Access

by train Saumur: Average of 2 trains per day that allow bikes, travelling to Nantes, Angers, Tours and Orléans. Chinon: Average of 8 trains per day that allow bikes, travelling to Tours.

Itinerary

To avoid the main road, the signposted route for 'Loire by Bike' offers two options between Saumur and Montsoreau. The first is a shared route, crossing the sloping vineyards for those of you who don't mind a bit of a climb. The second is easier, taking in two good sections of cycle path alongside the Loire (with a small incursion into the vineyards between Souzay-Champigny and Parnay). At the entrance to Montsoreau, we turn right to the Abbey of Fontevraud (detour of 12km there and back) or we can continue alongside the Loire towards Candes-Saint-Martin, where we will cross the Vienne river. Take the bridge footpath to take photos safely of the wonderful view of Candes and the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne! Follow the signposts to get to Savigny-en-Véron, where there are three options:
- continue along the 'Loire by Bike' route towards Avoine and, 7 km further on, we'll get to a cycle path at Néman, running alongside the Loire, which will lead us on peacefully to Rigny-Ussé;
- or go towards Chinon (10 km away), where we will subsequently rejoin the route along the Loire using a "short-cut" through the charming village of Huismes, using some very pleasant, but very hilly little back roads.
- Or we can take the route towards "Bourgueil" to visit the Museum of the Atom, near the Avoine power plant (by appointment). We can then do a few kilometres on the D7 road to get to Néman and the cycle path along the banks of the Loire.

Tourist destinations

Saumur

The Castle
The castle-palace of the Dukes of Anjou in the 14th and 15th centuries, Saumur Castle was the home of King René, and is the last surviving example of the Princely palaces erected by the Valois dynasty. A former residence of the city governors, a prison and then an arms and munitions depot, it was purchased by the City in 1906 to accommodate the city museum, now known as the Museum of France.
 

Cavalry Museum
In the prestigious setting of the old stables of the Cadre Noir equestrian display team, built in 1827, the Ecole d'Application de l'Arme Blindée Cavalerie (EAABC - Armoured Cavalry Training School) has a collection tracing back the history of the French cavalry since Charles VII in 1445 up to the modern day.
 

Bagneux Dolmen
With its 15 slabs weighing over 500 tonnes, the Bagneux dolmen is the grandest of the region's megalithic monuments.

Turquant

Cave-dwellings - Out of the ordinary !
This community features a set of cave dwellings that can be visited along a signposted route. Don't miss the speciality of the region - "pommes tapées".

Windmills
Visits to the Val Hulin windmill can be arranged by appointment (02 41 38 15 59).
 

Montsoreau

Renowned as "one of the most beautiful villages in France"

The château
This château was truly built right on the banks of the river, and made famous by Alexandre Dumas' famous novel "La Dame de Montsoreau".

Candes-Saint-Martin

Renowned as "one of the most beautiful villages in France"

12th and 13th century collegiate church
A beautiful monument in the Roman style, where Saint Martin died in 394.
 

Mini-cruises at the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne
Explore the exceptional vistas of Candes-Saint-Martin (one of the "most beautiful villages in France") and the château de Montsoreau on a modern boat on the Loire.
 

Ussé

Sleeping beauty's Castle
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.
 

Detours

Fontevraud-l’Abbaye

Royal Abbey of Fontevraud
An impressive building, fully restored, this plays host to the recumbent statues of Eleanor of Aquitane and Richard the Lionheart.

Avoine

Museum of the Atom
The first nuclear power plant entering into service in France, "Chinon A" is now a museum of the Atom, and offers a 3D view of the operation of a nuclear power plant, looking at the issues facing us in the future for this form of energy.
Free visit with registration (ID required):
Tél. : 02 47 98 77 77 - email : cip-chinon[nospam]edf.fr

Chinon

Royal fortress
The imposing ruins of the fortress which dominates the town have just emerged from a long, ambitious restoration scheme. They have been fitted out for visiting, using the latest museum technology (augmented reality stations) and they have been given good lighting. But even the mural sections which have not been reconstructed have a great deal to tell us...

Caves painctes
This is the lad of Rabelais, in the heart of a huge area of vineyards. One of the best ways to get the most out of this area is to visit the old quarry galleries which have been converted into wine cellars. The "Entonneurs rabelaisiens" (wine caskers) association is also based here.
 

Practical information

bike rentals

 
tourist offices

	Saumur http://www.ot-saumur.fr/ Tél. 02 41 40 20 60
	Montsoreau http://www.ot-saumur.com/ Tél. 02 41 51 70 22
	Rigny-Ussé www.paysazaylerideau.com/ Tél. 02 47 45 44 40
	Chinon http://www.chinon-valdeloire.com Tél. 02 47 93 17 85

MAPS and guidebooks

weather

Saumur

Chinon