Bike rides and hikes
Between La Loire à Vélo, the mythical 900 km itinerary along the wild Loire River, The heart of France by bicycle and the countless signposted trails running alongside châteaux, vineyards and troglodyte villages, Touraine is the ideal destination for combining road trip and art de vivre. For a day, a weekend or several days, discover the options available to you!
![Balade à vélo sur la Place Plumereau]()
Plumereau square
This summer, let us be your guide!
In July and August, the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office is offering themed bike tours suitable for everyone, in partnership with Accueil Vélo & Rando. (Re)discover Tours and its surroundings on unique routes that blend nature and culture, accompanied by a guide.
Thursday, July 9, and Monday, August 3 – Tours: A Street Art Tour
XXL murals, inventive collages, graffiti by international artists… Tours comes alive with color through street art. Set out to discover these works and their stories with a tour guide.
We love: discovering the hidden gems of street art in Tours in just 2 hours and 30 minutes.Friday, July 24 and August 7 — Tours, Arty Style
Hop on your bike for another “Tours, Artie Style” guided tour that highlights the history of the Quartier des Arts and the artists who work there. Always with a touch of urban art, of course!
We love: admiring the shop windows of more than 40 artisans.Monday, July 13, Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 15 - Night Tour of Tours
At dusk, Tours comes to life along the “Parcours Lumière” route. Place Plumereau, Saint-Gatien Cathedral, Saint-Martin Basilica… you’ll pass by all of the city’s iconic landmarks.
We love: seeing the monuments and half-timbered houses bathed in golden or bluish light—it’s magical!Saturday, August 8 — Tour of the troglodyte cellars at the Grandes Caves Saint-Roch
Starting from Tours, follow the “Loire à Vélo” route to the Grandes Caves Saint-Roch in Rochecorbon for a bike tour of the largest cave cellars in Touraine. Once there, Maison Lacheteau will offer a tasting of Loire Valley wines.
We love: cycling through 4 km of cellars carved into the tuffeau limestone.Friday, August 21—From Tours to Montlouis-sur-Loire
Treat yourself to a wonderful getaway along the Loire! Led by a nature guide, this hike takes you on a journey of discovery along the “royal river.”
We love: learning more about the local flora and fauna from a guide who’s passionate about nature.Wednesday, August 26—Along the banks of the Loire from Tours to Île de la Métairie
Get away from it all on this loop ride that takes you along the “La Loire à Vélo” route between Tours and Île de la Métairie in La Ville-aux-Dames. On the agenda: exploring the Loire region’s environment, its flora and fauna, and its landscapes, accompanied by a nature guide.
We love: getting a breath of fresh air and watching the birds of the Loire.You have 1/2 day
Cycling loops in the Tours metropolitan areaA 1/2-day tour from Tours
Hop on your bike for a half-day nature break along the Loire à Vélo® on the "Bords de Loire: d'une rive à l'autre" route. Departing from Tours, this loop takes you to Montlouis, Vernou-sur-Brenne, Vouvray and Rochecorbon.
You'll ride along the banks of the royal river, through the vineyards of the Vouvray AOC grape variety and past troglodyte dwellings. If you'd like to extend the day's ride, you can stop for a picnic on Île de la Métairie, enjoy a wine tasting at Château de Moncontour, admire Marmoutier Abbey and, on the way back, visit the Cloître de la Psalette nestled in the heart of Tours' Cathedral of Saint-Gatien.
Loop 2: Along the Loire "from one bank to the other
Distance: 29 km
Difficulty: easy
Another idea for a shorter route: from Tours to Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, pedal in the footsteps of Honoré de Balzac! This itinerary takes you to the key places in the life of the writer and his works: the Maison Vauquer, La Grenadière and the hamlet where he was fostered.
Special Balzac loop #2: in Balzac's footsteps, from Tours to Vouvray
Distance: 9 km
Difficulty: easy
Find all the cycling loops at the Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office or on velo-rando-touraine.fr
![Château d'Azay-le-Rideau]()
Azay-le-Rideau chateau
Castles loop
You have 1 day
Just 1 hour from Paris, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Loire Valley, Tours is one of the key stops on the Loire à Vélo®. This safe, signposted itinerary winds along the river, offering regular loops to the châteaux, villages and vineyards along the way. You'll be amazed with every turn of the wheel!
Whether you're a sporty type of rider or just enjoy the gentle pace of life in the Loire Valley, it's impossible not to visit one of the region's must-see châteaux.
