The Ironman for non-athletes!
Not cut out to be a marathon runner, nor do you have the stamina of a Florent Manaudou, let alone the calves built for a 180 km bike ride? Good news: this version of the Ironman Tours 2026 is made for you! Here, there’s no focus on times or performance, just a route to enjoy at your own pace, taking in the castles, mills and museums that line the route, which 3,500 athletes will set off on this coming 14 June. The Tourist Office is here to guide you through this gentle programme!
![Batelier du Cher]()
Batelier du Cher
KM 10 - Ballan-Miré & Savonnières
The Ironman Tours cycle loop starts in Saint-Avertin… but for you, the first stop isn’t far away: the Grand Moulin de Ballan, dating from the 16th century. Although it isn’t open to the public, it’s still well worth a visit. Continue on to Savonnières, one of the most beautiful stops on the Loire à Vélo route, with its beach and harbour where you can admire traditional boats. For a more unusual visit, don’t miss the Grottes Pétrifiantes: former tuffeau quarries from the Middle Ages, a fascinating world of underground lakes and limestone formations.
![Jardins du château de Villandry]()
The gardens of Villandry Castle
KM 17 - Villandry
It’s a must-see in the Loire Valley. Villandry, with its château and French gardens, which have been awarded the ‘Jardins Remarquables’ label. Highlights include the ornamental kitchen garden, the Garden of Love and Crosses, the Music Garden, the Herb Garden, the Maze, the Sun Garden and the Water Garden… There’s something for everyone. Take your time!
Villandry also offers THE view of the confluence of the Cher and the Loire and a “contemplative stop” by Jordane Saget. The street artist has adorned the Loire à Vélo cycle route, which passes through the village, with his signature arabesques. A route to explore by bike for the more active visitors!
![À Langeais & Saint Patrice]()
Bridge of Langeais
In Langeais & Saint-Patrice
You haven’t arrived in Brooklyn, but in Langeais with its suspension bridge! Destroyed five times and rebuilt six times over its 150-year history, it proudly spans the Loire and will see 3,500 Ironman cyclists cross it this year. Like any town near the Loire, Langeais also has its own castle. Dating from the Renaissance, it was the setting for the secret wedding of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany and offers a tour of 15 richly furnished rooms.
A few kilometres away, in Saint-Patrice, lies the Château de Rochecotte, ideal for a royal stay: comfortable rooms, a gourmet restaurant, French gardens, a park and forest, and a heated outdoor swimming pool for sunny days.
![Vignoble à Bourgueil]()
Vineyard in Bourgueil
In Bourgueil & Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil
After the châteaux and gardens, head for the vineyards! In Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil, treat yourself to a stroll through the vineyards, a tour of a cave-dwelling wine cellar or a tasting of local wines.
Do also make a detour to the Royal Abbey of Saint Pierre de Bourgueil for an artistic and historical stroll. The site inspired Ronsard in his day…
![Forteresse Royale de Chinon]()
Royal Fortress of Chinon
In Chinon & Panzoult
The route then takes us to Chinon and its imposing Royal Fortress. A key site from the Middle Ages, it can now be explored using a Histopad or as a ‘monument game’! Just a short walk away, the Collegiate Church of Saint Mexme, now a cultural centre, houses medieval murals and contemporary stained-glass windows by Olivier Debré.
For a surprising and poetic visit, head to Panzoult to the Cave de la Sybille, a former tuffeau quarry carved around the theme of a tale by Rabelais: La Sibylle de Panzoult…
![Château de l'Islette]()
Islette Castle
In Saché & Azay-le-Rideau
The Touraine region has always been a source of inspiration for artists. A case in point is Saché and the Balzac Museum, a house on the banks of the Indre where the author used to seek refuge and find inspiration. You can even see the bedroom where he wrote the famous ‘Father Goriot’. It was also here that the American sculptor Alexander Calder set up his studio in 1963. Today, you can admire his ‘Totem’ mobile there. 2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of his death.
Next stop: Azay-le-Rideau and its two gems: the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, which appears to be ‘set upon the water’, and the more secluded Château de l’Islette, which was the setting for the romance between Rodin and Camille Claudel.
![Château de Rigny-Ussé]()
Rigny-Ussé Castle
In Bréhémont, Rigny-Ussé & Rivarennes
You’ll find the Loire again as you reach the port of Bréhémont, the starting point for boat trips along the wild river. Just a stone’s throw away, don’t miss the Château d’Ussé. Any resemblance to the castle from *Sleeping Beauty* is no coincidence. It is the very image of a beautiful medieval fairytale castle!
The area also offers the chance to discover one of Touraine’s specialities, poires tapées (pressed pears), the craft of which is revealed at the Maison de la Poire Tapée in Rivarennes.
![Place Plumereau]()
Plumereau Square
The finale: Tours!
To round things off, take a stroll through the 40-hectare Gloriette eco-play park, which is perfect for outdoor activities and workshops on nature conservation.
And if you fancy extending your visit, here are our ‘off-the-beaten-track’ but unmissable suggestions:
- Place Plumereau, surrounded by half-timbered houses and ranked ‘Best place for an aperitif’ by Lonely Planet, is the perfect spot to soak up the buzz of life in Tours and begin exploring Old Tours,
- The Town Hall, built in the early 20th century by Victor Laloux,
- The Wilson Bridge and its breathtaking view of the Loire.
