The Loire by bike: 7-Day holiday from Blois to Saumur

Your cycling holiday begins in Blois, the gateway to the Loire Valley châteaux. From the very first kilometers, the Loire River will enchant you: the reflections of the sky on the water, the islands and wild banks, the myriad birds. And a perfect first cycle path to begin your cycling adventure! 

Then head towards Chambord, the largest and most majestic of the Loire castles: 426 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and in the center, the famous double helix staircase which leads to the roof terraces to offer a 360° view of the estate. 

You get back on your bike and follow the cycle path that crosses the Boulogne forest. Pedal along quiet country roads, through orchards and vineyards, before reaching Cheverny, A Loire Valley château in the classical style and richly furnished. Any resemblance to Marlinspike Hall in Tintin is not coincidental: it did indeed inspire Hergé.

For this second day of cycling, the varied landscapes of the Loire Valley unfold kilometer after kilometer along quiet roads and paths. Chaumont-sur-Loire, Take a break to visit the castle and stroll through the walkways of the International Garden Festival. With a theme renewed each year, it welcomes the poetic and original creations of some thirty landscape artists from all corners of the world. 

The route continues for 22 kilometers, along the river and up the vineyard-covered hillside to Amboise, charming town on the banks of the Loire with its medieval streets, small shops, wine cellars and numerous restaurants.

Before continuing your cycling journey, take some time to visit the Royal Château of Amboise. Built on a rocky promontory, it offers breathtaking views of the Loire River. The great moments of French history resonate here in its Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Leonardo da Vinci's tomb is located in its chapel. The Château du Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci's last residence, is just a few hundred meters away.

The route continues towards the capital of Tours with three options:

• Through the Montlouis vineyards and along the banks of the Loire (28 km)
• Through the Vouvray vineyards and along the Loire (32 km)
• Along the banks of the Cher via the Château de Chenonceau (59 km)

Upon arriving in Tours, stroll through the historic districts and discover St. Gatien Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic art. Relax on a terrace in Place Plumereau and admire the half-timbered houses. Explore the local cuisine at the covered market (Les Halles de Tours) and enjoy dinner in one of the city's many restaurants to savor the flavors of Touraine.

This 4th stage by bike takes you along the banks of the Cher, on peaceful cycle paths, to discover the toues cabanées, traditional boats of the Loire navy, the village of Savonnières and its petrifying caves.

Stop at Villandry to visit the newest of the great Renaissance castles of the Loire Valley with its remarkable gardens and its famous French-style vegetable garden. 

The stage ends in the small town of’Azay-le-Rideau, famous for its elegant castle. 

Today, head for Chinon! Three great writers of French literature invite themselves on the journey…

Along the banks of the Indre, in this valley so dear to Balzac, you reach the banks of the Loire and the small village of Bréhémont with its monumental quays, testaments to a rich river past. You cycle along the Loire embankment to Worn out and its fairytale castle that inspired Charles Perrault for Sleeping Beauty. The route continues for a few kilometers through the Chinon countryside until the Royal Fortress of Chinon. In the evening, let yourself be charmed by the medieval streets of the Rabelaisian city.

Today's stage first takes you along the small roads of the bocage of the Véron peninsula, a protected natural area and characteristic of the Loire Valley, up to the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire.

Back on the banks of the Loire, you pass Candes-Saint-Martin and Montsoreau classified among the "most beautiful villages of France" and cycle between the vineyards of Saumur and the dwellings troglodytes particularly noteworthy along this route.

Round trip extension: south of Montsoreau stands the’Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, The largest monastic complex in Europe. The necropolis of the Plantagenets, it houses the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, and Richard the Lionheart. This remarkable site is well worth a visit.

On the banks of the Loire, Saumur is easily recognizable by its castle overlooking the town. Renowned for the Cadre Noir, a national riding school, its wines, and its troglodyte dwellings, it offers a rich heritage to explore.

Suggested excursion: a 30-kilometer bike loop on the greenway of the Thouet Valley to the Brézé Castle. Less well known than the Renaissance castles of the Loire Valley, it is nonetheless no less interesting with its dry moats among the deepest in Europe and a network of several kilometers of underground galleries, a witness to the turbulent medieval times when life underground was organized.

Return to Saumur via the other bank of the Thouet.