Bike Tour along the Castles of the Loire

Your journey to the castles of the Loire by bike begins in Blois. Special centerpiece of the small town built on hills is the castle on the right bank of the Loire. Perched on a hilltop, it evolved from a castle complex and served as the residence of French kings until the 16th century. Immerse yourself in the world of yesteryear during a tour of the castle and enjoy a fruity wine from the Loire Valley at the end of the day.

On the first stage of your bike tour along the Castles of the Loire, you follow the leisurely flowing river through an ancient cultural landscape on the bike. A special feature are the rock dwellings carved into the limestone, which are still inhabited today. Another highlight of the route is the castle in Amboise. A visit to the former royal residence is ideal for a stopover before continuing along the Loire River to your destination for the day, Tours. If you want to shorten the distance from Amboise by 30 kilometers, this is possible by train ride (not included).

Along the Cher River you will cycle near the village of Savonnières to Villandry Castle. The impressive complex in Renaissance style with its well-kept versatile terraced gardens offers ideal conditions for an extensive walk. Back on your bike, you now follow the banks of the Loire River, which leads you to the castle in Langeais. The three mighty round towers and the drawbridge will be the first things that catch your eye when you visit. At the edge of the forest of Chinon rises the Sleeping Beauty Castle of Ussé, also very worth seeing. Through small villages and past wide fields you will reach Chinon.

On your journey to the chateaux of the Loire by bike today you can make an excursion to Fontevraud l'Abbaye, known for its extensive monastery complex. First you follow the river Vienne to the mouth of the Loire at Montsoreau. The castle built there, which looks like a castle from the outside, is worth seeing. Through vineyards you go to Fontevraud l'Abbaye. The very well preserved monastic town is considered the largest contiguous monastic complex in Europe. Then you cycle back to Chinon.

You will have enough time to visit the fortress of Chinon before your bike tour takes you through old vineyards to Crissay. With its tufa houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, it is one of the most beautiful villages in France. The town of Azay-le-Rideau is your destination for the day. Here, in the middle of the water, lies one of the most famous Loire castles. The writer Honoré de Balzac compared it to a cut diamond set by the Indre. Convince yourself on site of the beauty of the Renaissance building with its opulent interior.

Today you will be charmed by the romantic river landscape of the Indre, which accompanies you to the pretty little town of Montbazon. After a short climb, you continue along the river to Bléré. Now you follow the course of the Cher River, which leads you to your destination of the day, Chenonceaux. This enchanting moated castle looks back on a history of around 800 years. It is not surprising that it is called Château des Dames, as the women who once lived there made a significant contribution to the appearance of the complex. Also very worth seeing: the bridge gallery and the extensive gardens.

If you choose the shorter stage today, follow the Loire cycle path through the lovely landscape of Touraine to Chaumont Castle. If you prefer more kilometers on the bike, you can also cycle to the castle in Montrichard and the castles in Cheverny and Villasavin on the longer tour. Before returning to Blois, another highlight of this trip awaits you: Chambord Castle. It is not only the largest castle in the Loire Valley, but also the most magnificent. The design of the castle created over 500 years ago is said to go back to Leonardo da Vinci.

After breakfast, your bike tour along the castles of the Loire ends and you start your individual journey home. We are happy to extend your stay in Blois with an extra night.