Azay-Chinon by bike
What about visiting the Loire valley by bike? Three cycling routes and a new 20-kilometre greenway provide a wide range of cycling paths for exploring the Azay-Chinon Loire valley region.
The greenway from Richelieu to Chinon
The greenway was opened along a former railway line in 2018. It runs from Chinon to Richelieu and is one of the first “connected” greenways in France! The mobile application “Richelieu-Chinon Greenway” brings you an interactive experience combining augmented reality and cultural information all along the way.
There are nine themed stations (wine, heritage, fauna and flora, etc.) along the 19 kilometres of the safe and independent route. You can also use the application to find hotels, restaurants and tourist sites nearby. Don’t forget to download this ideal travelling companion before you set off!
The Azay-Chinon region cycling routes
There are three major cycling routes in the Azay-Chinon Loire valley region: the “Loire à Vélo”, “L’Indre à Vélo” and “Saint-Jacques de Compostelle à Vélo”.
La Loire à Vélo
France’s number one cycling route has 900 km of signposted and safe paths running alongside the River Loire. La Loire à vélo is a great way to visit the Loire valley, a region listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
From the route between Tours and Candes-Saint-Martin along the River Loire, two trails of around 20 kilometres go through the heart of the Azay-Chinon area:
· 1 trail around Azay-le-Rideau between Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau and Bréhémont
· 1 trail around Chinon between Candes-Saint-Martin, Chinon and Huismes
L’Indre à vélo
The bike touring route along the River Indre is fully signposted for cyclists and extends for over 200 km along country roads. It is linked to “La Loire à Vélo” route at both ends: at Azay-le-Rideau and Jeu-les-Bois.
Try the section between Bréhémont (intersection with “La Loire à Vélo” route) to Loches via Azay-le-Rideau and Montbazon. From Loches, a second route leads to the Château de Chenonceaux.
The Azay-le-Rideau – Monts section goes through 17 km of country landscapes filled with famous historic sites, including the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, the troglodyte Goupillères valley, the Balzac Museum in Saché and the Loire valley watermills.
Saint-Jacques à vélo
The “Saint-Jacques à Vélo” cycling route runs between Chartres and Châtellerault via the city of Tours along a 380 km route. It goes through the Azay-Chinon Loire valley region via Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine.
Don’t miss some of the famous sites along the way: the Montbazon fortress, Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois Church, where Joan of Arc found her sword, or the Sainte-Maure de Touraine goat’s cheese visitors’ centre, “Les Passerelles”.
Touraine by bike
Several cycling trails are an opportunity for visitors to explore the Azay-Chinon Loire valley region by bike. They follow different sections linked to the major cycling routes.
Around 15 trail leaflets are on sale from the tourist office reception areas. There are several routes on offer, including short trails of 15 to 20 km or longer circuits between 30 km and 50
