A week by bike to discover the Loire Valley's most prestigious chateaux and relax in its finest 5- star hotels.
Succumb to the elegance of Château de Chenonceau, be surprised by the extravagance of Château de Chambord or appreciate the elegance of Château de Cheverny. The Loire à Vélo cycle paths take you along the wild banks of the Loire and through the beautiful vineyards of Montlouis and Cheverny. At the end of your cycle tour, enjoy the refinement of your hotels, ideally located in the city centers of Blois, Amboise and Chenonceaux or in the heart of unspoilt nature at Cheverny.
Day 1: Arrival in Blois
Possibility to visit the town with its typical paved streets punctuated with staircases, and the chateau, a perfect illustration of how French architecture evolved between the Middle Ages and the 17th century. Included: a welcome bottle of local wine in your room.
Day 2: Blois - Amboise | 40 km
Follow the 'pays des châteaux' cycling tracks through nice tiny villages to the château of Chaumont-sur-Loire, which proudly dominates the river. Then continue on the 'Loire à Vélo' cycling tracks before arriving at the charming town of Amboise with its royal château, where the greatest kings of France and Leonardo Da Vinci lived. OPTION: Canoe trip on the Loire river (Mosnes > Amboise) From your canoe, peacefully tame the last wild river in Europe and admire extraordinary views of its fauna and flora, combined with an incomparable feeling of being far from civilization (approx. 1h30).
Day 3: Amboise - Chenonceaux (via Montlouis) | 42 km
Today, go to château de Chenonceau ! This stage through the vineyards of Montlouis-sur-Loire will take you to the Cher valley! Then reach the famous chateau of Chenonceau straddling the Cher River, which was the scene of a famous rivalry in French history: that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Enjoy a walk in the heart of the Diane de Poitiers‘s garden, then the Catherine de Medici’s one. Take a breath, under the shadow of one of the huge park trees, at the rhythm of the river murmur which will tell you stories about these 2 rival women.
OPTION: Canoe trip on the Cher river Enjoy a canoe trip offering you an extraordinary point of view on the Château de Chenonceau (approx. 2h).
Day 4: Chenonceaux - Cheverny | 48 km
Ride along the peaceful Cher river banks to the medieval town of Montrichard. Then leave the Cher Valley and enter the vineyards of Touraine via the Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre, a small fortified castle which perfectly illustrates the local building arts of the 15th century. Ride through the Cheverny vineyards … and don’t hesitate to stop for a visit to a local wine producer to sample a glass of Cour Cheverny Blanc!
Day 5: Excursion to Sologne area & château de Cheverny | 47 km
An excursion offering the possibility to explore the rich and mysterious ‘Sologne’ with magnificent landscapes: beautiful forests sheltering game, ponds at every crossroads and small private châteaux hidden behind their vineyards or groves. You reach the Château de Cheverny, remarkable for its sumptuously furnished apartments, which inspired Hergé for Captain Haddock’s Marlinspike. Continue to the Château of Beauregard famous for its Portrait Gallery before coming back to your hotel.
Day 6: Cheverny - Blois | 48 km
This last route leads you to Bracieux, a pretty little Sologne village which has preserved its magnificent 16thcentury covered market. Then ride through the forest which will introduce you to the prestigious Chambord estate and château, a true masterpiece of French Renaissance style, boasting no less than 440 rooms and built during the reign of Francis I. Come back to Blois following the Loire river and its nice cycling paths. Included: a lunch in a gourmet restaurant at the foot of the chateau de Chambord.
Day 7: Departure during the day.
