Loire Biking
Recommendates for routes and sites for cycling through the Loire Valley, France?

Hopes of finding and moderate to scenic routes leisure to do over a week. Any suggestions?

I do not know if you need accommodation and bike hire, etc, but I found the website Logis de France to provide some good information. Short Breaks offer "based on various themes, including the cycle. The will arrange everything for you – Rental apartment, bikes, route maps, etc. I think most are self-guided cycle tours, you will know where you start, where the road ends and every day – but cycle on your own – you're not part of a large group. Even arrangements for the transfer of any luggage from one hotel to another, I've used a couple of breaks in the last cycle couple of years and found them great value for money. If you do not need the complete package, you can at least have a good idea of the destinations on its website. You can also get some very good and detailed maps of 'French Geographique National Institute on its website (available in English).

Loire Biking

What the French from the Loire in historic castles to visit family vacation

The Loire Valley in France is a spectacular destination family vacation. There are many historic castles to see, so it can be difficult to decide what to see before it is too much for the barefoot children. Each of the castles of the Loire are listed below have their own special attraction.

I highly recommend Castle Close Luc and its magnificent park and working models of more than 40 amazing creations Leonardo Da Vinci. Chaumont Castle worth a visit in the summer months for the garden festival alone. Many gardens are highly interactive and highly sensory designed to capture the imagination of children and adults.

Is architecturally impressive Chateau de Chenonceau and missed. Corn is not for children lost from time to time. Cheverney Castle has spectacular furniture and a pack of dogs work. Chateau de Chambord is the largest of the castles of the Loire and you can rent bicycles and pedal to make it more attractive for children. Chateau de Blois is interesting architecturally, as it is also a four castles. It has the advantage of being located in front of the house of Magic is a museum honoring the magic of Robert Houdin, who was inspired by Houdini. The children delighted presentations and simulations and the magic show is very entertaining.

Chateau de Blois (visit 2-3 hours minimum) Time-Cost-$ 09 hours 00-06 hours 00 6.00 includes a booklet in English. You can book a free guided tour also available in English. This castle overlooks the town of Blois and was the seat of royalty for over 400 years, including Charles VIII and Francis I parts of the building, consisting of four wings each with a different architectural style joined by a large central courtyard, dating from the 10th century.

The interiors include luxurious design and floor patterns stamped with fleur de lys. A highlight is an outside staircase designed by Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci. In summer, they have a son and light in the night Wednesday and is in English.

Chateau de Chenonceau (visit of 2.5 hours minimum) Hours 9:00-7:00, Cost $ 8.00-includes a booklet in English. This castle is one of the finest castles of the Loire. It was built for Diana of Poitiers, mistress of King Henry II. In 1559, when the king died, his wife, Catherine de Medici, Diane forced into exile (the castle of Chaumont smaller).

After Catherine moved in, she had a beautiful gallery was added, which is 180 feet long, 18 feet wide, with 18 windows and put in arches on the River Cher. Initially used as a ballroom, and the First World War became a hospital and the wounded soldiers used for fish through the windows. During the Second World War was a means of escape as the castle was sitting on an occupied territory, but opened the door at the end of the gallery of the free zone.

The kitchen is very popular among children. Today, the gallery presents art exhibitions. Also noteworthy are the Tower Marks, the two gardens (each the names of two ladies who reigned in the house), agricultural labor sixteenth century and the florist.

Castillo de Amboise (minimum visit 1.5 hours) Hours :00-9-6: 30 cost of $ 7.00 includes a booklet in English. The castle of the city and offers a mix of architectural styles as the century of the 17th century, Gothic and Classical 16. Six French kings lived here, including Francis the first, who had built an underground tunnel from the house of Leonardo da Vinci, in the neighborhood. Use of this ticket, you can visit each other without mixing with the commoners. In the 15th century, this castle was four times its current size, but has been reduced by war and neglect.

Interesting to combine a trip to Chateau Clos Luce with a visit to the Chateau d'Amboise, because they are close.

Chateau de Chambord (visit at least 2.5 hours) Time-Cost-$ 9:00 00-18 at quarter 7.00 per entry and $ 4.00 for an audio guide. Chambord was commissioned by the young (then 25) King Francis in 1519 to help establish their power and feed his ego. The building we see today was completed in 1685, and is by far the largest castle of the Loire. The style is a combination of traditional methods of France and the Italian Renaissance with a variety of towers and turrets.

The facade is only 470 feet wide and more than 168 feet (18 floors), with 440 rooms and 365 chimneys. Highlights in The palace is the double helix staircase which forms the backbone of the entire building, and is believed to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci.

