"La
Loire à Vélo" is a
signposted route made up of quiet minor roads and cycling tracks,
winding along Europe's last untamed river, the Loire. It will ultimately
link Cuffy in the Cher region (near Sancerre) to St-Brévin-les-Pins on
the Loire-Atlantique coast, currently over 400km and eventually almost
800 km long!
Part of the route goes through the heart of the Loire Valley (280
km),between Sully-sur-Loire (Loiret) and Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Anjou).
It passes through historic
towns and villages, the magnificent châteaux overlooking the river plus
many beautiful gardens and rich vineyards, The diverse landscapes will
delight and distract you on your journey.
You can hire a bicycle in
Orleans and hand it back in at Blois --- just drop in to one of the
twelve professional hire and repair shops along the route and they will
provide high quality bicycles, accessories and better still --some good
advice.
There is also a network of over
100 accommodation sites along the route -made up of gites, guest houses,
hotels and campsites all which all purport to be being 'bicycle
friendly'.
You can buy comprehensive
guides or choose to select smaller journeys via the local tourist office
nearest your holiday location.
Of course with the diversity of the Loire Valley you are not restricted to the formal route along the actual Loire river as the whole of the region offers designated cycle tracks to suit all standards (check with your nearest tourist office) plus you are spoilt for choice with quiet roads through charming villages in all the departments of the region. A lot of the major attractions, like Chateau Chambord, offer bicycle hire at their locations http://www.chateauxavelo.com/index1024.htm .
