Blois / Amboise
The Scandibérique route leaves Blois along the Loire’s south bank, going via vine-covered slopes to Candé-sur-Beuvron. The Beuvron River then becomes your thread until rejoining the regal Loire close to the perched Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, surrounded by extraordinary gardens. Next, you ride past prestigious vineyards thriving beside the Loire. By now, you’ve entered beautiful Touraine, with its cliff-side caves and exceptional wineries, inciting you to stop for a tasting. The Château d’Amboise served as childhood home for major French Renaissance prince, the future François I; on becoming king, he called on Leonardo da Vinci to join his court, offering him the Clos Lucé as his home. This stage takes you to the heart of the French Renaissance.
Gradients and elevation
Road types
Surface
The route
At Candé-sur-Beuvron, there is a steep slope. Just after Candé’s bridge, join the path to the right that takes you alongside the Beuvron River. Via the Beuvron, rejoin the Loire going along the track laid out to Chaumont-sur-Loire. Except for a few slopes through vineyards, the crossing of the D751 road at Mosnes and the scenic descent towards Amboise, this stage along minor roads proves easy.
Surfacing smooth: just one stretch, between Madon and Chailles, had rather bad surfacing at time of writing, taking you along a rough path without asphalt, but with some potholes and big ruts. The rest of the way is on minor roads with good surfacing.
Link
From Amboise, you can reach the Château de Chenonceau via a 12km route.
Trains
- Train stations at Blois, Onzain and Amboise
- Train station at Chenonceaux
Don’t miss
- Blois: the historic town centre; the royal château
- Candé-sur-Beuvron: the charming historic port; the picturesque village; the château
- Chaumont-sur-Loire: the château’s estate and stables; the Festival International des Jardins, a major annual festival of contemporary garden designs, from April to October; restaurants and shop on site.
- Mosnes: Domaine des Thomeaux (a hotel with spa facilities)
- Amboise: the remarkable royal château; Le Clos-Lucé, the sumptuous home in town that King François I gave to Leonardo da Vinci, plus its playful, educational gardens; St Denis Church; many wineries with spectacular cellars open for tastings; the riverside fountain designed by artist Max Ernst.
