Loire Gastronomic Self-Guided Cycling

If you have arranged to join the transfer we will pick you up from St Pierre
des Corps station and take you to Chissay (please see the joining
information), where your fabulous château hotel awaits. There will be time
for a swim before dinner.
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This morning's ride will start with gentle pedalling along the banks of the
Cher River, which will lead you to the superb Château de Chenonceau with
its famous arches majestically spanning the river. Described by Flaubert as
'floating on air and water', it's arguably the most beautiful of all the
Loire landmarks. It will be difficult to tear yourself away from this
beautiful spot so it makes a great stop for lunch on the terrace of The
Orangerie restaurant. You will then head off through the shady Amboise forest
and on to Amboise - don't worry if you don't have time to explore properly as
you can easily come back tomorrow. Your final stretch leads to the elegant
village of St Ouen-les-Vignes, where you'll stay at Hotel l'Aubinière, and
Jacques and Odile Arrayet's bijou hotel beside the river. Odile is a
professional sommelier, and Jacques an artistic chef de cuisine, so you're in
for some treats here!
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Today is a free day but with Amboise only a 5km cycle south it makes for the
perfect day trip. Visit the flamboyant royal palace and the elegant Clos
Luce, a 15th Century manor house where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked for
the last few years of his life. His workshops house 40 giant models of some
of his most spectacular creations - the first plane, helicopter and tank. The
beautifully landscaped gardens bring life to his botanical drawings and
geographical designs. Alternatively, it is an easy 15km return cycle along
the river Cisse to the wine capital, Vouvray. It is most famous for its wine
made from the Chenin Blanc grape. A little way out of Vouvray, the Moncontour
Museum gives you the opportunity to visit a winery and some ancient wine
cellars; there is the chance to do some comparative wine tasting at the end
of the tour or visit Chateau de Valmer where King Charles VII once stayed.
Optional ride approx. 15km.
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Today offers lovely peaceful cycling; you head north through open countryside
to Autreche, there is the opportunity to see a lot of wildlife en-route so
keep the binoculars handy! The route then continues on to Chaumont. The
impressive 15th Century château was built on the site of the original 10th
Century castle destroyed by Louis XI for the treasonable acts of its then
owners. Famously Catherine de Medici forced her late husband's mistress,
Diane de Poitiers, to give her Chenonceau in exchange for Chaumont. Between
May and October, the chateau hosts the International Garden Festival with a
different theme each year. A final, shady riverside stretch takes you via the
pretty villages of Les Montils and Seur and on to Ouchamps where you'll spend
the next two nights.
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The 17th Century château at nearby Cheverny, with its wonderful white stone
facade, makes a great day trip on your bike (19km circular ride). The
richness of its furnishings and antiques are incredible, and the gardens are
superb. The chateau has an interesting history, as if out of a regal soap
opera, including intrigue and murder. Its latter history has been a little
less dramatic but the château kept its place on the main stage by being
used as a model for Marlinspike Hall which features in some of the Tintin
adventures. There is a permanent Tintin exhibition open for viewing.
Alternatively, if you head a little further afield on your bike, you can
visit the magnificent Château de Chambord. It is a 50km round trip, so makes
a perfect day trip. Set in the heart of the huge Foret de Boulogne, this 16th
Century masterpiece appears straight from a fairytale, and reflects the
lavish tastes of its original owner, King Francois I. Today, the surrounding
park has been declared a national nature reserve, protecting all sorts of
wildlife including deer, boar and eagles.

Optional ride approx. 19km or 50km.
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After breakfast your ride will head south past well-tended vines and sleepy
hamlets surrounded by fields of sunflowers. We recommend stopping for lunch
on the terrace beside the fortified chateau of Fougeres-sur-Bievre, before
cycling downhill to the River Cher. Here the charming old quarter of
mediaeval Montrichard is huddled beneath the 11th Century keep. The town has
a definite mediaeval feel to it, particularly in some of the buildings in the
square. You can sit here, enjoy a coffee and admire the half-timbered houses.
The castle dominates the town and is famous for imprisoning Richard the
Lionheart. A final flat cycle follows the Cher back to Château du Chissay
for a well-earned dip in the pool!

*Premium Hotel*

If you pre-book a transfer you will be taken back to St Pierre des Corps
station. See the joining information for more details.