Day 1 Arrive in Amboise and the hotel Le Choiseul just near the castle. Settle in and visit the village and sites. Amboise is a small town with much to see and do; among which is the Clos Luce (Leonardo daVinci) and the chateau. Orientation at 6pm and gourmet dinner in your chateau tonight. (D)(What to do in Amboise)

LE CHOISEUL

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Amboise

DESCRIPTION OF HOTEL: On the outskirts of the town of Amboise, Le Choiseul is composed of th...

Day 2 - Ride To Chenonceau: Today is a perfect way to get started; you have a loop tour out to the Chateau of Chenonceau and back to Amboise. Along the way you will cycle some quiet back country roads and drop into the hamlet of Chenonceau and the stunning castle there which is famously perched over the Cher River. This famous castle is where Henri II and Catherine de Medicis and Diane de Poitiers played out their love stories. 40km. (B,D)

LE CHOISEUL

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Amboise

DESCRIPTION OF HOTEL: On the outskirts of the town of Amboise, Le Choiseul is composed of th...

Day 3 Amboise to Wine Country. Depart for vineyards of Montlouis, but not without first taking the option to visit the strange Pagode de Chanteloup near to Amboise. The tour continues on through the vineyards of the region to Montbazon just south of Tours and your deluxe lodging at the Chateau Artigny. 45km. (B,D) Read about chateaux on this trip

CHATEAU D'ARTIGNY

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Montbazon

DESCRIPTION OF HOTEL: (16k Tours) A magnificent 18th century style edifice built by the famo...

Day 4 Azay le Rideau. You start with a nice ride through rolling countryside to the site of the castle of Azay le Rideau. Here, alongside the Indre River, this is one of the more classical chateaux from the Renaissance period. After a visit you will start cycling toward Luynes with a nice and relatively long countryside ride at 55km. Arrive at the deluxe Domaine de Beauvois for the night. (B,D)

DOMAINE DE BEAUVOIS

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Luynes

DESCRIPTION OF HOTEL: (Tours 10km) This 16th and 17th century manor house, surrounded by 350...

Day 5 to Saumur, starts with a vehicle transfer to the wine town of Chinon. Chinon is famous for its castle as well; dating back to the sagas of Joan of Arc and medieval times. From Chinon, after a visit, you will have a leisurely ride toward the famous and historic Abbaye of Fontevraud. This double monastery with royal heritage dates back to the year 1110. It is still a functioning abbey and open to visitors and then on to your hotel nearby with gastronomic dinner. 44km (B,D)

LE PRIEURE

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Saumur

The Loire, its islands, and the surrounding valley as far as the eye can see. In this land of castle...

Day 6 is a loop ride to visit the town of Saumur and its chateau: the great Chateau de Saumur itself stands high above the town, and the nearby Château de Beaulieu which stands just 200 metres from the south bank of the Loire river. The Saumur castle was originally constructed in the tenth century by Thibault le Tricheur, comte de Blois, as a fortified stronghold against Norman predations. Return to your same hotel and gastronomic dinner. 40km (B,D).

LE PRIEURE

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Saumur

The Loire, its islands, and the surrounding valley as far as the eye can see. In this land of castle...

Day 7 - Departure Day . After breakfast, you can depart at your leisure. Trains from nearby Saumur to Tours and Paris are possible. Added nights can be arranged. (B)

Add Ons: A classic add-on is to pickup a car and drive to Mont St Michel, Normandy, and back to Paris. We can arrange cars, hotels, and suggest driving routes.