The Loire Valley Castles with Family

FROM BLOIS TO AMBOISE, A ROYAL ADVENTURE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

How about setting off with your family on an unforgettable cycling getaway through the heart of the most beautiful castles of the Loire? This unique journey will immerse you in the history of the kings and queens who made this region an exceptional place.

For a few days, become little princes and princesses as you explore the famous castles of Chambord, Cheverny, and Chaumont-sur-Loire. At each stop, fascinating discoveries await: enchanting gardens, secret passages, and tales of courtly intrigue.

Historic towns like Blois and Amboise will also offer wonderful opportunities to stroll and taste some local specialties (and why not a little sweet treat!).

Your route follows safe cycling paths and quiet country roads, perfect for riding with peace of mind alongside your children. At times, you'll follow the Loire, the majestic river nicknamed "the royal river" due to the many monarchs who established their courts along its banks.

The stages have been carefully planned to ensure your little royals don't get too exhausted: they average 25 km and never exceed 35 km. Plus, each day includes a castle visit along the way, breaking up the ride so you never have to cycle the full stage in one go!

No need to worry about luggage: it will be transported from one stop to the next, allowing you to ride freely and lightly.

Accessible to all, this trip is perfect for introducing children to the joys of cycling while traveling. With manageable distances that leave time to explore along the way, comfortable accommodations, and full support, every family can move at their own pace and fully enjoy this wonderful adventure.

So, are you ready for a royal family getaway?

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BLOIS

Your adventure begins in Blois, the quintessential French Renaissance town. Every stone here has a story to tell. The charm of its narrow streets, white stone houses, small squares overlooking the river, and its impressive royal castle make it a true postcard setting. A family stroll through the old town is a journey through time, with fun opportunities to spot unusual details on the façades and cobbled streets. For a unique experience, don't miss the House of Magic, an interactive museum that fascinates both children and adults with its illusions and automata.

DAY 2: BLOIS - CHAMBORD - BRACIEUX (33 km, 21 mi)

You leave Blois following the majestic course of the Loire until you reach the picturesque riverside village of Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire, where you turn inland.

The route gradually leads you to Château de Chambord, a masterpiece of French Renaissance architecture and undoubtedly the most extravagant of the Loire Valley castles. Set amidst vast hunting grounds, the colossal royal building suddenly appears, standing majestically among formal French gardens. With its famous double-helix staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci, its towers, chimneys, and a forest of dormers and lanterns on its roof, Chambord is truly unique. Inside, richly decorated rooms showcase the grandeur of past royalty, and climbing to the roof offers a breathtaking royal view!

A few more kilometers bring you to Bracieux, a medieval town where you’ll spend the night. Bracieux was once an important crossroads for merchants driving their cattle from Limousin to Paris!

DAY 3: BRACIEUX - CHEVERNY - CHITENAY (22 km, 14 mi)

Before leaving Bracieux, you’ll have the chance to visit the Max Vauché Chocolate Factory, a must-visit for chocolate lovers! This fun and educational experience includes demonstrations and tastings that will delight both young and old.

A few pedal strokes later, you arrive at Château de Cheverny, a model of elegance and symmetry. This castle famously inspired Hergé in creating Moulinsart Castle in Tintin. Children will love the Tintin exhibition, while parents will admire the well-preserved interiors and beautifully landscaped gardens.

You then continue your cycling journey to Chitenay, where you’ll stay in a charming hotel with a swimming pool—perfect for a relaxing family afternoon!

If you wish, you can extend your stay here for an extra night. For those who prefer cycling over poolside lounging, we offer a 27 km loop to Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre, a striking medieval fortress, quite different from the grand Renaissance castles.

DAY 4: CHEVERNY - CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE - MOSNES (27 km, 17 mi)

You gradually return to the steady flow of the Loire, following it downstream towards Chaumont-sur-Loire, a picturesque riverside village overshadowed by its impressive castle.

The Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire is famous for its International Garden Festival. The gardens, which change themes annually, are a hub of creativity and innovation, attracting designers from around the world. This festival is a must-see for children!

After a few more kilometers, you arrive in the village of Mosnes, where you’ll spend the night.

DAY 5: MOSNES - AMBOISE (14 km, 9 mi)

Today’s stage is short, allowing you to fully enjoy the town of Amboise, which offers several great family-friendly attractions.

