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Loire Highlights

A leisurely cycling tour of the Loire's finest châteaux

The Loire region is famed for its beautiful rivers and splendid châteaux. The Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Park is characterised by vineyards, rolling farmland, hunting forests and limestone cliffs into which astonishing troglodytic dwellings have been carved. Crowning these beautiful landscapes are some of the Loire's most romantic and elegant châteaux: Azay-le-Rideau, Ussé, Chinon, Villandry and Saumur. With short, leisurely routes that are largely on the flat, you have plenty of time to visit all of these during your holiday, along with vineyards and mushroom caves (pay locally in all cases).

Nights: 4
Grade: 1
Terrain: quiet riverside lanes, forests, vineyards
Hotels: one 2-star hotel; two 3-star hotels
Meals: dinner & breakfast each day
Climate: the Loire enjoys a mild, sunny climate with a warm summer, when temperatures average 20°C, and a fine spring and autumn.

Starting point: Le Grand Monarque (3*), Azay-le-Rideau. Run by the friendly Monsieur Forest, this is an attractive hotel with a good restaurant that serves dishes incorporating local products such as pike-perch and duck.

Day 1: for a short day, we suggest that you follow the course of the River Indre, passing through a couple of attractive villages to reach the banks of the River Loire itself. You then follow the great river westwards towards Ussé. The longer route heads north from Azay-le-Rideau past an elegant private château and through a deciduous forest to Villandry, where you can visit the château, famed for its magnificent formal gardens. From here you follow the River Cher to its confluence with the River Loire, and cycle along the riverbank to Ussé. (18km or 34km)

Accommodation: Le Clos d'Ussé (2*), Ussé. Though the rooms are rather simple, the welcome here from the Duchemin family is warm and genuine, and there is a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.

Day 2: start the day with a visit to Ussé's château, the inspiration for Perrault's original tale of Sleeping Beauty. From Ussé, you head through farmland and vineyards on a short cycle ride to Chinon. Unless you pause en route, you will probably arrive in the early afternoon and can spend the rest of the day visiting Chinon’s very different château and the town's wine museum. The troglodytic dwellings just outside the town are also well worth a visit. (14km)

Accommodation: Hotel le Chinon (3*), Chinon. This modern hotel, complete with a swimming pool, is well located across the river from the main part of the town and enjoys excellent views of the imposing château, spectacular when illuminated at night.

Day 3: your final route heads east from Chinon past cliffs in which there are numerous troglodytic dwellings before turning north across farmland and woodland. End your holiday with one final visit - the romantic château of Azay-le-Rideau should not be missed. (35km)

Accommodation: Le Grand Monarque, as above.

Prices & travel 2008

Prices include: 4 nights' dinner & breakfast, cycle hire
Self-drive also includes: P&O Ferries Dover-Calais
By rail also includes: Eurostar/TGV St Pancras-St Pierre des Corps via Lille (out dep 1000/home dep 1335), connecting journey by taxi (out/home 0h45). Please note that a supplement may be payable depending on availability of seats for your chosen dates of travel and how far in advance of your departure date your holiday booking is made.
Start: any day until 15 Oct; Sat, Tue, Wed thereafter

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