For several years now, the Loire has been the focus of special attention. Let’s not forget that it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. All along the Loire, upstream and downstream of Blois, new and often trendy activities have been created by enthusiasts.
Starting in St Dyé-sur-Loire, you’ll find the Val des Châteaux water sports center, where you can rent canoes and kayaks for guided or self-guided trips. The first trips last 2 hours, starting a little further upstream at Muides-sur-Loire, and descending at your own pace to St Dyé-sur-Loire, with a beautiful panorama of this former port of Chambord.
If you’re out cycling or walking, take the opportunity to visit the Maison de la Loire, while passing through the narrow streets of the village of St Dyé-sur-Loire and its church. If you’ve no idea what the Loire has contributed to its inhabitants, known as ligériens, or what its flora and fauna are made up of, you’ll find out all about the river on the way out, thanks to the many games and workshops on offer.
As you head for the banks of the Loire, you’ll no doubt come across wooden boats known as gabarre, futreau, toue cabanée or charrière, depending on their shape and function. They’re built in the style of our ancestors, with a few modern comforts like a motor. You can book a trip on the Loire at the Maison de la Loire, and sleep on the water!