spectacular fields of sunflowers are the signature of the region
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The Loire Valley tour
spectacular fields of sunflowers are the signature of the region The Valley of the Loire is of course celebrated for its châteaux. The banks of the river, and its tributaries the Cher and the Indre, are home to the finest examples of the castle builder's art; from the medieval fortresses of Amboise and Angers, through the renaissance masterpieces of Chenonceaux and Chambord to the directoire folly of Ussé and the fabulous gardens of Villandry. “Just got back from our Loire West tour, and had to let you know what a fabulous week we had!” The attractions of the region are not limited to stone and mortar. The riverbanks and hinterlands are lined with the vineyards of many fine wine domaines; sparkling Saumur, reds from Bourgueil and Chinon, Anjou rosés and Touraine whites. The cuisine of the region makes use of the local specialities such as its many cheeses (for example the distictive Ste-Maure goats cheese), the mushrooms of which the area is a major producer, and river fish like salmon, pike and zander. 
Chambord -- one of the many spectacular châteaux of the region Our routes take in all of the major châteaux; we also visit other attractions including Leonardo da Vinci's home and studios at Clos Lucé near Amboise, and 'trogolodyte' houses carved out of the soft 'tufa' rock along the banks of the Loire. The cycling is gentle, following riverbanks and meandering across country along quiet tree lined roads There is so much to see in the area that we couldn't fit it all in to one tour, therefore we are proud to offer two trips to show off the fantastic sights the region has to offer. The Loire East - the Valley of the Kings of France tour takes in the fabulous château of the Renaissance: Chenonceau, Chaumont, Chambord and Cheverney, the oft-overlooked medieval town of Loches, Leonardo da Vinci's manor house at Amboise, to name but a few. The riding takes us through the ancient hunting forests of the kings, often on traffic-free well surfaced bike tracks. Along the way there is time to sample the extremely drinkable white wines of Touraine. 
The Loire West - Sunflowers, Vines and Chateaux tour features the more rugged castles of medieval times. Chinon and Saumur perch imposingly over the River Vienne and the River Loire. The Royal Abbey at Fontevraud is the resting place of Henry II of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son Richard the Lionheart. The 'pretty' chateaux are not overlooked - moated Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry with its fabulous gardens and the fairy-tale spires of Ussé are all on the route. Much of the riding is on quiet riverside lanes following the Loire, Cher and Vienne. As the title of the tour suggests, we also take time to sample the superior reds of Sumur, Saumur Champigny and Chinon. 
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2009 Tour DatesTour comprises seven days and six nights beginning on Sunday and finishing on Saturday. Includes transfers from Tours Airport / TGV railway station.
*Prices are per person based on 2 sharing. Single room supplement £375. **A 5% discount will apply to all bookings of 6 persons or more. Fitness LevelsEasy cycling with fairly low daily distances. Tour Highlights
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