© Max Coquard
Nature and Culture — discover the Loire and its castles by bike
Bike Touring Collection by Explore France
12
Tours
35:04 h
339 mi
8,475 ft
Cycling is an excellent way to explore France’s stunning Loire Valley at leisure and in harmony with nature. On numerous cycle paths and circular rides in Loire Valley, you can immerse yourself in the beautiful outdoors and experience the fascinating culture of the time-honoured French nobility. You cycle through picturesque vineyards and vibrant forests, along the mighty Loire River and its dead straight side canals. Along the way, you discover fairytale castles and historic towns with impressive cathedrals.
In this Collection, we’ve put together the 12 most beautiful day rides in Loire Valley. The routes range from short, easy loops for relaxed explorations to day-long rides packed with phenomenal sights. The most famous route in the Loire Valley is the "Loire à Vélo" cycle route. It has a total length of 900 kilometres (560 mi) and runs from Cuffy to the Atlantic Ocean. Here, we show you selected parts of the cycle route, each of which you can cycle in one day.
But it's not only the Loire River that’s enchanting. We'll take you on beautiful routes along the Indre and Eure rivers, show you the green hills of the historic region of Perche and the countless lakes along the Brenne. In the vineyards of Sancerre, you can gaze upon the vast rows of vines and taste the region’s fine wines.
Towns such as Tours, Blois, Loches and Chinon with their history, castles, gardens and unique cathedrals, provide a slice of culture that makes cycle rides in Loire Valley so varied and diverse. By the way, if you want even more, there are over 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi) of cycle paths in the region for you to discover the Loire Valley at your own pace.
The best way to reach the Loire Valley is via Paris. You can travel by train directly from Frankfurt and Cologne to the french capital in three and a half up to four hours. From Paris you can quickly reach the Loire Valley with the trains of the Transport Express Régional (TER). The cities of Orléans, Tours, Blois or Nevers offer excellent possibilities for overnight stays. To get from one bike tour to the next you can also travel with the TER trains and buses, which offer free transportation for your bike. How to get to the individual starting points by public transport is explained in each tour. Have fun planning your vacation in the Loire Valley!
On The Map
Circuits et Incontournables
- Intermediate01:4916.5 mi9.1 mph925 ft925 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On this beautiful circular route, you’re offered a panoramic view of Sancerre’s vineyards. Along the way, you can stop to taste the regional wines in villages such as Verdigny or Sury-en-Vaux.
The tour starts in Saint-Satur. To begin with, you cycle on a stretch of flat canalside trail running parallel…
by Val de Loire
- Expert05:4060.4 mi10.7 mph500 ft650 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This tour takes you along the Loire and its side canal through beautiful countryside from Cuffy to Briare. Along the way, you discover historic towns and waterside villages as well as renowned vineyards such as those of Sancerre and the Val de Loire Nature Reserve.
The starting point of the tour is in…
by Val de Loire
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- Intermediate02:0919.0 mi8.8 mph400 ft375 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This leisurely loop takes you to Château de Chambord, a jewel of the Renaissance. The beautiful estate is located in the former favourite hunting ground of Francis I, now a wonderful nature reserve.
The tour starts at the campsite in Crouy-sur-Cosson. From here, you cycle through pretty woods, past fields…
by Val de Loire
- Easy01:3515.9 mi10.0 mph325 ft325 ftEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On this tour, you discover numerous castles and it’s no wonder really – you are in the ‘land of castles’ after all. There are 18 castles in the village of Cellettes alone, some hidden in the heart of vineyards or in enchanting forests. You can visit a few of these chateaux, including Beauregard, Cheverny…
by Val de Loire
- Expert04:5845.6 mi9.2 mph1,100 ft1,200 ftExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The route along the Loire from Blois to Tours is ideal for discovering the towns of Blois, Amboise and Tours, as well as a few Loire castles and their gardens. The wonderful landscapes of this magnificent river valley cannot fail to enchant you.
In Blois, hop on your saddle and cycle to the banks of the…
by Val de Loire
- Expert05:2754.7 mi10.0 mph2,075 ft1,850 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The ‘Indre à vélo’ is a cycle route that takes you through the countryside in the heart of Touraine and Indre province. Along the way, you'll discover fabulous Loire castles and other historic buildings, charming villages and beautiful landscapes.
You start in Loches, where you can take a stroll through…
by Val de Loire
- Intermediate02:4126.6 mi9.9 mph325 ft325 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This beautiful circular trip takes you along the ponds and lakes in the heart of the Grande Brenne. Here, you’re immersed in beautiful landscapes that are a biodiverse paradise for birds.
You start in Mézières-en-Brenne. From here, you cycle parallel to the Claise River to the village of Saint-Michel…
by Val de Loire
- Intermediate01:3916.5 mi10.0 mph625 ft625 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On this leisurely, circular tour, you follow in the footsteps of the writer François Rabelais who was born at the end of the 15th century in Chinon, where the route starts.
From the Chinon district south of Vienne, you cycle southwards and begin an extensive loop through lush green countryside. Wide fields…
by Val de Loire
- Intermediate01:4617.8 mi10.1 mph925 ft950 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On the hilly, circular tour ‘Balcons du Perche’, you can enjoy extraordinary panoramas as you cycle along beautiful country roads and through picturesque villages.
The starting point for this beautiful bike ride is Thiron-Gardais. To begin with, cycle over a small hill to La Gaudaine. With spectacular…
by Val de Loire
- Easy00:569.54 mi10.2 mph275 ft275 ftEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This easy route takes you from historic Chartres to the beautiful landscapes of the Eure Valley. Thanks to its few climbs, this tour is suitable for the whole family.
The route starts against the backdrop of the towering spires of Chartres Cathedral. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and thus…
by Val de Loire
- Easy01:5721.2 mi10.9 mph400 ft400 ftEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
On this easy circular tour, you’re immersed in the magnificent atmosphere of the Orléans forest, the largest state forest in France.
The tour starts at the gates of Orléans in Donnery. From here, you ride on a mostly flat stretch past picturesque fields and meadows to Traînou. In this small, charming…
by Val de Loire
- Intermediate04:2734.8 mi7.8 mph650 ft525 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This beautiful route takes you from Montargis along the Loing Canal to Birare. You cycle on beautiful paths that are part of the EuroVelo 3 route, also called ‘La Scandibérique’.
Hop on your saddle in the pretty commune of Montargis and cycle directly to the canal to follow it out of the city. You hug…
by Val de Loire
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Collection Stats
- Tours12
- Distance339 mi
- Duration35:04 h
- Elevation8,475 ft
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