Chateaux from Amboise to Saumur

Chateaux from Amboise to Saumur

Self-guided cycling holiday (8 days/ 7 nights) to explore chateaux, abbeys and cites dominating or nearby the Loire river and its tributaries.

Description de la randonnée :

Day 1 – Arrival at Amboise – discovery walking tour of the town
Bicycles delivery and adjustment in late afternoon – Accommodation in Amboise

Day 2 – Chenonceau and Amboise chateaux
25 km (15 miles) loop ride – Visit of Chenonceau castle and gardens in the morning – Back to Amboise through forests via pagode de Chanteloup – Tour of Amboise, visit of the royal chateau, Clos Lucé chateau occupied by Leonard de Vinci during the final three years of his life – Accommodation in Amboise

Day 3 – Loire river, Montlouis vineyards and Tours
Ride of 30km/18 miles through Montlouis to reach Tours – discovery of Tours, city of Art and history, stroll through its old quartersto the famous Plumareau square – Accommodation in Tours

Day 4 – Chateau of Villandry, its gardens and Azay le Rideau castle
Ride of 30 ou 38 km (18 or 23 miles) alongside Cher river via Savonniéres – visit of Villandry chateau, the last grand chateau in Loire valley to be built during the Renaissance – You will cycle alongside Cher and Loire rivers, later through orchards to reach Azay le Rideau. Visit of the chateau, one of the most elegant in Loire valley – Accommodation in Azay le Rideau.

Day 5 – Chateaux of Langeais, Ussé and medieval city of Chinon.
Ride of 42 km (26 miles) starting through orchards to Loire river and city of Langeais. tour of the city and feudal castle. You will continue alongside Loire to Brehemont, a former river port and to Ussé to discover the castle of the Beauty Sleeping. Then you will cross the forest to reach Chinon – Tour of the picturesque city to discover its medieval houses – Accommodation in Chinon.

Day 6 – Chateau of Chinon and Royal abbey of Fontevraud
Visit of the medieval fortress overlooking the Vienne valley – Then ride of 20 km 13 miles) via La Deviniére, house where Rabelais was born. Through forests you will go to Fontevraud abbey. tour of this largest monastery in Western Christendom which houses the tombs of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart and Isabelle of Angoulême. Accommodation in Fontevraud.

Day 7 – Candes St Martin, Montsoreau chateau and Saumur
Ride of 30 km (19 miles) – You cycle down to Loire banks to tour the magnificent village of Candes St Martin and continue alongside Loire river to Monsoreau and its medieval chateau.On the way to Saumur visit of some cave dwellers’ settlement like Turquant, Parnay and Souzay-Champigny – Tour of Saumur, its magnificent chateau overlooking Loire, the famous Cadre Noir (French cavalry Academy)or the interesting Tank museum with more 850 armored vehicles -Return of bikes at 18:00 at the hotel – Accommodation in Saumur.

Day 8 – Saumur – End of the tour after breakfast.

What’s included?

• Accomodation and breakfast
• Dinners according to description and selected range of services
• Hotel to hotel luggage transfer along the trail.
• A set of maps (1/25 000 scale) with the route marked on and detailed route notes describing the trail.
• A daily itinerary together with information about facilities and places of interest along the trail.
• Emergency assistance in English
• The rental of bicycles and their equipment (helmet, map holder, etc.)