A bicycle route for the 500th anniversary of the Renaissance on the Châteaux de la Loire à Vélo itineraries

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©0985 20190617 2og6143|Olivier Gouzien

A short 4-5 day trip to see the destination’s best Renaissance sites.

With 500 km of cycle routes, it’s easy to link different places to visit. Jump from one itinerary to another, and create your own tour. The terrain here is relatively flat, so you can plan two activities a day, with breaks in the villages for lunch or at the winegrowers’.

Here’s a tip for a 4/5-day itinerary based on the Châteaux de la Loire à Vélo routes, where you’ll enjoy visiting sites where the Renaissance left its mark on architecture.

On your bike, you can immerse yourself in French history and become part of the itinerant court of François I, bringing Leonardo da Vinci back to France in 1517.

It’s a great way to get away from your car and your habits.

Our suggested program

 Day 1

  • Visit the Château de Blois, an architectural masterpiece that bears the stamp of the Renaissance with its staircase wing built by François I.
  • Evening Son et Lumière at Château de Blois.

If you’ve already visited the château, more ideas here

 Day 2

  • Depart Blois from the Jacques Gabriel stone bridge
  • Follow the Loire to St Dyé-sur-Loire (iti. Loire à Vélo). St Dyé-sur-Loire was Chambord’s port, where castle stones and supplies were delivered to the estate.
  • Meet at Château de Chambord (iti. n°9, then follow the estate signs).
    François I’s masterpiece, whose construction marked the beginning of the Renaissance.

Sleep in the area between Chambord and Bracieux.

 Day 3

  • En route to Château de Villesavin in Tour-en-Sologne (iti. n°5). François I’s finance secretary, M. Lebreton, had Villesavin built as a pied-à-terre in the region and to keep an eye on the Chambord construction site.
  • Then take the wine route and stop off at one of the winegrowers’, indicated on the map. (iti n°5)
  • Lunch at Cour-Cheverny or Cheverny.
  • On to the Château de Beauregard (iti. n°4).
    Erected on the orders of François I, this chateau is remarkable for its grounds and the open-mindedness of its owner, who decided to have a historical frieze of portraits of Europe’s leading figures created.

Sleep in the vicinity of Cellettes and Cour-Cheverny.

 Day 4

  • Head for the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire (iti no. 4, then no. 1 and finally Loire à Vélo), after which it’s just a few kilometers and a bit more uphill.
  • After visiting the château and its gardens, marked by the passage of Catherine de Médicis during the Renaissance period, you can either take the train back to the Gare d’Onzain on the other side of the river (cross the large bridge), or cycle back to Blois (20km) or sleep in the surrounding area.

 Day 5

If you’ve stayed overnight at Chaumont-sur-Loire or Blois, take a boat trip on the Loire.

Download the “Blois Chambord” app and follow your route in geolocation mode.

DETAILS & ADVICE
  • You’ll find that you change loop numbers along the way, which is the beauty of this suggested tour.
  • We advise you to book your accommodation in advance and to consider your lunch and dinner points.
  • Please note: this itinerary is for cycling enthusiasts only, as in addition to the 78 kilometers of cycling (over 5 days), you’ll also be walking to visit monuments and villages. Don’t forget it.
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