Cycle the Loire - Orléans to the Atlantic Coast

On arrival in Orléans make your way to the first hotel. Gateway to the heart of the famous Loire valley, Orléans was a capital in the early French Middle Ages, and today is a lively, modern town with a beautiful historic centre. An ideal place to start this route along Europe’s last wild river: the Loire. Dependent on your arrival time, we recommend spending time exploring the old centre. The city is situated between the large countryside fields of the Beauce area and the green pastures, ponds and forest of Sologne.

Follow the wild river banks today, and cycle in calm and serenity to the charming town of Beaugency. This afternoon you can visit the Hall of Honour, in the town hall, with its 8 impressive embroidered wall hangings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Other notable sites include Chateau de Dunois, the Abbey church and the clock tower.

159m ascent, 172m descent

Today you will leave Beaugency along the river banks, passing the prestigious château of Chambord, the widest château in the Loire Valley and a Renaissance masterpiece. Continue cycling towards Blois, known for its light facades and blue roofs, its pedestrian streets gracefully preserving the flavour of lost centuries, and its serene atmosphere. The château in Blois offers an excellent illustration of the evolution of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.

328m ascent, 345m descent

Cycle to the chateau of Chaumont, overlooking the Loire river. It is worthwhile stopping here, and the grounds are usually open to the public. The Chateau itself is famous for its luxurious stables and there is often free wine tasting at the base of the driveway. The cycle continues to Amboise and its royal chateau dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. Nearby you can also visit Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci's last home.

337m ascent, 343m descent

Today's cycle will take you via the vineyards of Montlouis to Tours. After approx 15km you have the option to visit the famous “Château de Chenonceau” which straddles the Cher River in five distinctive arches. It was this chateau which was promised by King Henri II to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, which was sabotaged by the Queen, Catherine de Médicis. Continue to Montlouis, with its numerous cellars offering prestigious sweet white or sparkling wines. The ideal microclimate, close to where the Loire and Cher unite, produces grapes of a unique quality. Discover this for yourself during a visit to a wine cellar or a lunch break. A fine track leads to Tours, the friendly capital of what is called ´the garden of France'. Here great experiences await including the magnificent cathedral and basilica, the Olivier Debré Art Centre, the Botanical Garden, the flavours of the markets...

419m ascent, 434m descent

Cycle to Savonnières and visit the 'Petrifying Grottoes'. These limestone caves are used to create quite interesting ceramics. You will then proceed to Villandry with its chateau and famous gardens. These gardens are unmatched in Europe and have three superposed terraces. Continue to Sache and visit the house of the famous novelist Honoré de Balzac. You will eventually arrive in Azay le Rideau where you can admire its Renaissance chateau set over the Indre river.

336m ascent, 339m descent

This morning you will cycle towards Langeais and its 15th century chateau, a typical medieval fortified castle where you can admire wonderful tapestries and furniture. Then ride towards the 'Sleeping Beauty' chateau in Ussé which inspired the famous fairy tale by Perrault. Overnight in the medieval city of Chinon, founded on the Vienne river. It is possible to visit numerous cellars and sample the famous red wine appreciated by Rabelais.

276m ascent, 292m descent

Today you will cycle towards the impressive Abbey of Fontevraud, one of the greatest monastic cities in Europe from 1101 to 1804. Eleanor of Aquitaine spent her last days here and it is the necropolis of the Plantagenet sovereigns. Napoleon saved the abbey from destruction in 1804, transforming into a penitentiary and it remained a prison until 1985. Continue to the lovely town of Saumur.

491m ascent, 458m descent

Cycle along the southern bank of the river where you can admire the monuments of local white tuff stone, such as the church in Cunault and St-Maur Abbey. Once in St-Mathurin-sur-Loire you follow the northern bank of the Loire through a former swamp that was drained in the Middle Ages. Some time later you see tracks of the old slate quarries of Trélazé. Then enjoy crossing the Authion River via a little chain ferry. Your destination is the peaceful city of Angers, with its chateau housing the famous Apocalypse Tapestry.

695m ascent, 680m descent

In the heart of Anjou, this stage takes you from opposite Angers’ central castle out via the green setting of the Lac de Maine. This urban stage avoids the road traffic, taking you through parkland and alongside the Maine River. Bouchemaine is great for a stop, for its typical quayside restaurants or a picnic beside the Loire. Continue to La Pointe in the heart of Anjou, where the Maine River joins the Loire. Further west there are glimpses of the prestigious vine-covered slopes of Savennières while you closely follow the river. Don’t miss Béhuard Island before continuing to cross Chalonnes’ island, one of the largest on the Loire. Nearby, along the south bank, are the celebrated Coteaux du Layon vineyards, then the pretty perched villages of Montjean-sur-Loire and Ingrandes. Overnight usually in Mauges-sur-Loire just across the river.

348m ascent, 360m descent

From Ingrandes/surrounds, you quickly reach the village of St-Florent-le-Vieil, with its great views of the Loire Valley. Continue to Champtoceaux, an historic fortified site with further tremendous river views, standing on Anjou’s frontier with the Pays d’Ancenis on the north bank. It’s worth conquering the heights of St-Florent and Champtoceaux for the panoramas! The route is along quiet roads and greenways and soon the city of Nantes comes into view. Cycle into town on a shaded towpath. The Tabarly Bridge leads to L’île de Nantes, home to extraordinary outsized machines including the giant elephant. Enjoy sightseeing through Nantes' numerous pedestrian and cycle-friendly streets.

442m ascent, 447m descent

Leave Nantes via a small boat across the river and continue on the cycling path of 'Loire à Vélo'. Later in the day you will follow a narrow canal for a peaceful cycle through marshlands and countryside. This will bring you to the estuary of the Loire river at Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. St Brevin is a seaside resort with a large sandy beach surrounded by sand dunes and pine tree forest - an ideal place to relax after a long cycling day.

337m ascent, 335m descent

The trip concludes in St Brevin after breakfast. We can assist with booking extra nights if you'd like to extend your stay to visit the beautiful Atlantic Coast.