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