Loire: from Tours to the Atlantic Ocean

Individual arrival in Tours. Tours is the historic center of Touraine, the much-praised "Garden of France".

The River Cher takes you straight to Villandry Castle with its terraced gardens. Of course, a visit to these famous gardens is a must. Shady walkways, flower-filled arbors, fountains and the artfully laid out vegetable garden will amaze every visitor. A few kilometers further on, you swap the banks of the Chers for those of the Loire, and the next castle beckons: Langeais. One look from the fortified tower (this castle was used exclusively for military purposes), and the river and the entire surrounding countryside lie before you. On the edge of the dark and mysterious forest of Chinon stands Ussé Castle, the Sleeping Beauty Castle. You approach your destination for today, Chinon, via small villages and side roads.

In the morning, leave the medieval town of Chinon and cycle to Candes-St. Martin. Stroll through the alleyways of the village to the highest point on the hill and enjoy the view of the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers. Today has another highlight in store for you: the mythical cliff dwellings of Souzey, which you cycle through. Saumur Castle awaits you at today's stage destination, from where you have another beautiful view of the Loire Valley.

From the white city to the black city. Your first cycle stage takes you past large sparkling wine cellars and mushroom farms that were once located in underground quarries. Over gentle hills, you reach some of the most beautiful villages on the Loire: Chénehutte, Cunault and Le Thoureil were once important inland ports where mainly wine and limestone was loaded. The ruins of castles, Romanesque churches and impressive villas of Dutch and English wine merchants bear witness to this period. At St. Mathurin, you cross the Loire and cycle through a varied polder landscape. Your stage destination is Angers, the black city - houses and roofs are built from the slate that is still mined here today. Look forward to a stroll through this beautiful city - it's worth it!

Visit the castle, where the world-famous "Apocalypse of Angers", a monumental series of tapestries from the 14th century, is exhibited in a specially built gallery, before leaving Angers on the Maine, the last major tributary of the Loire before the Atlantic. You follow this river until it flows into the Loire at La Pointe-Bouchemaine. At the foot of a slate-granite massif, the route continues to Savennières, with the oldest church in the region. Some of the greatest wines of the Loire Valley grow here, fruity, dry white wines - a visit to a winegrower is a must. A detour to Béhuard, the only village on an island in the Loire, is not to be missed. Béhuard is located on one of the many islands formed by the Loire. From La Poissonnière, your route takes you over dykes, with beautiful views of the Loire, to the former Loire port of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil. In St-Florent-le-Vieil, high above the old town (next to the church), there is a magnificent viewpoint.

Another change of scenery! Soon the valley narrows noticeably and the Loire finally enters Brittany, forcing its way through slate and granite cliffs to Nantes. The cycle path changes banks several times, with a few small climbs to contend with - but always with beautiful views. Your cycle stage takes you past horticultural farms where lamb's lettuce, carrots and lily of the valley are produced on a large scale. You follow the Loire to the center of Nantes. Although it is still 70 km to the mouth of the Loire into the Atlantic, the influence of the sea can already be felt and seen here with the ebb and flow of the tide.

Today you follow the ever-widening river towards the Atlantic. You cycle downstream through the tranquil countryside and many small villages until the Loire flows into the Atlantic. To reach your destination, Saint Nazaire, you now cross the impressive bridge over the Loire. In Saint Nazaire, visit the submarine bunker, which is also accessible by bike, or the Atlantic shipyard, which is one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world. With so many impressions in your luggage, you can round off the trip in the evening by the Atlantic.

An eventful and impressive cycle tour through the unknown valley of the Loire comes to an end today. If you would like to return to Tours, we recommend our return transfer service, which takes you back to your hotel in Tours every Saturday morning by minibus from Saint-Nazaire (reservation required).