Tour Code LO8C

LOIRE Highlights Castle of , Chenonceaux and many more, Cycling along rivers & valleys, - capital of Touraine, Abbey of Fontevraud, Vineyards

IN THE FRENCH KING’S FOOTSTEPS! SELF-GUIDED CYCLING TOUR

The Valley is known for its romantic castles, famous gardens, and historic churches, as Chambord well as the picturesque villages and its delicious wine. The longest river in and its tributaries, Vienne, and Indre, are welcoming you with their marvellous surrounding. Tours

The well-balanced combination of culture and nature will make this cycling tour an unforget- ire Cher Lo Chenonceaux table trip. Azay-le-Rideau Fontevraud I ndre DIFFICULTY KM LENGTH ARRIVAL Day 5 Azay-le-Rideau - Chenonceaux V e n 358/ 8 days fridays - sundays a n 59 km t 372 7 nights 19.03. - 31.10.21 You will leave the Indre Valley in order to follow the Day 1 Tours Cher Valley. Passing through , and Bléré, ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS nice little towns. Followed by the famous castle of Arrival in Tours. Time to get a first impression of Chenonceau called « des Dames ». Maybe Partly on cycle paths and little side routes, this beautiful town in-between the Loire and the behind a door or during a walk in the magnificent always asphalted, between the valleys slight climbs Cher River. gardens you will meet the ghosts of Catherine de Medicis or Diane de Poitiers. SERVICE INCLUDED Day 2 Tours - Chinon 61 km 5 nights in 3* hotels in room with private You will leave the city along the riverside of the facilities Loire. A few kilometres further, you arrive at the 2 night in 4* hotels in room with private famous gardens of Villandry Castle. From the little facilities roads parallel to the Loire, you have a nice view of Daily breakfast the wilder sides of the Loire River. Daily luggage transfer Passing among fields you will arrive at Sleeping Route book, maps and information material Beauty’s castle, in Ussé. You then cycle up to 24 h Service Hotline Chinon, dominated by the ruins of the castle of GPS-tracks on demand Charles VII. During the 12th century, King Henry II of England fell in love with this beautiful town, PER PERSON located on the side of the river Vienne. ROOM Day 3 Chinon - Fontevraud - Chinon with B&B DBL / SGL 889 € / 1193 € 55 or 69 km with half-board B&B / SGL 1172 € / 1476 € EXTRA NIGHT Today, you will cycle from Chinon to Fontevraud, Day 6 Chenonceaux - Blois 76 km one of the largest abbeys in France, which was built Tours DBL / SGL 76 € / 127 € during the 12th century under the protection of the Today’s route will pass through Montrichard in the Plantagenets’ family. Henry II, Richard the Cher valley; you will cycle through beautiful little BIKE RENTAL Lionheart as well as Eleanor of Aquitaine are buried villages and arrive in Cheverny. Then you will follow 21-Gear-Tourbike 100 € here. On your way back to Chinon, you will cycle Blois by Chambord, the largest castle in the Loire E-Bike (250 € deposit) 200 € among the vineyards of Anjou. valley. Blois was the seat of royalty during many years and different art movements from various POSSIBLE OPTIONS periods mark this town. Along with the castle this makes for an interesting day. 4-course-diner (Option half-board) Bike rental Helmet rental Day 7 Blois - Tours ca. 71 km Rental GPS-navigation device The last cycling day will be an unforgettable ride. You will follow the banks of the fascinating river Loire up to the royal castle of . In Amboise, do not miss the visit of Clos Lucé, famous house where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life. Back to Tours along the Loire again. Day 4 Chinon - Azay-le-Rideau 36 km From Chinon to Azay le Rideau, you will cycle Day 8 Departure through nice forests. On your arrival in Azay le Your cycling trip in is unfortunately Rideau you will be struck by the charms of the Indre finished but you will bring back home a complete Valley: romantic riversides, beautiful houses made range of great memories… of stone, and the amazing castle described as a jewel by the French writer Honoré de Balzac.

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