The Loire Cycle Path to the Atlantic

As the former capital of the Kingdom of France, Tours is the ideal starting point for your Loire cycle tour. Stroll through the historic old town. Numerous buildings, patrician houses and monuments bear witness to the glorious past of the city on the Loire.

Your first cycling stage takes you to two magnificent castles. First you reach Villandry Castle, following the River Cher. Discover the terraced gardens, fountains and the artfully laid out vegetable garden on shady footpaths. Then continue to Langeais, where the next château awaits you. Enjoy the view over the entire surrounding area from the fortified tower before you reach Chinon via small villages and quiet roads.

Ride along the Vienne from Chinon to the small village of Candes-St. Martin. Stroll through the narrow streets past picturesque houses to the plateau above the village. Here you have a magnificent view of the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers. A very special experience awaits you in Souzay-Champigny. You cycle practically through the middle of former cave dwellings. The castle of Saumur, your destination for today's stage, cannot be overlooked. It sits high above the town, which is also known as the white town because of its houses with limestone tuff façades.

Leaving Saumur, you cycle through the vineyards of Anjou on the southern banks of the Loire. The route takes you through idyllic villages with medieval churches, past castle ruins and grand villas. In Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire, you will visit the Loire Odyssey information center and learn more about the river that gives your Loire cycle tour its name. Along the Maine you reach Angers with its imposing castle. It has no fewer than 17 towers! In the evening, stroll through the lively streets of this vibrant cultural city.

If you haven't visited the castle the day before, you should do so in the morning. The tapestry cycle of the Apocalypse from the 14th century on display here is the largest tapestry ever woven in Europe. You follow the Maine back to the Loire and then to Savennières. Here you will find the best and most expensive white wines in France made from the Chenin Blanc grape. The village of Béhuard, situated on an island, is also worth a visit. The route then takes you over dykes to the small town of Ingrandes-sur-Loire. In St-Florent-le-Vieil, a magnificent viewpoint high above the old town beckons.

Your cycle tour still takes you a little way through the lovely Loire valley. After St. Florent, however, the valley narrows and the river forces its way through slate and granite cliffs. You have reached Brittany. The cycle path now changes banks several times and you have to tackle a few climbs. You will be rewarded with beautiful views. In Nantes, the historic capital of Brittany, you will come across the last Loire castle before the Atlantic.

You follow the ever-widening river into an increasingly tranquil landscape. Downstream, through numerous small villages, you reach the seaside resort of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins on your Loire cycle tour. Your destination for the day, Saint Nazaire, is only a few kilometers away. A shared transfer will take you over the impressive but busy bridge. Don't miss out on a visit to this impressive town in the Loire Delta. The Atlantic shipyard and the submarine bunker are worthwhile destinations.

After breakfast, your Loire cycle tour is unfortunately already over. We are happy to extend your stay on the Atlantic.