You're set up in your saddle with your hair in the wind on the Loire à Vélo. Prepare to bask in Renaissance architecture, stylish French gardens, rows of vines and laidback traditional villages. Bright idea? Treat yourself to a ride between Nantes and Saumur for a long weekend. Fill your bottles, grab your helmets and explore the best bits of Anjou near you on the Loire à Vélo bike path.
Loire à vélo: the royal bike path
Loire à Vélo profile :
- Code name : EuroVélo 6
- Route : Atlantic Ocean to Nevers, plus extra loops and variations
- Distance : 900 km
- Difficulty : easy
- Surface types : 30% bike paths, 70% quiet roads
- Coverage : Cher, Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, Loire-Atlantique
- Key stages : Nevers, Orléans, Blois, Tours, Saumur, Angers, Nantes
Must-visits on the Loire à vélo bike path
Saumur trip ideas
"Calm, forward and upright": the prestigious Saumur Cavalry School's motto could well be yours with the Anjou town so full of gems to uncover. Visit Château de Saumur which was once owned by the Plantagenets. It's been a royal fortress, opulent palace, prison, arsenal and museum so it has lots of stories to tell you.
Feeling hot? Keep a cool head on an exciting tour exploring underground Saumur. There's so much going on beneath the surface in Anjou's underground world of famous wineries and thrilling troglodyte dwellings.
Saumurs and angers trip ideas
Get back in the saddle for a few miles to reach the village of Brissac and its biggest icon: Château de Brissac. The “Giant of the Loire Valley” has 7 floors, 204 rooms and peacefully reigns over the Anjou plain where it holds the record for the tallest castle in France. Unmissable!
This slice of the Loire à Vélo is a great opportunity to visit magical towns and villages known as Petites Cités de Caractère®. We recommend Le Thoureil and its former barge port lined with 15th and 17th century traditional houses.
Loire authion trip ideas
You've been riding along the Loire for a while now. But how well do you know it? Get to grips with the river with a stop at Loire Odyssée outside Loire Authion. Fun-filled entertainment, magical tours and guided cruises take you deep into France's river royalty. An experience everyone will enjoy, young and old, novice and expert.
Angers trip ideas
Seize the day! Hop back on the Loire à Vélo bike path to Trélazé and its museum celebrating the region's iconic slate. The master stonemason Rossignol is your guide as you see a traditional carving demonstration for yourself. From the museum and gift shop to educational videos and stories from the owner, you won't want to wipe the slate clean just yet...
If you're looking to make more memories, venture off the Loire à Vélo path onto its Anjou Loop to visit Angers and Terra Botanica Park. The first theme park devoted to botany in Europe is a French gem that whisks children away to the magical land of plants. Spend quality time together with surprises galore.
There's just a push of the pedal between the miniscule and the mammoth in Angers. Ride to the foot of the impressive Château d’Angers and its 6000 years of history. Here are our top 3 reasons to visit the former residence of the Anjou Dukes :
Experience an unspoilt medieval masterpiece: 17 towers, 500m of ramparts and breathtaking history form the foundations of the castle. Wander around its 20,000m² of outstanding grounds among vines, rose gardens and medicinal plants.
What could be more natural in the French plant capital ? Feast your eyes on the Apocalypse Tapestry and its embroidered history of the Hundred Years' War. A 100m long comic strip: perfect for the kids ! Pick up your loyal bicycle and continue your outing along La Doutre Loop. It's the perfect short ride to soak up one of the city's most magical neighbourhoods. You're in for greenery, culture and architecture.
Angers top tip n°1
Fancy exploring Angers at your leisure for 3 days? The Angers City Pass is made for you. Take your pick from a 24 hr, 48 hr or 72 hr pass. You'll never be short of ideas with the Pass that also provides Angers guided tours and rides on the city's tourist train.
Angers top tip n°2
A ride or walk around Angers streets is always a treat! Tourist Information provides a bike storage facility in summer so you can leave your bikes and luggage with peace of mind. It also provides great advice for continuing your Loire à Vélo bike ride.
Setting off from Nantes
Continue along the Loire à Vélo bike path and stop at île de Béhuard, the only island of its kind in the Loire and listed as one of the Petites Cités de Caractère®. On the agenda: low population, low traffic, lots of personality and the feeling that you've found a slice of paradise. Settle down for a drink or bite to eat at one of the island's establishments before visiting the hilltop Notre-Dame Church listed as a Monument Historique since 1862.
End your great escape with a dive into the prestigious Savennières vineyard and its AOP, the smallest protected designation of origin in France! The Loire lifestyle gem only covers 370 hectares. Our top picks for experiencing it up close with the winemakers: Domaine d’Épiré, Domaine du Closel and Domaine aux Moines.
As the crow flies
Indulge in one last detour off the Loire à Vélo and visit Château de Serrant, just 20 minutes from the royal river. Experience the pomp and glory of château life at the listed Renaissance landmark and home. Furniture, artworks, a traditional kitchen and huge library (12,000 books) await.
Our selection of accueil vélo bike-friendly accommodation
The Loire à Vélo bike path means you can count on somewhere to rest your head and store your bike with Accueil Vélo-approved places to stay along the way. They provide a cosy bed and bike storage within 5km of the bike path. That way you can head out on your adventure with one less thing to worry about.
Need some top addresses? Find your happy place with our selection of Accueil Vélo® bike-friendly hotels, villas, B&Bs and campsites :
