Loire West - Sunflowers, Vines and Châteaux

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7

Day 1

starting the tour on the bank of the Loire

Transfers are from Tours Airport and Tours TGV Station (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps). We arrive at our chateau-hotel on the outskirts of Tours, and, pausing to take a glass of the local Vouvray sparkling wine, have a look at the bikes and make sure everyone is perfectly fitted to their bicycle. Early arrivals will be provided with a map and route to cycle into the Tours on the bikepath network to stretch their legs if they wish. There should be time before dinner to relax in the gardens of the hotel before meeting our fellow riders and look forward to the pleasures of the road ahead over the first of many wonderful meals.

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Day 2

Ornamental gardens at Villandry

The first day's cycling starts out as gently as one could wish, along the banks of the River Cher on quiet lanes and purpose-built bikepaths. Our first visit of the day is the Chateau de Villandry to see its fabulous ornamental gardens, differently themed each year, and laid out with geometric precision in fruit, herbs and vegetables. It is hard to imagine that peppers, leeks and aubergines could put on such a beautiful display.

Leaving the Cher Valley to descend through the forest of Villandry to the valley of the River Indre, we pass by the ancient abbey at Relay, before stopping to visit the troglodyte houses at Les Goupillières. Only abandoned as recently as 100 years ago, the hamlet is a fascinating contrast to the splendour of the chateaux, showing how the peasants who dug the limestone for their construction really lived.

Azay-le-Rideau

A short, flat ride brings us to our stop for the night, Azay-le-Rideau, with its Renaissance Château, one of the most beautiful in France. The Château is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Indre, and this stunning setting is perfect for lazing on the lawns, and maybe taking in the son et lumière sound and laser show later in the evening.

Total distance: 44km

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Day 3

Cycling through the sunflowers

We leave Azay and head into the Forest of Chinon, where we take advantage of the traffic free trails through ancient woodlands. Emerging from the forest we arrive at the village of Cravant-les-Coteaux, one of the wine producing satellite villages of Chinon where we visit a vineyard and try the delicate red wine of the region. Not too much, though, as we are soon back on our bikes to roll into the town of Chinon itself , overlooked by its medieval chateau. Lunch is taken in the cobbled medieval centre, with timbered buildings dating back to the 13th century.

In the afternoon, we follow the Indre out of the town on a traffic-free route, before heading to our last destination for the day, the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, serene and impassive, resting place to Kings and Queens of England. Our hotel, which is a converted monastery with the monks' cells forming the bedrooms, is within the walls of the abbey grounds.

Total distance: 42km

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Day 4

Our route leads us southward to the village of Montreuil-Bellay. Clustered around the 11th Century chateau built by Foulque Nerra (the Black Falcon) Count of Anjou, the village still has much of its medieval remparts intact. There is an option of taking a canoe trip on the River Thouet, or spending an hour before lunch exploring the cobbled lanes.

The castle at Saumur

A small detour in the afternoon brings us to the evocative ruins of the Ancienne Abbaye d'Asnières, a perfect example of the Angevin Gothic style of architecture. We descend to the Loire to arrive in the early afternoon in Saumur, to give us plenty of time to explore the town's many attractions - a good fine art museum and a very interesting museum of armoured vehicles, for those of a more military bent. The town also offers plenty of shopping opportunities before dinner in our hotel on the banks of the Loire, overlooked by the elegant yet purposeful 14th century castle.

Total distance: 44km

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Day 5

We stay in Saumur tonight, so no need to pack up this morning! Our route takes us westward along the Loire on the south side then returns to Saumur on the north bank.

On the way we have the chance to visit the caves of one of Saumur's producers of Cremant (sparkling wine) — the Champagne method is used but the prices are a fraction of the real thing!

Also on the itinerary is the Musee des Champignons (mushroom museum) — the caves in the soft limestone cliffs provide the ideal coo dark and damp growing conditions for the mushrooms for which the region is famed.

Those who don't wish for a long ride today can visit the Chateau in Saumur, or the national Military Riding School; another attraction is the Musee des Blindes (Tanks) housing Europe's most extensive collection of armoured vehicles.

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Day 6

Château d'Ussé

A gentle climb brings us into the prestigious vineyards of Saumur-Champigny, where we will stop at a wine-growing domaine. Descending to the river at Montsoreau, the chateau provides a lovely backdrop for a coffee on the banks of the Loire. Crossing the Indre, we arrive at the Château d'Ussé, also known as the 'Sleeping Beauty' castle, as it was the inspiration for Pérrault's fairy tale. After lunch, following the river on a raised embankment for the next few miles, we cross the Loire to visit Langeais with its Château, notable for its beautifully furnished apartments. Then it's but a short hop to our hotel, the fabulous Chateau de Rochecotte, a fitting setting for the last evening of our tour.

Total distance: 52km

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Day 7

After breakfast, another chance to stroll around the château gardens, and to exchange numbers and addresses with new friends, before making our way to the station or the airport in Tours for onward journeys.

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