In the Footsteps of the Wild Loire
180 km (section châteaux) · Easy to moderate
See the stages
Châteaux of the Loire
Renaissance and gardens — 3 days in the Loire Valley
Chambord, Chenonceau and Villandry linked by Loire by Bike.
An east-bound circuit between royal châteaux and remarkable gardens, with sections of Loire by Bike (EuroVelo 6) and the Indre by Bike to reach Azay-le-Rideau without getting back in the car.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Distance
- 150 km
- Pace
- Car + bike
- Season
- May to September
The circuit on the map
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Day-by-day stages
Day 1
- 1Château de ChambordVisit
Chambord, Loir-et-Cher
Opens at 9 am: double-helix staircase and rooftop terraces before the crowds.
- 2Blois — royal châteauStopover town
Blois, Loir-et-Cher
Four centuries of architecture in a single courtyard, then a night in town.
Day 2
- 1Château de ChenonceauVisit
Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire
The château spanning the Cher and its two gardens: Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici.
- 2Amboise — Loire by BikeTrail
Amboise, Indre-et-Loire
Riverside cycling stage, with Leonardo da Vinci's Clos Lucé as a bonus.
Day 3
- 1Villandry GardensVisit
Villandry, Indre-et-Loire
The ornamental kitchen garden is at its best in June and September.
- 2Azay-le-RideauVisit
Azay-le-Rideau, Indre-et-Loire
Arrive via the Indre by Bike: the château mirrored in its water-filled moat.
Photos
History
Returning from the Italian Wars, Charles VIII and then Francis I brought the Renaissance to the Loire. Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years at Clos Lucé near Amboise, and Chambord rose from 1519 around its famous double-helix staircase.
Chenonceau, the 'Ladies' Château', Blois with its successive wings, Azay-le-Rideau and the gardens of Villandry tell three centuries of architecture. The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes has been World Heritage since 2000.
Tips
- Buy tickets online: Chambord and Chenonceau are very busy in summer.
- La Loire à Vélo links Blois, Amboise and Tours; rental shops offer luggage transfer.
- Plan the morning for Villandry's gardens, cooler and quieter.
- Visit no more than two major châteaux a day to truly enjoy them.
Trails and cycle routes used
Loire by Bike
900 km (total) — 290 km (Orléans → Saumur) · Easy
See the stagesThe Indre by Bike — towards Azay-le-Rideau
60 km · Easy
See the stagesEvents during your stay
Sunday, 15 November 2026
MômoFestival celebrates its 20th anniversary in Alençon and Northern Sarthe
Sarthe
The MômoFestival celebrates its 20th anniversary with a series of performances for young audiences in Alençon and Northern Sarthe from November 15 to December 12, 2026.
Read more