La Loire à Vélo cycle route
Treat yourself to a weekend break or a holiday along « La Loire à Vélo » cycle route ! A unique trail through the Valley of the Kings alongside what is often called the last untamed river in Europe.
A lovely cycle ride to discover the Châteaux de la Loire
La Loire à Vélo cycle route runs for 900km along traffic-free greenways (voies vertes) and adapted minor roads following the River Loire from Cuffy (near Nevers) to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Loire-Atlantique). It goes through Val de Loire, six départements (Cher, Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, Loire-Atlantique) and six large towns and cities (Orléans, Blois, Tours, Saumur, Angers and Nantes).
It is a wonderful outdoor experience which enables you to discover the Loire and its surroundings : long, deserted beaches, huge sandbanks, tiny river ports and some of the Châteaux de la Loire…
Your trip takes you through historic character towns and villages like Amboise, Tours, Chinon, Rigny-Ussé, Bréhémont and Candes-Saint-Martin. The Loire is also rich in wildlife including terns, grebes, ospreys, grey herons, beavers and, of course, lots of fish.
Valley of Kings and Garden of France, most of the Val de Loire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and exploring it along La Loire à Vélo allows you to see all aspects of the river’s beauty. Follow the cycle route along the river with its banks, islands, towns, villages and châteaux, stopping off to visit places or have a meal while enjoying the scenery which changes as the day goes by.
Different ways to use ‘La Loire à Vélo’
A CYCLE TOURING HOLIDAY ON LA LOIRE A VELO:
For a touring holiday along the Loire à Vélo route, book B&B accommodation in advance according to your itinerary. A great idea for a get-up-and-go holiday in Touraine !
These are the different sections which go through Touraine :
Blois (Loir-et-Cher) to Tours (78 km) : this takes you to Chaumont-sur-Loire (Loir-et-Cher) with its château and International Garden Festival then on to Amboise with its royal château and Clos Lucé. The route between Amboise and Tours goes past the Pagode de Chanteloup at Amboise into the Montlouis wine-growing area then on to Tours.
From Tours to Saumur in Anjou (81 km) : a 20km stage leads from Tours to Villandry via Savonnières (with its Grottes Pétrifiantes caves) along the River Cher to the Château de Villandry and its famous gardens. On the next stage from Villandry to Rigny-Ussé (20km) you can discover the panorama of the Bec du Cher (where the River Cher meets the Loire), the village of Bréhémont with its port and traditional boats where you can stop to eat, and the Château d’Ussé, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Part of the route is along a dyke right beside the river. The next stage between Rigny-Ussé and Candes-Saint-Martin (24km), goes past islands which are home to many birds and the confluence of the Loire and the Indre. Here the river becomes quite wild until it is joined by the Vienne at Candes-St-Martin, where you have one of the finest panoramas of the whole cycle route. The final stage to Saumur is through a landscape of vines and troglodyte sites.
A HOLIDAY NEAR LA LOIRE A VELO :
This is a great idea for families where you stay in a gite for a weekend, a few days or a week and go on short cycle trips. There are short circuits for a day out visiting one or two châteaux along the way and stopping off in a pretty little village. Maps are available to help you plan your rides.
It is easy to hire bikes in the area if you don’t want to bring your own.
Complete your Loire à Vélo trip by using the Indre à Vélo cycle route too. This 200km route along country roads takes you from Azay-le-Rideau in Touraine to Jeu-les-Bois in Indre, through idyllic countryside and past historic sites including the Château de Chenonceau. There are also numerous circular tours from villages lasting a few hours : Langeais, Rillé, Loches, Bourgueil, Bréhémont, Richelieu, Gizeux, Chédigny, Chenonceau and many others.
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