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Rigny-Ussé > Tours
43 km (57 km including the detour via Azay-le-Rideau)
The Touraine region is thought of as the "Garden of France". During this stage, you will get the chance to see the most beautiful gardens in the Loire Valley - the gardens at the Château de Villandry. Prior to this, you may have opted to do the detour via Azay-le-Rideau, whose Château rises up like an elegant stone ship.
From Villandry to Tours, the cycle path winds alongside the river Cher and its bucolic countryside. This is a real evocation of the gentle country life that the region is famous for!
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Itinerary
From Rigny-Ussé, join the levee of the Loire and ride on towards Bréhémont, the former marine port of the Loire. From there, carry on alongside the river towards Tours, or turn right towards Marnay to join the D120 and follow the river Indre up to Azay-le-Rideau, where you'll find one of the most sumptuous castles in the Loire Valley.
If you do not follow the detour to Azay, you'll arrive at Langeais. Cross the bridge over the Loire to visit the imposing castle in this small town. The signposted route of 'Loire by Bike' carries on along the levee of the Loire towards Villandry.
From Villandry (which we reach directly via small, hilly roads if the Azay-le-Rideau detour is taken), the route is particularly pleasant, as it is often reserved for cyclists and runs very close alongside the river Cher. Your arrival in Tours alongside the "old Cher" and the small workers' gardens is very attractive. We then cross the city and its seemingly endless Avenue de Grammont, before parking the bikes and taking in this gorgeous town on foot.
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Tourist destinations
ussé
This monument is a private dwelling. The furniture, works of art and collections that you can view belong to the families which owned the property over the centuries. This château inspired Perrault's tale of Sleeping Beauty. Life-size scenes from this fairy tale are recreated in various rooms in the château - children will love it.
Langeais
The Château and its apartments
Behind its stark medieval façade, the château in Langeais hides furnished apartments with some very refined decor. Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne held their wedding here. Waxwork figures recreate the scene, and there are also events such as medieval cookery lessons and a guided tour by the "real" Anne de Bretagne!
villandry
Th
Completed in approximately 1536, Villandry was the last of the Loire Valley castles to be built in the Renaissance period. Built by a minister of finance under the reign of François the First, it is most famous for its gardens, whose beds are filled with flowers and medicinal plants and vegetables.
Tours
The detour...
Marnay
Maurice Dufresne Museum - Out of ordinary !
Throughout his life, Maurice Dufresne assembled a collection of some three thousand old objects and devices.
Azay-le-Rideau
The Renaissance château
Many people believe this château to be the most beautiful in the whole Loire region, even though technically it sits by the Indre river, and not the Loire. Its elegant silhouette is reflected in the water of its huge moat, looming up like a huge stone ship.
Shows are staged in its gardens on summer evenings.
From July 2011, the structure will be open to the public.
The Cave valley of Goupillieres - Insolite !
Three cave-dwellers' farms. 3 kilometres from Azay-le-Rideau château, we can delve into the Touraine of yesteryear.
Practical informations
bike rentals
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Azay-le-Rideau |
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Bréhémont |
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Langeais, Villandry, Tours Détours de Loire |
Les offices de tourisme
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- Langeais |
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Villandry http://www.villandry-tourisme.com/ |
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Tours |
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Azay-le-Rideau |
Cartes et topoguides
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Météo
Access
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by trainLangeais: Average of 2 trains per day that allow bikes, travelling to Nantes, Angers, Tours and Orléans. |
