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 WORLDVENTURESSELF-GUIDED BICYCLE TOUR FRANCE
Leisurely Cycling Chateau to Chateau
....and come back home each night
The Loire Valley
A Cycling Stay in the Heart of Chateau Country
Enjoy life as the French do... living in one place the whole visit...
Visit the Loire Valley Chateaux, the vineyards, the wineries, the cafes... and return home each night...
Discovery of the famous Chateaux of the Loire Valley such as Chambord, Cheverny, Blois, Chaumont.. But also discover the local life... enjoy the comfort of a family-style guest hotel situated in a peaceful rustic village, with a coulour and personality of decoration: huge fireplaces, rooms that are models of country loveliness and calm and let you appreciate in their elegant restaurant the savours of the local gastronomy! Each day offers you a choice of lovely rides in the countryside visiting the famous chateaux, wine tastings and vineyards all along the way. Shop in the local village and create picnics fit for the Kings that used to live in these architectural Masterpieces. For just five lovely days, become truly French.
It is a lovely 3 star hotel located in a charming country town, 15 km south of Blois. Step inside and the journey begins. A hotel that feels like home, a home pampered by a garden, a home surrounded by the Loire Valley with all her charms and treasures : chateaux, ponds, forests. From the fireplace in the lounge to rooms of reverie, there's no end to the warm atmosphere and refinement of the decor that awaits you.
Settle in at the table, and the voyage goes on, a scrumptious meander through local delectable's in tune with the seasons! What happens in those baskets that arrive in the morning overflowing with fragrant, flavorful goodies? The chef and his staff turn them into dishes that burst with all the natural freshness and savours the seasons have to offer. His favorites : foie gras, game, snails, asparagus, to name a few. Come by and experience his passion and deep regard for nature, that constant source of amazement present at every harvest time.
Highlights:
Click to See: Tour Price - Departure Days - What's Included - Reserve this tour
The Itinerary Return to Top SHORT RIDES:
Excursion 1: FOUGERS-SUR BIEVRE 24km/15 miles
Discover the
Château of
Fougères-sur-Bièvre,
in a rustic
village,
the unique example of
feudal style that illustrates the 15th century
architecture. Do not miss
a
stop for a wine tasting in a local producer along your route: you
are in the Cheverny appellation!
Excursion 2: CHEVERNY 23km/15 miles A day of cycling on country lanes through small villages and Chateau de Troussay a small chateau from Renaissance style, to chateau Cheverny, remarkable for its apartments well decorated and still supptuosly furnished with many of its original pieces — beautiful woodcarvings adorn almost everything. Here you can really get an idea of what it would be like to live in one of these chateaux today, as many families still do. There is a nice sidewalk cafe for lunch at the corner.
Excursion 3: BEAUREGARD 15km/9 miles. Through the Forest of Russy with possibility to visit the Chateau of Beauregard famous for its Portrait Gallery and its huge park with an English style garden. A small quite elegant chateau. You can almost envision the dances and parties on warm summer evenings. Enjoy a day between vineyards, fields and gardens to just relax.
LONG RIDES
Excursion 4: CHAMBORD 50 km/29 miles Allowing discovery of the prestigious Chateau of Chambord. Boasting no less than 440 rooms, it is one of the largest in the region. Approaching Chambord, you cycle through a dense French forest until you reach the Chateau, which is so large it will take most of the afternoon to explore it well. It is in it's own park as big as all of Paris! A hunting lodge that was the scene of the premier of many of Moliere's plays, performed first for the King. The staircases were based on a design by Leonardo De Vinci who spent his last seven years in nearby Amboise as a guest of Catherine de Medici. Perhaps you would enjoy an elegant picnic somewhere in the formal gardens... living like the royalty of long ago.
Excursion 5 : BLOIS 35 km/22 miles Through the Forest to finally reach the nice town of Blois, worth visiting for its old quarter and also its chateau offering a brilliant illustration of the evolution of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the 17th Century. It is one of the most important chateaux of the region. It was the home of Catherine de Medici who controlled Europe from her office located here... the same one in which she is alleged to have stored her poisons in its complicated cabinetry.
Excursion 6: CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE 32km/20 miles Passing by the country before reaching the Loire bank at Chaumont where you can visit the nice Chateau overlooking the Loire. Secure your bicycle at the entrance and walk up a long drive flanked by centuries old Lebanon Cedars planted there when Ben Franklin was a frequent visitor during his ambassadorship to France. After you cross the drawbridge, remember to duck your head passing through the portal to the courtyard... you can really give it a whack on the stones as one of the Kings did going for a cool drink during a break in a polo game. He died here that same afternoon. Take a tour of the chateau... explore the magnificent stables, photograph the beautiful view from the courtyard (the last owner had one wing of the chateau knocked down so he could have the view!). As you leave, stop for a wine tasting at the cave just fifty meters from the chateau entrance. Then cycle on to your new found home in France.
Excursion 7: SOLOGNE AREA 40km/25 miles A stage in the heart of the Sologne area between forest and ponds. Along your ride, you will be able to stop in vineyards of Appellation "Cheverny", so do not hesitate to visit a local wine producer to sample a glass of Cheverny blanc! A day to enjoy just tasting the wines, talking to the vintners and stopping at the various wineries offering a free degustation (wine tasting).
SELF-GUIDED BICYCLE INN TOUR
Tour # FRB-16143 - 5 DAYS - $750
Category A superior room Return to Top
High Season Supplement - $100
Single Supplement - $210 (high season $250)
Extra night (half-board) - $115 (high season $125) --- single supplement - $50 (high season $60)
Includes all breakfasts and dinners (Dinner is superior menu)
High Season Supplement from May 1 to Sep 30
Bicycle Rental $85 - Extra day bike rental -$20
DEPARTURES: Every day from May to September From March - April and in October - departures on Tuesdays and Wednesdays Return to Top
HOTEL: 4 nights on half board basis in 3***star hotel , "Superior" double bedroom with shower and toilet.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
•
4 nights on half board
basis in 3*** star hotel, double bedroom with shower and toilet. • All breakfasts and dinners are included: Day 1 - Daily Menu, Day 2- Superior Menu, Day 3 - "Terroir" Menu, Day 4 - Gastronomic Menu
•
Fact sheets, maps and
itineraries. .
•
Tourist information.
EXCLUSIONS: The insurance, the transfers from and to the airport, the beverages, the lunches, items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry.
MEALS: All breakfasts and dinners are included. Lunch and beverages are not included.
DOSSIER: On the first day of the tour you will be given maps, road book, fact sheets and tourist information. BICYCLES: 21 speed men's and ladies' bikes, equipped with two saddlebags, a high visibility jacket, an anti-theft device, a map holder, a helmet, a counter and a repair kit. Adjustment by a cycling specialist.
IN CASE OF BREAKDOWN - We do not intervene for flat tires. However, should any breakdown occur that prevents the completion of the days journey we will make repairs on the road. A phone number will be provided. All other types of necessary repairs that do not make cycling impossible will be repaired at the hotel each night. Reserve this tour Return to Bicycle Tour Finder |
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WORLD-CLASS BICYCLE TOURS
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