Don't miss:
- To Château de Villandry and its formal gardens: 40 km round trip
- To château d'Azay-le-Rideau and its water mirror: 80 km round trip
- To château de Rigny-Ussé, the Sleeping Beauty castle: 80 km round trip
And to vary the pleasures, Touraine offers other renowned cycling itineraries such as the Cœur de France à Vélo®, the Scandibérique or Saint Jacques de Compostelle à Vélo.
You have a week-end
2 days 100% cycling and art of living
For two days, set off from Tours on a cycling tour of vineyards and châteaux.
![Deux personnes à vélo dans le vignoble de Vouvray]()
Vouvray wineyard
DAY 1 - Vineyards, wild river and troglodytic caves
Follow La Loire à Vélo® on the signposted route “Bords de Loire: d'une rive à l'autre”. Departing from Tours, this loop takes you to Montlouis, Vernou-sur-Brenne, Vouvray and Rochecorbon. You'll ride along the banks of the royal river, through the vineyards of the AOC Vouvray grape variety and past troglodyte dwellings. Along the way, you can take a picnic break on the sandy beaches of Île de la Métairie, visit the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin and enjoy a wine tasting at Château de Moncontour, then admire Marmoutier Abbey along the way. During the summer season, you can finish off the tour with dinner and dancing at the Guinguette de Rochecorbon.
![Château de Villandry]()
Gardens & castle of Villandry
DAY 2 - The Loire and Villandry Castle
Go "to the end of the world" in just one day with the "Villandry at the end of the world" cycling loop, leading to the confluence of the Loire and Cher rivers at Berthenay. This signposted Loire à Vélo® trail offers exceptional panoramic views of the wild river. It takes you through typical Touraine villages, to the Grottes Pétrifiantes de Savonnières and the Château et Jardins de Villandry. You can visit this Renaissance château and its ornamental gardens before returning to Tours. On the way back, make a stop at "La Soupette de Mémère" in Savonnières. Situated along the Cher, near the port, it offers a breathtaking view of the river.
Tracks for the "Bords de Loire d'une rive à l'autre" and "Villandry au bout du monde" cycling loops can be found at the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office or on velo-rando-touraine.fr.
You have few days
![Famille à vélo aux abords du château de Chenonceau]()
Chenonceau castle
A 3-day adventure
Starting from Tours, pedal freely to discover the beauty of the Loire Valley's heritage and two not-to-be-missed castles: Château d'Amboise and Château de Chenonceau.
DAY 1 - 27 KM
Start this royal journey from Tours to Amboise along the route of La Loire à Vélo®. Stop at Montlouis-sur-Loire and visit the Maison de la Loire to discover the natural and cultural heritage of Europe's last last wild river in Europe. Don't miss the gardens of Château de la Bourdaisière before lunching at its famous Bar à Tomates©, or at the restaurant La Tourangelle. Continue your journey to Amboise, where you can stroll through the medieval town center and visit the Château Royal. For dinner, the gastronomic restaurant restaurant La Brèche welcomes you to its intimate garden with contemporary works of art.DAY 2 - 18.5 KM
Brainstorm and marvel at Leonardo da Vinci's inventions at Le Clos Lucé, the Florentine genius' last home.
Then on to Chenonceaux (follow signs for Blois-Chenonceaux), passing through the Amboise forest, ideal for a picnic. Then discover the Château de Chenonceau, also known as the “Château des Dames”, which can be admired on foot, but also by boat or canoe-kayak under its arches.DAY 3 - 30.5 KM
A great escape on the Cher à Vélo route, this time through Saint- Martin-Le-Beau, where you can have lunch at the Bistrot'Quai in Civray-de- Touraine. Touraine. Set in the gardens of the lock-keeper's house, this establishment offers local specialities that you can enjoy comfortably seated overlooking the river. Once invigorated, the tour continues through the vineyards of Château de Nitray and Larçay. You'll arrive in Tours from the south and enjoy a break on the Ile Balzac before returning to the city center.Practical info
If you wish to shorten your journey, the towns of Montlouis-sur-Loire, Amboise and Chenonceaux can all be reached by train (20-30 min journey time), with the option of taking your bike on board (booking essential on weekends and public holidays between April 29 and October 1, €1/bike).
"Rémi Découverte” pass: unlimited transport at €42 for 1 to 5 people for 2 days.
More info on remi-centrevaldeloire.frSome turnkey bike trips and holidays
Want to pedal your way to (almost) freedom? Discover our all-inclusive or free cycling holidays!
