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. 105m ascent, 124m 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. 203m ascent, 209m 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 capital of what is called ´the garden of France'. Enjoy exploring the magnificent cathedral and basilica, the Olivier Debré Art Centre, the Botanical Garden, the flavours of the markets... 212m ascent, 226m descent

This stage leads you along the south bank of the Cher River to the Château de Villandry, a major stop, with its world-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, considered one of the most beautiful in the whole Loire region (though technically it sits by the Indre river, not the Loire). 134m ascent, 137m descent

A star-studded stage, taking you from the glorious Château d’Azay le Rideau and the confluence of Loire river to the Fortress of Chinon via the fairytale Château d’Ussé. Cycle along a raised levee beside the Loire, allowing wonderful views of the great river. Today is marked by atmospheric islands in the Loire, which are colonised by birds. At the Indre River’s confluence with the Loire, the setting is unspoilt. Continue and discover the charming medieval town of Chinon on the banks of the Vienne river, with its impressive fortress, historic quarters and small shops. 148m ascent, 164m descent

Today you will cycle towards the impressive Royal 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 Montsoreau, with its magnificent castle overlooking the Loire. Here you can enjoy a ride in a traditional wooden boat or bargain at the monthly ‘brocante’ and ‘puces’ market. The delightful village of Candes St Martin is worth a detour too - walk up to the lookout for views over the Loire and Vienne rivers. Your destination is Saumur, with its famous castle and Cadre Noire horse riding school. Saumur boasts the biggest tank museum in the world. And don’t forget its well-known sparkling wine! 370m ascent, 337m 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, situated on both sides of the river Maine, with its chateau housing the famous Apocalypse Tapestry. 407m ascent, 392m 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, the largest along the Loire à Vélo, 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. 126m ascent, 131m descent

Surprising works of art along the route enliven the start of this stage along the mouth of the Loire. After Le Pellerin the Martinière canal acts as your guide. You cycle along small, quiet roads through typical landscapes of the mouth of a big river: broad marshes and meadows. From Paimboeuf you follow a part of the coastal route ‘Velodyssée’. You will notice the strong influence of tides and currents on the Loire. Your trip ends in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, a lively seaside resort on the Atlantic coast with a large sandy beach surrounded by sand dunes and pine tree forest - an ideal place to relax after a long cycling day. 91m ascent, 89m descent

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