Le Château du Lude - Loir Valley by bike
Sarthe Développement - J. Damase

Castles to discover in Pays de la Loire by bike

Travel from castle to castle in Pays-de-la-Loire !

Le Château de Saumur, palais des ducs d'Anjou
J. Damase – Maine-et-Loire

The castle-palace of the Dukes of Anjou

The castle-palace of the Dukes of Anjou in the 14th and 15th centuries, Saumur Castle was the home of King René, and is the last surviving example of the Princely palaces erected by the Valois dynasty. A former residence of the city governors, a prison and then an arms and munitions depot, it was purchased by the City in 1906 to accommodate the city museum, now known as the Museum of France.

The Château du Lude and its gardens
Sarthe Développement - J. Damase

The Château du Lude and its gardens

Beyond the imposing aspect of the site, the soul of Lude's castle permeates all the visit of this castle. The object of all the care of a family that has occupied it for two hundred and sixty years, it is one of the few great castles still inhabited. The Lude bears witness to four centuries of French architecture: a defensive fortress transformed into an elegant and sumptuous Renaissance and classical residence. The labyrinth, the stables or the underground are as many beautiful surprises which mark out the walk.

The Château d'Angers
J. Damase - Mayenne

The Château d'Angers

Enter by the huge drawbridge across the moat and explore the governor's lodge, the dungeons, the battlements and enjoy the unobstructed view over the city. The architecture shows the course of the site's development across the centuries, with the construction of the fortress and its towers by the young King Louis, the Royal Lodge, the chapel and the Châtelet (small scale castle) - all built by the Dukes of Anjou. The interior of the castle plays host to the attractive residence of the Dukes of Anjou, made up of Gothic buildings, gardens and can even boast a few vines.

Tailor-made itineraries

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Tailor-made itineraries

La Daguenière / Angers

27 La Daguenière / Angers

16 km
1 h 02 min
I begin
This Loire à Vélo stage to Anjou’s capital takes you through the startling landscapes of the former slate mines of Trélazé. Then enjoy crossing the Authion River via a little cable ferry. This makes for a fun way to reach the enticing city of Angers, spread across both banks of the Maine River. An equally enjoyable alternative route takes you to Bouchemaine via the Loire-side town of Les Ponts-de-Cé (see stage La Daguenière >Bouchemaine).
Angers / Bouchemaine

29 Angers / Bouchemaine

9 km
38 min
I begin
In the heart of Anjou, this Loire à Vélo stage goes from opposite Angers’s central castle out via the green setting of the Lac de Maine. This urban stage is startling, avoiding motorized traffic, taking you through parkland and alongside the Maine River. Bouchemaine is great for a stop, for its typical quayside restaurants or a picnic beside the Loire.
Angers / Bouchemaine / St-Mathurin

12 Angers / Bouchemaine / St-Mathurin

37 km
2 h 27 min
I begin
La Vélo Francette shares the way with the Loire à Vélo cycle route for some way from Angers eastwards, leading you out of the city via the Maine River and the Lac de Maine, with its green surrounds. At the village of Bouchemaine, at the confluence of Maine and Loire, you might try one of the restaurants on the quays. Most of this stage is along traffic-free tracks up to La Daguenière, then you join quiet roads up to St-Mathurin-sur-Loire.
Angers / Trélazé /St-Mathurin

13 Angers / Trélazé /St-Mathurin

29 km
1 h 55 min
I begin
This alternative stage for leaving Angers goes via the dark blue slate mines southeast of the city centre on to the light blue waters of the Loire. The track through the disused slate mines at Trélazé is remarkably well laid out, crossing a former industrial landscape turned into a discovery park, with intriguing vistas, picnic areas, sports and leisure areas, a museum and an open-air craft display area.
St-Mathurin / Saumur

14 St-Mathurin / Saumur

29 km
2 h 01 min
I cycle often
This stage is shared by La Vélo Francette and the Loire à Vélo. Two options: either follow the route from Gennes along the Loire’s south bank up to Saint-Hilaire-St-Florent (on the western side of Saumur town); or cross the bridge at Gennes and follow the alternative route along the north bank of the Loire to Saumur. Whichever way you opt for, the waterside stretches passing Loire flora, fauna and traditional boats are glorious.
Durtal / Angers

9 Durtal / Angers

58 km
4 h 30 min
I cycle often
From one bank to the other of the Loir valley and after the imposing fortress of the Kings of France in Durtal, the Angevin stage continues on small roads or country lanes through dams and mills. Villevêque is a historical and artistic place where you can swim or canoe along the Loir River. In Cantenay-Epinard, the route joins the Vélo Francette, allowing you to discover the low valleys of Angevin and then the famous town of King René.
La Flèche / Durtal

8 La Flèche / Durtal

23 km
1 h 30 min
I cycle often
From La Flèche, this last stage of the Vallée du Loir à Vélo takes you along quiet, easy little country roads to Cré-sur-Loir. Pretty marshlands line the Loir in these parts, with reedbeds, riverside woods and watery meadows making up an unspoilt natural zone in the midst of the Pays Fléchois area.
Le Lude / La Flèche

7 Le Lude / La Flèche

21 km
1 h 25 min
I cycle often
The splendid Château du Lude and its formal French gardens make for a great visit. Then rejoin the Vallée du Loir à Vélo via a greenway. This lovely, gentle track takes you along a former railway line, up to the riverside town of La Flèche, where you can rejoin the V44 La Sarthe à Vélo route.