LOIRE NATURE & CASTLES	price from 649 €
Loire - Leisure cycling - 8 days

This 8 days trip will allow you to discover the Loire from Blois to Angers. You will ride along the river towards worldwide famous castles and through a beautiful nature. This cycling trip is taking place in the heart of Touraine and Anjou.

Program

Day 1 Blois Chambord Cheverny Blois To begin with on the first day you will discover 2 of the most impresive castles of the area: the amazing Chambord set in a wooded estate containing striking wild fauna. The castle was built during the reign of Francois 1 and has genuine works of art from the French renaissance in its 400 rooms. The Chateau de Cheverny is reknowned for its sumptuosly furnished apartments. This is where Moulinsart found his inspiration for the Tintin comic strips. The days loop takes you through the Sologne area with its numerous ponds. 50kms.

Day 2 Blois Chaumont Amboise Before leaving Blois take time to visit the town itself with its cobblestoned streets interspersed with steps. The chateau is a perfect example of French architecture from the middle ages to the 17 century. You will then travel between forest and the vineyards of the Touraine Metsland to Chateau Chaumont-sur-Loire before continuing to Amboise with its regal castle built during the 15 and 16 century. In the Chapel can be found the tomb of Leonardo de Vinci and a few streets away is the Clos Luce Manor the last home of this great creator. 40kms.

Day 3 Amboise Chenonceaux Tours A small detour along the towpaths of the Cher takes you to the Chateau of Chenonceaux overlooking the Cher valley. You will then join the banks of the Loire where you will find many troglodyte dwellings in the Tufa stoned hillside along the route to Tours. Here the "old town" will seduce you with its half-timbered houses and lively nightlife. 50kms.

Day 4 Tours Villandry Azay le Rideau Following the Cher along its levee you will come to Villandry with its unusual gardens. Travelling on between the forests and river plains you come into the heart of the Touraine-Azay appellation. Finally, small country lanes will lead you to the famous "floating Chateau" of Azay le rideau. 40kms.

Day 5 Azay Chinon In the middle of the natural park of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine, you will discover many local arts and crafts. Firstly ther is Villaine les Rochers, known as the "willow capital". Then at Quincay you will find oven dried pears. You then cross through the Forest of Chinon to reach Cravant. You will find your resting place in the heart of Chinon, a very historic and art related town. 50kms.

Day 6 Chinon Saumur Small country lanes and cycle paths take you across the boarder between the Touraine and Anjou region. On the way you will pass through one of the most beautiful French villages, Candes Saint Martin, via the abbry of Fontevraud where lie members of the Plantagenet family. Arriving at Saumur you will find its impressive chateau overlooking the town and the River Loire.

Day 7 Saumur Angers Whilst travelling alongside the river Loire you will be able to admire its heritage associated with its natural resourses, eg. cave dwellings, mushroom beds (also in caves) and mills; which have enadled it to become classified by UNESCO. Riding through the charming, quiet small roads you will reach Angers and its chateau. 50kms.

Day 8 Angers End of trip after breakfast