Essential Tips For Cycling the Loire Valley That Will Make Your Visit More Enjoyable

Are you planning to visit the castles and countryside of the Loire Valley? Read on for some recommendations and tips for cycling in this scenic region of France.

The Loire Valley, often referred to as the “Garden of France,” is renowned for its stunning collection of over 300 castles, or “châteaux,” making it a dream destination for travelers.

Whether you’re exploring solo, with friends, or with family, the Loire Valley offers a perfect mix of history, culture, and natural beauty.

The Loire Valley offers some of the best hiking and cycling routes in France, making it an excellent choice for an active vacation.

The Châteaux à Vélo (Castles by Cycle) routes extend across a total of 310 miles (500 km) of cycle paths.

You can choose from 15 routes ranging from 6 to 28 miles (10 to 45 km), offering options for young riders, avid cyclists, and those who just want to enjoy the scenery.

Worried about centering your trip around visiting castles?

No need to fear, there is much more to the Loire Valley than castles.

You’ll find abbeys, charming towns, wine, cheese, and even troglodyte dwellings to explore.

Just in case, troglodyte dwellings are real houses and buildings built inside caves left from carving out the white stone used for building along the Loire Valley.

Read on and see what I mean.

Tours: The Heart of the Loire Valley

The city of Tours sits about halfway along the Loire Valley cycling route.

A city worth a day of exploring, Tours is close to the region with the highest concentration of castles.

Reaching Tours from Paris is easy, making it the perfect starting point for your cycling route.

Getting to Tours from Paris:

• By train takes an 1hr 11 min at a cost of $40-90 USD
• By bus takes 2hr 45 min with a cost of $21 – 35 USD

For those traveling from overseas without their own bikes, or if you want to avoid the hassle of transporting your bike on the train, consider joining a cycling tour.

You can find both local and international outfitters specializing in cycling and hiking tours.

Outfitters can provide a bicycle and make arrangements for stays along your route.

In other cases, you can be part of a group with the support of local guides. This can be reassuring if you don’t speak French.

We used:

• VBT Bicycling Vacations – We highly recommend them for their knowledge of the area and their support structure for their riders. The bikes were excellent. The locations we stayed at were of great quality and full of charm. The experience was fantastic.

Must-See Chateaux’s

There are over 300 castles and grand mansions in the Loire Valley which makes them impossible to see in one trip.

This list below has four of the most beautiful and grand of the bunch.

We strongly recommend adding these four to your must-see list. If you have extra time, consider exploring additional castles, abbeys, or grand homes that catch your interest.

• Château de Chambord: The largest of the châteaux in the valley, this castle is truly grand! As you cycle into the grounds, the imposing French Renaissance architecture takes your breath away. Continuing to circle the grounds, you begin to grasp the sheer scale and magnificence of this extensive castle. You should not miss this visit.
• Château de Chenonceau: This unique structure is best known for its covered bridge built over the Cher River. It is also visited for its beautiful gardens. Rain or shine this castle is worth a visit for its beautiful and unique architecture and scenic gardens.
• Château de Villandry: Speaking of gardens, the ones at Villandry are amazing. They include a water garden, ornamental flower gardens, and vegetable gardens. We have never seen vegetables and fruit turned into such beautiful art. The gardens are laid out in an embroidery pattern created with low box hedges, including the famous Garden of Love.
• Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau: An example of French Renaissance architecture this castle was built on an island in the Indre River. Built originally as a fortress this is a beautiful castle today.

Other Experiences While Cycling the Loire Valley

1. Amboise

If you are a fan of Leonardo Da Vinci or are into science then you need to stop in Amboise.

Here you’ll find Clos Lucé the former residence of Leonardo Da Vinci while he lived in the town.

Leonardo spent the last three years of his life at the Château of Clos Lucé and worked on several projects for the king of France.

Furthermore, the Park outside is a marvel of nature and engineering.

Explore the actual size replicas of many of his inventions like the assault chariot and the revolving bridge.

If you plan to visit we recommend you purchase your tickets in advance online at their website Clos Lucé Park Leonardo DaVinci.

2. Blois

If you need a break from visiting castles and want to spend half a day exploring and just relaxing you can visit the town of Blois.

With a castle of its own overlooking the river, the best thing to do in Blois is to stroll around town and relax at a café while indulging in some people-watching.

If the weather is sunny, grab a picnic lunch and sit by the river with the castle and town as your backdrop.

3. Troglodyte Caves

The area close to Saumur boasts several troglodyte sites (dwellings inside caves).

From castles to homes, you can find these caves being used today for many purposes.

We visited one cave being used as a wine cellar and enjoyed a wine and cheese pairing tasting.

We also walked around town and saw some others that had been converted into lovely family homes.

4. Vineyards and Wine

It’s hard to visit a region of France where you can’t enjoy some of the fine wines that are produced in the region.

Close to Tours you will find two regions that produce great tasting wines that are not mainstream outside of France.

You can visit Vouvray and Montlouis on a half-day tour from Tours.

This means you can cycle in the morning, then spend the afternoon exploring vineyards and let someone else drive while you sample the wine.

Preparing For A Cycling Trip

If you’re an experienced cyclist you may know all of the tips below.

For our first cycling trip, we didn’t know much and wished we had been better prepared.

The tips below are simple steps you can take to make your cycling vacation more enjoyable.

• Be prepared for Rain & Wind – have a proper activewear raincoat. Especially during the shoulder season when rain can be a week-long event.
• Sun Protection – for sunny days take a hat or visor, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
• Hydrate – this applies for any season, drink water and fluids to replace those lost during your cycling/walking. Consider electrolytes or Gatorade if the day is particularly hot.
• Stay Fueled – Keep healthy snacks like nuts or protein bars in your pockets or bike bag. When cycling in the woods or away from roads, you might not find food for a while.
• Take Breaks – pace yourself and enjoy the ride. Stop to drink water and some of those snacks that you brought for the ride.

• Learn to properly Ride a Bike – this sounds simple, but riding 7 – 25 miles/day (12 – 40 km/day) on sometimes unpaved roads is not the same as taking a ride around the neighborhood. Learn to pedal correctly, have your seat height adjusted correctly, and be conscious of your posture when you ride.
• Gear – beginners, don’t use clip-in shoes. Some outfitters even recommend experienced riders not to use clip-in shoes to avoid bad consequences in case of falls. Instead use a sturdy, well-loved pair of sneakers.
• Clothes – you don’t need fancy cycling clothes to enjoy a riding vacation. But two things that can improve your long-distance riding experience are:
  • Use double pants (leggings and outer pants) or use cycling shorts with padding. Your butt will thank you.
  • Don’t wear new clothes you haven’t tested at home, ill-fitting clothes can cause pain, burns, and blisters.
• First Aid Kit – have a small one handy at all times.
• Health concerns – If you suffer from allergies ensure your first-aid kit includes topical & mouth antihistamines. If they’re more severe, have an EpiPen.

Also, please don’t undertake an active vacation if you don’t exercise at home. Consult with your primary physician before undertaking an active vacation.

Cycling Fun for the Whole Family

Whether you choose to focus your trip on visiting mostly the châteaux, as we did…

… or if you want to explore the woods or the vineyards, the Loire Valley has an ample variety of activities for the whole family.

With mostly flat terrain, excellent marked paths and a variety of places to explore a visit to the Loire Valley region can prove a perfect getaway for the whole family.

We hope this post gives you some ideas of things to do when visiting the Loire Valley, and that the tips help you prepare for a fun and safe cycling experience.

Grab your bags, prepare your gear, and go have some fun!