Amboise and the Loire Castles: A Royal Cycling Escape

Day 1: Amboise – Montlouis – Amboise (33 km; +249 m)
You will set out from the charming royal town of Amboise into the heart of the Montlouis vineyards. Along the way you will pass the Aquarium de Touraine and the magnificent Château de la Bourdaisière with its celebrated gardens. Back in Amboise, the Manoir du Clos Lucé awaits — the final home of Leonardo da Vinci, where the Renaissance master spent the last three years of his life.

Day 2: Amboise – Chenonceaux – Amboise (45 km; +343 m)
You will ride through the forest of Amboise to reach the famous Château de Chenonceau, arching gracefully over the Cher river. This was the stage for one of French history’s most famous rivalries — that of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. An optional canoe trip on the Cher will offer you an extraordinary perspective on the château from the water.

Day 3: Amboise – Vouvray – Amboise (45 km; +376 m)
You will leave the Loire banks and climb into the picturesque Vouvray vineyards, surrounded by troglodyte houses carved into the tuffeau cliffs. Along the way you will admire the Renaissance Château de Valmer, remarkable for its Italian and vegetable gardens, and the elegant Château de Jallanges. A stop at a local wine producer for a glass of Vouvray is not to be missed.

Day 4: Amboise – Chaumont-sur-Loire (44 km; +297 m) + Departure
Your final ride will follow meandering country roads to the banks of the Loire at Chaumont-sur-Loire, where the 15th-century château dominates the town and the river below. Between late May and mid-October, the extraordinary Festival des Jardins transforms the estate into an open-air gallery of contemporary garden art. Departure at the end of the excursion.