The Loire Valley is one of the most famous cycling destinations in France, with its various tourist attractions. In order to inspire your next bike trip, we choose to introduce our Top 5 of the most beautiful Loire castles.

1. Château de Chambord

After the war of Marignan, King François I decided to build the Chambord Castle in order to commemorate his victory. The construction of the castle began in 1519 and finished under Louis XIV’s regime. It was really influenced by the works of Leonardo da Vinci and characterized by the gothic style. The famous double-revolution staircase extends from the first floor of the castle until the terrace, where the fireplaces and several sculpted capitals could be found. The castle’s surroundings also deserve a visit. You may have the chance to see wild animals, to visit the vegetable gardens and to discover the local wine. A itinerary is also suggested for the cyclists around the castle. Moreover, there is a bike parking near to the principal entrance.

A castle with more than 500 years of history, one of the most majestic representations of the Renaissance, a monument in the list of UNESCO… Come and discover the secret of this miracle!
More information about the visit here.

2. Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau Castle is famous for its history characterized by an almost uninterrupted succession of women, which is why it is also called “The castle of Ladies”. The castle is not only special for its history but also for its structure. Spanning the river of Cher, the castle is constituted by 3 parts : the main castle,  the gallery over the bridge and the Tour of Marques, the only vestige of the old castle form. The current form was built between 1513 and 1517 by Thomas Bohier and his wife Catherine Briçonnet. During the first World War, the gallery was used as a temporary hopital. Today the castle is opened to the public and became the second important castle in the Loire valley. Inside the castle we can discover several rooms with classical furniture and a rich art collection. Outside the castle there are flower gardens and farms to visit.

Chenonceau Castle has an area for picnic and many other infrastructures. All you need is just enjoy a stop there during your bike trip!
More information about the visit here.  

3. Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire

Located between Amboise and Blois, Chaumont Castle was first built around the year 1000 in order to supervise the border of Blois and to protect the city from the attack of Counts of Anjou. Now as one of the most visited castles in the Loire Valley, Chaumont Castle profits from the project of the region which gathers the modern arts, garden arts and cultural heritage to develop many cultural activities. The most important is the International Garden Festival, which welcomes each year landscapers and garden designers from all over the world to let their creative imaginations run wild.

Chaumont Castle worth definitively a visit during your biking trip. Every year it is enriched by new art collections thanks to its International festival.
More information about the visit here.  

4. Château d’Azay-le-Rideau

The castle of Azay-le-Rideau was built by Gilles Berthelot during the regime of François Ier. It is considered as one of the masterpieces of the Loire Valley. The famous French writer Balzac described it as “A faceted diamond that is embedded in the Indre river”. 

Today the castle has become one of the properties of the French state and welcomes many international tourists every year. While visiting this castle, you can admire the magnificent mirror image of the castle in the water and also visit the medieval style rooms. The exotic park with many different green plants is a part of the trip which should not be missed. After the castle visit, take your bike and wander through the beautiful roads to discover the stone houses and the local products of the region.

This wonderful castle awaits just your visit!
More information about the visit here.  

5. Château de Villandry

The Castle of Villandry is one of the last castles built in the Loire Valley in the 16th century. First medieval fortress, the castle was transformed into this magnificent work that we know today by Jean Breton, the finance secretary of François Ier. Its open view thanks of its U-shaped architecture lets the castle have a nice view of the Cher and the Loire rivers. Don’t forget to visit the garden of Villandry built at the same time as the castle. After many years of work, now this organic garden is full of different kinds of plants. Today many cultural activities are held in the castle, for example the vegetable garden day and European heritage day.

Not far from the city of Tours, the cycling route between Villandry and Tours is one of the trips recommended by the Loire region.
More information about the visit here.

As you will have understood, the Loire Valley is full of fantastic treasures! The best way to discover them is by bike, so don’t waste any more time and check out all of our cycling trips in the Loire Valley.