Cycling along the LoireYou’re set up in your saddle with your hair in the wind on the Loire à Vélo. Prepare to bask in Renaissance architecture, stylish French gardens, rows of vines and laidback traditional villages. Bright idea? Treat yourself to a ride between Nantes and Saumur for a long weekend. Fill your bottles, grab your helmets and explore the best bits of Anjou near you on the Loire à Vélo bike path.
Crusing with Loire Odyssee
Cycling along the Loire à Vélo in Saintes-Gemmes-sur-LoireLoire à Vélo profile :
“Calm, forward and upright”: the prestigious Saumur Cavalry School’s motto could well be yours with the Anjou town so full of gems to uncover. Visit Château de Saumur which was once owned by the Plantagenets. It’s been a royal fortress, opulent palace, prison, arsenal and museum so it has lots of stories to tell you.
Feeling hot? Keep a cool head on an exciting tour exploring underground Saumur. There’s so much going on beneath the surface in Anjou’s underground world of famous wineries and thrilling troglodyte dwellings.
Get back in the saddle for a few miles to reach the village of Brissac and its biggest icon: Château de Brissac. The “Giant of the Loire Valley” has 7 floors, 204 rooms and peacefully reigns over the Anjou plain where it holds the record for the tallest castle in France. Unmissable!
This slice of the Loire à Vélo is a great opportunity to visit magical towns and villages known as Petites Cités de Caractère®. We recommend Le Thoureil and its former barge port lined with 15th and 17th century traditional houses.
You’ve been riding along the Loire for a while now. But how well do you know it? Get to grips with the river with a stop at Loire Odyssée outside Loire Authion. Fun-filled entertainment, magical tours and guided cruises take you deep into France’s river royalty. An experience everyone will enjoy, young and old, novice and expert.
Saumur castle
Le Thoureil
Cruise boat from Loire Odyssée
Bike ride in front of the castle
The Tapestry of the Apocalypse
Bike boxes in AngersSeize the day! Hop back on the Loire à Vélo bike path to Trélazé and its museum celebrating the region’s iconic slate. The master stonemason Rossignol is your guide as you see a traditional carving demonstration for yourself. From the museum and gift shop to educational videos and stories from the owner, you won’t want to wipe the slate clean just yet…
If you’re looking to make more memories, venture off the Loire à Vélo path onto its Anjou Loop to visit Angers and Terra Botanica Park. The first theme park devoted to botany in Europe is a French gem that whisks children away to the magical land of plants. Spend quality time together with surprises galore.
There’s just a push of the pedal between the miniscule and the mammoth in Angers. Ride to the foot of the impressive Château d’Angers and its 600 years of history. Here are our top 3 reasons to visit the former residence of the Anjou Dukes :
Pick up your loyal bicycle and continue your outing along La Doutre Loop. It’s the perfect short ride to soak up one of the city’s most magical neighbourhoods. You’re in for greenery, culture and architecture.
Notre-Dame church
Gravel bike trip in the vineyards
Wine tasting at the Savennières vineyardContinue along the Loire à Vélo bike path and stop at île de Béhuard, the only island of its kind in the Loire and listed as one of the Petites Cités de Caractère®. On the agenda: low population, low traffic, lots of personality and the feeling that you’ve found a slice of paradise. Settle down for a drink or bite to eat at one of the island’s establishments before visiting the hilltop Notre-Dame Church listed as a Monument Historique since 1862.
End your great escape with a dive into the prestigious Savennières vineyard and its AOP, the smallest protected designation of origin in France! The Loire lifestyle gem only covers 370 hectares. Our top picks for experiencing it up close with the winemakers: Domaine d’Épiré, Domaine du Closel and Domaine aux Moines.
Indulge in one last detour off the Loire à Vélo and visit Château de Serrant, just 20 minutes from the royal river. Experience the pomp and glory of château life at the listed Renaissance landmark and home. Furniture, artworks, a traditional kitchen and huge library (12,000 books) await.
The Loire à Vélo bike path means you can count on somewhere to rest your head and store your bike with Accueil Vélo-approved places to stay along the way. They provide a cosy bed and bike storage within 5km of the bike path. That way you can head out on your adventure with one less thing to worry about.
Need some top addresses? Find your happy place with our selection of Accueil Vélo® bike-friendly hotels, villas, B&Bs and campsites :
Passport Loire à Vélo24 emblematic stamps to collect as proof of your passage along this emblematic itinerary. Visit participating tourist offices to collect the unique stamps for each territory.
Encourage your friends and family to join you on a weekend cycling trip along the Loire!
