Loire Cycle Path

The 65 kilometers from Orléans to Blois unfold on a flat, smooth, and clearly marked path. As you glide along the banks of the Loire, stately villas appear one after the other, and charming small châteaux dot the route. In Blois, a cycling stop is highly recommended to explore the magnificent Château de Blois and the soaring Saint-Louis Cathedral.

On the second stage, you‘ll pedal 75 kilometers from Blois to Tours on a mostly flat and smooth cycle path. The wide, gently curving banks of the Loire unfold before you as you cycle past the edges of woodlands. At Chaumont-sur-Loire, you will pass the Château de Chaumont, providing an opportunity to marvel at its beautiful gardens. From there, simply follow the clearly marked cycle path all the way to Tours.

An impressive highlight awaits you just a few kilometers into your ride: the Château de Villandry with its beautiful, elaborate gardens. Soon after, you'll encounter the next château along the Loire's banks, Langeais. Used exclusively for military purposes, you must ascend its defensive tower to capture a spectacular view of the river. Winding through small villages and quiet side roads, you'll approach your destination after 55 kilometers, Chinon, which commands attention with its mighty fortress complex.

Today, you leave Chinon and follow the beautiful Vienne River for a comfortable 45 kilometers toward Candes-St. Martin. Just before reaching today's destination, a truly special moment awaits you: the cycle path leads directly through the mythical cliff dwellings of Souzey. Afterward, do not miss the chance to capture another sweeping panoramic view of the wide Loire Valley from the majestic Château de Saumur.

Only a few kilometers into this 55-kilometer stage, you will immerse yourself in the vineyards along the Loire's southern bank. Here, the cycle path winds gently through the rolling hills, passing directly through the vines. Once back at the river's edge, you'll cycle through charming medieval villages toward your next major destination. The lively university city of Angers is guaranteed to captivate you.

Angers is situated on the Maine, the last significant tributary of the Loire before it meets the Atlantic. You will follow the Maine until it flows into the Loire at La Pointe-Bouchemaine. From La Poissonnière, your route leads you past several ponds and into the picturesque town of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil. Today, you will conquer a total distance of approximately 60–70 kilometers.

Another day along the Loire awaits you, covering 55 kilometers through ever-changing landscapes. The Loire now definitively enters Brittany, squeezing its way through slate and granite cliffs. You will need to conquer a few climbs, after which the river will "escort" you directly into the center of the historic city of Nantes. Although the Loire's mouth at the Atlantic is still 70 kilometers away, the invigorating influence of the sea is already both palpable and visible here.

The river widens, and the landscape grows increasingly serene. You cycle the final 65 kilometers downstream through small villages until you reach the Loire's dramatic confluence with the Atlantic. All that separates you from Saint-Nazaire is the impressive bridge arching over the Loire estuary. Be sure to pay a visit to the Atlantic Shipyard, one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world, or the U-Boat Bunker, which is even accessible by bicycle.