On foot or by bike

Châteaux of the Loire — hiking & cycling

Itineraries along the Loire Valley: royal châteaux, remarkable gardens and Leonardo da Vinci's legacy.

GR footpaths

GR 3Hiking

In the Footsteps of the Wild Loire

The GR 3 is France's very first long-distance footpath: it follows the Loire from its source to the estuary. Between Orléans and Saumur it passes beneath the great châteaux, tuffeau villages and the sandbanks of Europe's last wild river.

Distance
180 km (section châteaux)
Duration
8 to 10 days
Level
Easy to moderate
  • Orléans and the memory of Joan of Arc
  • Chambord appearing through the forest
  • Amboise and the Clos Lucé
  • The traditional river boats and sandbanks

Stages on the map

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  1. 1Orléans
  2. 2Beaugency
  3. 3Blois
  4. 4Amboise — Clos Lucé
  5. 5Tours
  6. 6Saumur

Cycle routes

EuroVelo 6Cycling

Loire by Bike

900 km of waymarked, secure route between Nevers and Saint-Nazaire: Loire by Bike is one of Europe's great cycle routes. From château to château — Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise, Villandry — it hugs the river's levees.

Distance
900 km (total) — 290 km (Orléans → Saumur)
Duration
3 to 7 days per section
Level
Easy
  • Chambord and its forest estate
  • Chenonceau spanning the Cher
  • The gardens of Villandry
  • The troglodyte dwellings and wine cellars of Saumur

Stages on the map

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  1. 1Orléans
  2. 2Chambord
  3. 3Blois
  4. 4Amboise
  5. 5Chenonceaux
  6. 6Tours
  7. 7Villandry
  8. 8Saumur
VélorouteCycling

The Indre by Bike — towards Azay-le-Rideau

This peaceful cycle route follows the Indre valley from Loches to its confluence with the Loire: mills, water meadows and the château of Azay-le-Rideau resting on its mirror of water. Ideal as a loop from Tours.

Distance
60 km
Duration
1 to 2 days
Level
Easy
  • Azay-le-Rideau, the mirror of the Indre
  • The water mills of the valley
  • The royal city of Loches
  • The Indre–Loire confluence

Stages on the map

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  1. 1Loches — royal city
  2. 2Montbazon
  3. 3Azay-le-Rideau
  4. 4Bréhémont — Indre–Loire confluence

Build your itinerary

Combine these trails with our themed itineraries and add your favourite stops to your trip.

See the itineraries