Loire by Bike: Tours to Nantes
An iconic cycling route along the Loire River, past royal castles, vineyards, and river landscapes, from Tours to Nantes.
Five days on the Loire a Velo, a signed nine-hundred-kilometre route whose section here links Tours to Nantes along the last wild river in Europe. It starts in Tours, capital of the Touraine, passes Villandry and its Renaissance gardens, Chinon and its royal fortress above the Vienne, then Saumur and its white chateau over the troglodyte cellars, Angers and the Apocalypse tapestry, before Nantes and the Machines de l'Ile. The terrain is almost entirely flat and largely on greenways separated from traffic: this is one of the most accessible routes in France, even with children. The prevailing westerly wind favours riding from Tours to Nantes. Regional trains take fully assembled bikes, which makes the return leg simple.
Practical info
- Stops
- 6
- Duration
- 5 days
- Transport
- 🚲 Bike
- Distance
- ≈ 190 km
- Best time
- Spring and summer
Itinerary
- 1
Tours
Depart de la capitale de la Touraine, ville d'art et d'histoire au bord de la Loire.
- 2
Villandry
Arret au chateau de Villandry et ses jardins a la francaise, etape paisible en bord de Loire.
- 3
Chinon
Forteresse royale surplombant la Vienne, vignobles de Chinon et ruelles medievales.
- 4
Saumur
Chateau blanc dominant la Loire, ecole de cavalerie et caves troglodytes de vin de Saumur.
- 5
Angers
Chateau des ducs d'Anjou et tapisserie de l'Apocalypse, etape culturelle majeure.
- 6
Nantes
Arrivee a Nantes, les Machines de l'ile, le Chateau des ducs de Bretagne et les bords de l'Erdre.
