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The
region of Centre-Val de Loire offers such a diverse range of
cycling options that you could spend every holiday you have left
available to you and still not discover the treasures it can
reveal to you.
Let us look at the
Loire à Vélo
route first.
You
get many opportunities to cycle along designated paths on the
banks of the mighty Loire river on this
route. It is
a unique 800-kilometre cycle route that is
a tourist's dream. It stretches from where the river meets the
Atlantic in the west to the town of Cuffy just west of Nevers in
the east. It is also part of the Europe-wide
'eurovelo'
route.
From the west coast this passes through
the UNESCO Loire Valley
world heritage site including
Angers
and
Saumur
in
the Pays de la Loire region and many of the
vineyards,
major chateaux
and
towns
of the Centre - Val de
Loire region. The route is not 'cast in stone' and you can stray
off and on as often as you want - indeed at certain spots you
are encouraged to do so!
The stage within our regions can be divided in to the following
sections:
Angers to
Saumur > 50km
This stage which passes to the south of
Angers
skirting around the ‘Lac de Maine’ is actually an optional part
of the route which allows for a visit to this fine city.When you
leave Angers you head for Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire where
you cross over to the south bank of the Loire. You continue on
this side of the river passing vineyards and cycling through
charming towns and villages before catching you first glimpse of
the town of Saumur - its dominant
chateau.
See map and more detail of this
section plus things to see en route here
on the eurovelo6.org
website
Saumur to
Rigny-Ussé > 38km
This stage leads you through the
Loire-Anjou-Touraine region nature park. Leaving Saumur you head
for Montsoreau, there is an option here to take to the high
ground -if you are up for - it through the vineyards or to take
the slightly easier route along the banks of the Loire.
You still get the option of a slight detour at Montsoreau itself
up into the vineyards at Souzay-Champigny and Parnay.You also
have the option here of a visit to the abbey at Fontevraud but
you'll have to do 12km there and back which we think is worth
it.If you choose not to do this then push onto Candes-Saint-Martin,
designated one of the 'most beautiful villages of France' where
you can get terrific
views of the
confluence of the Loire River and the Vienne river.
You then cross the Vienne itself
- great opportunity to get views back to Candes-Saint-Martin -
and on to Savigny-en-Véron where you are again given different
options. You can continue on towards Avoine and the cycle
path at Néman, which takes you Rigny-Ussé where you can visit
the fairytale chateau Usse, or you can dip south into the the
medieval town of Chinon with its mighty fortress. If you choose
to visit Chinon (which is a good choice) be prepared for some
hill climbing to return to the main route, cross-country, via
village of Huismes. The third option is to travel north over the
Loire to the vineyards of Bourgueil - and return by same path to
rejoin the main route.
See map and more detail of this
section plus things to see en route here
on the
eurovelo6.org website
Rigny-Ussé to Tours > 43km
Returning from Rigny-Ussé brings you back
on to the levee of the Loire, cycling on brings you to the
riverside 'port' of Bréhémont
(website)
where they have created
picnic areas to encourage you to stop. A stop may be necessary
to decided whether you want to take the diversion of to the
right to visit Azey-le-Rideau or continue on the south bank of
the river Loire and visit Langeais. You actually have to cross a
very interesting suspension bridge over the Loire river to get
to and from Langeais. Both routes will eventually lead you to
Villandry, from Azay-le-Rideau you'll have more work to do,
where a visit to the chateau gardens is a must, though you can
pass on the chateau itself. Leaving Touraine's best garden you
cycle along the river Cher into the city of Tours and all it has
to offer the discerning tourist..
See map and more detail of this
section plus things to see en route here
on the
eurovelo6.org website
Tours
to Blois > 77km
You leave Tours on the south side of the
Loire and head out towards Montlouis-sur-Loire. You will climb
up to the high ground through vineyards including vines of one
of our favourite vintners
(berthelot-lacroixmelier.fr/)
at Husseau
before starting your decent back down to the very popular town
of Amboise. On the outskirts of the town you have the option of
taking a detour south and heading for the 'Ladies chateau' that
is
Chenonceau. If you choose to visit this, the most popular of
the Loire Valley chateaux, you can always double back to take in
the sights of Amboise that include 'Clos Luce' where Leonardo de
Vinci spent his last 3 years, or loop back up to join the route
at Chaumont-sur-Loire where gardeners will love the annual
'Garden Festival'. If you visit Amboise head across the bridge
to the island on the Loire to get amazing views and photographs
of the chateau.
From Chaumont-sur-Loire you take the cycle path
towards
Candé-sur-Beuvron which draws you away from the river and you
head towards the Montrichard road - but just as you hit it you
immediately veer left away from it towards Chailles. You catch
site of the river a bit before entering the charming city
of Blois along a very popular stretch of the route;
See map and more detail of this
section plus things to see en route here
on the
eurovelo6.org
website
Blois to Orléans > 79km
There is a shorter (66km)
more direct route to Orléans using the route along the north bank but
this means missing out on a detour to to over extravagant chateau at
Chambord - you will be gobsmacked at you first site of this glorious
'hunting lodge' -hard to believe -but that's what it was! To take this
route you leave Blois and head away from the river Loire in the
direction Vineuil and then through some pretty countryside and forest
tracks and on through Huisseau-sur-Cosson and on to Chambord. After
visiting the chateau you head back up to the Saint-Dyr-sur-Loire on the
south bank of the Loire Then on to
Muides-sur-Loire where you cross the bridge to the other side. Then it's
on to Lestiou where, just before you arrive, you are given two options
to continue on to the town of Beaugency. There is an unpaved bike path
along the river or you can take the normal road - both will get you to
Tavers - then it's a short cycle to Beaugency. .
See map and more detail of this
section plus things to see en route here
on
the
eurovelo6.org website
If any of the maps above fail to work then the 'La Loire à Vélo' website
also has an excellent, interactive, section-by-section
map of the bike route.
Of course with the diversity of the Loire Valley
you are not restricted to the formal route along the actual
Loire river as the
whole of the region offers designated
cycle tracks to suit all standards (check with your
nearest tourist office) plus you are spoilt for choice with
quiet roads through charming villages in all the departments
of the
region. A
lot of the major attractions, like
Chateau Chambord, offer bicycle hire at their
locations :
https://www.chateauxavelo.com/
Footnote: She has actually just
arrived in Chinon - oops!
www.cycling-loire.com
'Loire à Vélo'
route.
www.eurovelo.org/
Wider European network
www.telegraph.co.uk
Route suggested by 'Telegraph'
newspaper
Blogroll:
bilbyandbear.wordpress.com/
Inspirational travel blog (photos 1,2 & 4 courtesy
of here)
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