Leaving Mosnes, you enter the wine region of Touraine, cycling through a beautiful landscape of vineyards.

Arriving in the royal city of Amboise, you’ll be enchanted by its cobbled streets, traditional houses, and lively local markets that transport you back in time. Amboise is also home to an impressive castle.

Perched on a rocky promontory, the castle offers a breathtaking view of the Loire and features guided tours designed for children, with animations about the history of the French kings.

But the real highlight of Amboise for families is the Clos Lucé, the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci. This interactive site allows children to explore full-scale models of the Italian genius’s inventions—bridges, flying machines, tanks... A visit that blends science, history, and fun!

DAY 6: DEPARTURE FROM AMBOISE

The tour ends after breakfast. You can extend your stay with an extra night in Amboise or, upon request, continue to Tours (+28 km, 18 mi) for an additional day.

To return to Blois (if needed), you can either take a regional TER train (around 20 minutes) or opt for a private transfer.

If you rented bikes, you can drop them off at our partner’s location in Amboise before departure.

1. Seasonality: between April and October
   
   

   The Loire Valley benefits from a semi-continental temperate climate, with relatively mild and wet winters and quite warm and dry summers.

   In spring, the temperatures are generally pleasant from April onwards. It’s also the period when the castle gardens are the most florally abundant.

   In summer, the region enjoys some Mediterranean influence, and the weather is typically sunny and warm, but not excessively. However, heatwaves are not excluded, making cycling uncomfortable during the hottest hours (but castle visits usually happen around midday, so it works out well!).

   The region also experiences a nice late season, with pleasant temperatures until the end of October and a sunshine rate nearly as good as in summer.

   At the end of autumn and during winter, it gets quite cool, even downright cold, making cycling less ideal. Many accommodations also close for their annual break at this time.

   Note: The weather varies greatly from year to year. The information described above is only an average.

2. Arrival day: any day of the week
   
   You can start this tour on any day of the week (subject to availability in the accommodations).
   


3. Arrival and return:
   
   
   • Start of the stay: Blois
   
   
   • End of the stay: Amboise. Upon request, it’s possible to add an extra day and finish the stay in Tours.
   
   Blois is easily accessible by train or car.
   
   
   Train +

   • From Paris: from Austerlitz station, 3 direct TER trains/day to Blois-Chambord (about 1h20). If you are traveling with your own bikes, they can board the train for free (without being disassembled).
   
   
   • Another direct line connects Blois from the west twice daily, following the Loire: Le Croisic, Nantes, Angers, Saumur, Tours, …
   
   
   • From all other regions, the easiest way is to transit through Paris, Orléans, or Tours before boarding a train to Blois.
   
   
   • More information: www.sncf.com
   
   
   Car +

   The A10 motorway (Paris-Bordeaux) passes through Blois.
   
   
   
4. Return to the starting point:
   
   Returning to Blois from Amboise is very simple: a TER connects the two cities in about 20 minutes, approximately once an hour.
   
   
5. Parking:
   
   Our roadbook will provide you with all the necessary information about where to leave your car during your stay.


6. Type of route:
   
   Touring (linear).


7. Guiding:
   
   Self-guided, with hotline in case of issues on the way. You will have a detailed roadbook, as well as GPS tracks for the route via a user-friendly navigation app. Navigation is satellite-based, so no internet connection is required.


8. Level: easy
   
   The distances to cover are quite short, allowing you time to visit some attractions along the way. The Loire Valley also has little elevation, making this route a perfect choice for a first cycling trip.
   
   
   • Elevation: The route is mostly flat, although the banks of the Loire and its tributaries can sometimes be slightly hilly. However, the route is still very accessible for amateur cyclists and children who can pedal. It's also possible to opt for an electric bike.
   
   
   • Stage length: approximately 20 to 30 km per day. The longest stage is 33 km.
   
   
   • Terrain: over 90% paved roads. A few compact gravel paths, not requiring suspension or MTB tires.
   
   
9. Accommodation:
   
   2-3* hotels or equivalent guest rooms. Some accommodations have a garden. In Chitenay, the hotel also has a swimming pool (feel free to opt for an additional night!).
   
