Welcome to Hooked on Cycling holidays and our cycling holidays in France. This biking vacation in France is a self guided cycling tour through the Loir valley. Loir Vallee the lesser known ‘sister’ of its famous neighbour the Loire Valley but you will be surprised how beautiful and how many ancient castles and chateaux there still is to see, and since it is not so well known then this simply means that everywhere is less busy making it a glorious cycling region for your cycling holiday. The Loir châteaux are certainly worth getting to know better. Built or modified between the end of the Middle Ages and the 18th century, they formed the setting for numerous historical events. They were designed in a setting of parks and gardens which have nothing to envy their more famous counterparts. In the Loir Valley, the majority of châteaux and fine residences are inhabited. Better still, you can sometimes stay in them, in "chambres d'hôtes", or stop by for a gastronomic experience. Particularly in Loir-et-Cher, going back even further in time, you will discover the ruins of fortresses that defended towns in the early Middle Ages: Fréteval, Vendôme, Montoire, Lavardin. That discovery is a romantic experience!

Available daily April to October
Level 2 self guided tour

Day 1 Arrive to Durtal.
Arrival end of afternoon at Château de Chambiers.The Château de Chambiers has a majestic driveway through a beautiful forest surroundings which leads to this hunting lodge, transformed over the years into a delightful 18th century style château. You will love walking in the grounds with their formal gardens, cultivated with passion by the mistress of the house.

Day 2 - Durtal -> Durtal 0-50 Km, 0-31 miles.
Day of relaxation at Château de Chambiers or the cycle tour which takes you on a discovery of the very particular belltowers of Anjou’s Baugeois region, known as “tors” because they are “tordus” (twisted). Then you take the green way from La Flèche to Baugé. (this is the old railway line linking La Flèche to Baugé).

Day 3 - Durtal -> Le Lude 31 miles 50 Km.
The cycle route today goes through La Flèche, a charming small town on the banks of the Loir where you can visit the Prytanée National Military Academy, founded by Henri IV. And the zoo offers an exotic verdant setting. Then you take the green way from La Flèche to Le Lude to get to your overnight stop. Dinner and 3rd night at Domaine de la Courbe which is an old paper mill on the banks of the Loir. Completely renovated in 2010 you can take advantage of the wellbeing and spa area a few steps from your room and let yourself be won over by wellbeing, relaxation and pleasure.

Day 4 - Le Lude -> le Lude 0-25 miles 0-40 Km.
Relaxation day at Domaine de la Courbe or today’s route winds through apple orchards and leads you to Rotrou Mill, where you will meet Ginette, the former miller. In Le Lude, you can visit the château with its richly furnished rooms and its gardens alongside the Loir.

Day 5 - Le Lude -> La Chartre 38 miles 60 Km.
You will pedal along the orchard-covered plateaux and go back up the Loir to reach the troglodyte dwellings dug into the tufa rock near Chahaignes. Don’t hesitate to stop at one of the AOC Jasnières and Coteaux du Loir wine growers along your way! Dinner and 5th night at Le Grand Moulin, this late 18th century old mill, magnificently restored on a branch of the Loir. You will enjoy a place to stay unlike any other, in this residence in a very original setting.

Day 6 - La Chartre -> la Chartre 31 miles 50 Km.
Relaxation day at Le Grand Moulin or “Loop” circuit across the Dinan Valley, the national forest of Bercé (5,415 ha), with oak trees several hundred years old, and the village of Jupilles with Carnuta, its brand new interpretation centre dedicated to people and the forest.

Day 7 - La Chartre.
End of the programme after breakfast.

2012 Prices

How to get there
By plane to Paris. Then by train to Angers followed by a taxi to the first accommodation.

To view our cycling other cycling tours in France
To view our walking holidays in France

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