the foot of the castle and around the cathedral, the house of magic and of course, the royal castle.

At nightfall, let yourself be tempted by the magnificent sound and light projected on the facades of the castle.

Going up the Loire via a cycle path which stretches between the river and the levee, you reach the village of Saint Dyé. Then head to the Domaine de Chambord, its forest and its castle, the masterpiece of the French Renaissance. Take a break to explore the many rooms and take the monumental double spiral staircase up to the magnificent terraced roofs.

You return to Blois via small bucolic roads crossing the AOC Cheverny vineyards, fields and meadows.

Two extensions are proposed with a detour through the Sologne forest and the Cheverny castle.

You follow a route dotted with small country roads and numerous shaded cycle paths along the Loire à Vélo. Along the way, take the time to visit the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire. The castle overlooking the Loire offers a mix of fortified and renaissance architecture. In its park, the International Garden Festival takes place every year where around thirty artists present poetic, original and unexpected landscape creations. Do not miss !

After this stop, continue your bike ride to Amboise.

The Loire city welcomes you for two nights. The opportunity to visit the royal castle where the great moments of French history resonate, as well as the Manoir du Clos Lucé, the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci. Medieval streets, small shops, wine cellars and numerous restaurants complete the charm of this small town.

A day by bike for an excursion to the Château de Chenonceau, a pure masterpiece of the French Renaissance. The route takes beautiful, long cycle paths through the Amboise forest and along the banks of the Cher. On arrival, enjoy the spectacular view of the castle and its gallery bridge, a unique structure in the world. Nicknamed the “Château des Dames”, it was offered by Henry II to his favorite Diane de Poitiers. When the latter died, Queen Catherine de Medici took it back from her rival in exchange for Chaumont. Women of power, they both contributed to making Chenonceau the elegant castle we know today.

Return to Amboise

The journey continues towards the Touraine capital with two itineraries to choose from in two major AOCs of Touraine:

• Left bank, via the cycle paths of the vineyards of Montlouis and the banks of the Loire.
• Right bank, via the Vouvray wine route and the cycle paths along the Loire.

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 local gastronomic specialties, rillons, rillettes, Saint Maure de Touraine, nougat from Tours…

Possibility of extending the rental of your bike for this last day and going for a very pretty round trip to the Château de Villandry, and its famous gardens.