   List of default accommodations (subject to availability):
   
   
   • Blois: Beelodge*** Hotel
   • Bracieux: Hôtel de la Bonn'heure**
   • Chitenay: Auberge du Centre***
   • Chaumont / Mosnes: Hostellerie du Château*** (temporarily closed) / Domaine des Thomeaux***
   • Amboise: Hôtel Le Blason** / B&B Relais Saint-Jacques
   
   
10. Meals:
    
    Breakfasts are included. Other meals are at your own expense. During the day, you can eat at local restaurants (daily suggestions will be in the roadbook) or prepare a picnic by shopping at local grocery stores (also listed in the roadbook).
    Half-board is not available on this trip, but you will always find a few restaurants within walking distance from your accommodation if it does not have one.


11. Luggage transport:
    
    You only carry your daily items during the cycling stages. Your luggage will be transported from one accommodation to the next, and you will find it at the end of the day at your accommodation. It is also possible to carry your items in panniers, just like long-distance cyclists. You will receive a discount (and an extra side pannier if you rent bikes) if you choose this option.


12. Travel documents:
    
    A detailed roadbook, a topographic map of the route, and GPS tracks (via our navigation app) will be sent to you before departure. In the roadbook, which you will also receive in paper format, you will find not only a description of the route but also plenty of tourist and cultural information, restaurant suggestions, and places to stock up along the way.


13. Bikes:
    
    We offer high-quality bike rentals, fully equipped and suitable for the terrain.
    
    The adult bike equipment includes a smartphone holder, waterproof rear pannier, handlebar bag, lock, and (on request) a helmet.
    
    It is possible to rent an electric bike for this trip.
    
    If you want to use your own bike, make sure to check all parts beforehand (brake wear, tires, sprockets, chain, etc.) to ensure it is in proper working condition for a long-distance trip.
    Bikes suitable for this trip are trekking bikes (or hybrid bikes), gravel bikes, and electric bikes (as long as they have a good battery!). Road bikes have tires that are too thin for the gravel sections. As for city bikes, they can work, but are not necessarily the most comfortable option.


14. Insurance:
    
    To ensure reimbursement for expenses in case of cancellation or issues on-site (health, accidents, loss/theft of luggage, liability, etc.), you can purchase cancellation insurance (CAP Explorer - cancellation) or assistance insurance (CAP Explorer - assistance). For more details on insurance, click here.

The price of the tour and the bike rentals is given in below tables:



The base price includes:

• A detailed roadbook, created by us during our reconnaissance trip (paper booklet + PDF)
• The GPS tracks of the route via our navigation app
• A topographic map of the circuit
• Accommodation in 2-3* hotels or equivalent guesthouses
• Breakfast at each accommodation
• Luggage transport between accommodations
• Luggage tags
• A visit to the Max Vauché chocolate factory (1h)
• Phone assistance 7 days a week
• Tourist taxes
• Administrative fees

Possible options:

• On-site bike rental with or without electric assistance
• Single room supplement
• Additional nights in Blois, Chitenay, and/or Amboise
• The Pass 4 Châteaux: skip-the-line tickets for the visits of the Chambord, Cheverny, Chaumont, and Clos Lucé castles (1 per day!) - price varies by age
• Renting an Histopad for the Chambord visit - 6.50 €/person (more info)
• Visit to the Ambacia cellar in Amboise (with tasting for adults) - 5 €/child & 22 €/adult
• Optional insurance: "CAP Explorer - cancellation" and/or "CAP Explorer - assistance" (more info)

The price does not include:

• Travel to Blois and return from Amboise
• Meals other than breakfast
• Personal expenses
• Entrance fees for tourist sites (unless otherwise stated)
• Anything not mentioned in the "included price" section

Other:

• If you wish to carry your own luggage from one accommodation to another, you will receive a discount. An additional pannier will be provided to you.
• Children and large groups/families benefit from discounts (see table above).
• Individuals doing this tour alone are charged a "solo supplement" of 80 euros.

    Claire, 63 years old

"Cycling tour in Loire with Cyclodyssées: outstanding organization both for the quality of the route and the accommodation/luggage transport, very available organizers even for the minor issues encountered beyond their control/responsibility, a wonderful combination of sports and culture... And on top of all that, we were spoiled with very very favorable weather!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED without hesitation!"   September 2024

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