Chateaux of the Loire Cycling
Our tour starts at Amboise and ends at Saumur, providing an opportunity to visit the following chateaux: Amboise, Chaumont, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Usse, Chinon, and Saumur as well as Le Clos Luce (Leonardo da Vinci's home at Amboise), Balzac's house at Sache, the Abbey of Fontevraud and the superb classical gardens of Villandry. We can explore the vineyards of Chinon and Saumur, and follow the banks of the Rivers Cher, Indre and Vienne as well as of those of the Loire itself.
Day 1: Arrive at Amboise by train from Paris. There may be time before dinner to visit the chateau and watch the sun set across the Loire.
Day 2: On the way out of town stop off to visit Le Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci lived as the guest of Francois I from 1516 to 1519. Then on to the Chateau of La Bourdaiserie, built under the orders of Francois I for his mistress Marie Gauelin. Overnight at the little town of Blere on the banks of the Cher (56km).
Day 3: First to Chenonceaux, to the 'chateau shaped by women', including its early 16th century designer Catherine Bricennet as well as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. The chateaux with its ornamental gardens bridges the tranquil River Cher. Then over the watershed to the Indre Valley where our next hotel nestles below the chateau of Loches (44km).
Day 4: We follow the Indre downstream, passing Cormery with its ruined abbey which stood for 1000 years from 791 until 1791. We reach our overnight stop at the Port Moulin, in the grounds of the Chateau d'Artigny (45km).
Day 5: Today there is a chance to visit the magnificent Renaissance gardens of Villandry chateau, on the banks of the Cher, before continuing to Azay-le-Rideau, where the famous chateau, built on an island in the River Indre, is illuminated by night (mid May to mid September) for a son-et-lumiere show where the audience strolls through the park (43km).
Day 6: On your way through the Foret de Chinon you can visit the Chateau d' Usse, used by the fairytale writer Perrault as a model for the setting of his 'Sleeping Beauty'. Chinon itself lies between its medieval fortress and the River Vienne; upstream on the north bank stretch the famous vineyards (34km).
Day 7: We pass the Abbey of Fontevraud, where many of the Plantagernt royals are buried, and return to the banks of the Loire at Montsoreau; we follow the great river downstream to Saumur, dominated by its gothic chateau (37km).
Day 8: Depart by rail from Saumur.
Self Guided Inn to Inn 8 days
CODE: SCL
GRADE:
CYCLE HIRE: FFR370
10 speed hybrid bicycles equipped with panniers, tool kit and water bottle. Helmets can be hired or purchased locally.
TERRAIN: Long rides are achievable due to the flat terrain making cycling very easy and enjoyable.
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS: Is on a bed and breakfast basis with 5 evening meals included. Hotels normally with en suite shower and WC. 2 or 3 star Logis de France.
JOINING POINT: Between 4pm and 7pm on first day at Amboise, reached by train from Paris in 1 hr 30mins.
END OF TOUR: After breakfast on day 8 in Saumur. By train to Angers (30 mins) or Tours (1hr) for onward connections to Paris.
P I P E S T O N E...T R A V E L
1-800-766-4318
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