Built Originally conceived as a meeting place for hunting and later used for royal celebrations today is surrounded by a wall of 19 miles around the largest forest park in Europe. Over 500 years of history, only used as a residence for 20 of those years. If you have time to lose you can rent boats or bicycles to explore the park. There is a light two hours at night and the twilight of his weekend in mid-April to June and September, and Every evening in July and August

Usse Castillo (minimum 1.5 hours) Hours :00-09-6: 30 Cost-$ 8.00 includes English pamphlet. This tale castle tale with a large number of towers has been the inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty. Construction began in 1455 on the foundations of a 11th century chateau, and other renovations have taken place in the 16th and 17th centuries. The castle belonged to the family since Blacas the 18th century and the family continues to occupy a wing. The reasons are several centuries old cedar trees and a family came in 1808.

There is a chapel in 1528 with a sparkling white stone inside the country, and a garage with vintage cars and a car in wicker. Inside the castle is filled with antiques from the 18th century. Finally, we round up to the tower to see the wax figures depicting characters from Sleeping Beauty Sleeping. If you are traveling with young children will probably love scenes fairytale in the round tower represented by wax models.

Chateau de Cheverny (minimum visit 1.5 hours) 9:15-6:45 time / cost-$ 6.00, includes booklet in English. This castle was built in 1634 and was owned and occupied by the same family ever since. Today, members of the family occupy the third floor. This castle has the most beautiful furniture of the Loire castles open to the public because the family owns Cheverny was very popular with the neighbors and therefore the castle has not been stripped of their treasures during the French Revolution.

The current interior is the most abundant and complete in the Valley of the Loire. This castle was built in a palace of hunting and hunting today will continue in the field. You can visit the seventy to the dogs kennel, or watch the daily feeding at 5:00 PM. The trophy room shows off the horns more than 2,000 animals.

Chateau de Chaumont (Visit at least one hour and two hours for the garden party) :30-9 hours-five and a half hour visit to plan costs $ 6.00 includes a booklet in English. Located between Amboise and Blois, the chateau is well above the Loire River and offers spectacular views. Your position was for strategic reasons, because it was built as a bastion of resistance in 1465. He later became a home for royalty, then simply rich.

The most famous resident was Diane de Poitiers, the former mistress of King Henry II, who lived in exile here, after Catherine de Medici asked Chateau de Chenonceau, when King Henry II died.

interiors of today represent the generosity of rich people who live here in 1930, the stock market crash caused the last owner sell the property to the government. Of particular interest are the teams to develop.

Castillo de Azay-le-Rideau (visit to least 1.5 hours) 09 hours 00 hours 30-06 hours, costs $ 6.00 per ticket and $ 4.00 for an audio guide. The palace itself is quite tall as most others listed here, but still more beautiful for it. Built in 1515, is a wonderful example of early Renaissance.

In high season, often there are light shows at night and good castle. It is best to visit this castle in the afternoon in summer so you can enjoy the sound and lights in the night.

Be careful because most castles have fewer hours in low and mid season, and may even be closed for lunch during this period. At the other end of July and August there are usually long hours.

About the Author

Corina Clemence runs a luxury french chateau in the Loire Valley near Blois, for up to fifteen people perfect for touring vineyards and chateaux and relaxing french holidays. It is also ideal for a french wedding, party or event. Rent the whole castle or rent a suite. Rent a castle in France. Hire castle – hire chateau Rent castle http://www.loirechateau.com Rent chateau France

About Castle Tours?

I am planning a bike trip to the Loire Valley in France and I need help with costs. I visit four castles Tours Castle Azay le Rideau Doue-la-Fuente de Brissac anyone know the admission [cost if applicable] to one of these places?

I have guided many students around the Loire Valley and was a bit surprised by his selection of visits, but I think that perhaps a route based on a book or a novel that goes back to medieval times, hence their interest in places that are no longer a castle. Towers did not have a castle for a very long time. The jewel in the crown of the medieval cathedral the region. Http: / / en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Tours Azay-le-Rideau is absolutely charming and has the distinction of being completely surrounded by additional by water.It was the residence of the Counts of Tours. It is a national monument and can be visited. For the registration fee to see: http://azay-le-rideau.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/ Doue la Fontaine is only a small town and has no castle. It is the most visited for its cave dwellings. This is what the Castle would have looked in medieval times: http://www.dlf49.com/text/histoire/histoire.php Brissac is still owned by the family, but is now Brissac a hotel, but there are guided tours at certain times of year. Just look at the room entrance with the public about 9 euros. Http: / / www.chateau-brissac.fr/2006/english.htm I see that you are interested in traveling around the area annually. To the west of Tours, he Usse which is often described as "Sleeping Beauty Castle" and is supposed to have inspired the fairy tale. Http: / / en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Ch% A2teau_d'Uss C3% A9% C3% For other castles in the Loire Valley, to search for: Bon Voyage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loire_Valley http://www.loire.net/chateaux/ wonderful!

Loire Bike Trip, August 2009

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