Castles & tourist sites

Price: €6.50 (public price: €7.50) Nestling in the Indre valley, the Château de Saché was one of Honoré de Balzac's favourite places of inspiration, and today houses a museum dedicated to this great writer. The furnished rooms recreate the atmosphere of the 19th century, and the exhibition rooms display the collections, which include some 2,300 items: furniture, old editions, manuscripts (including three collections of corrected proofs of Le Lys dans la vallée), sculptures (including several original works by Auguste Rodin), paintings, prints, drawings and photographs.  The two-hectare park invites you to contemplate the surrounding countryside, from the village of Saché to the Indre valley.  Shows, readings, workshops and themed tours.

Duration: 2 days - Price: 105€ Because the Loire à Vélo is more than just a cycle route, the Pass Loire à Vélo invites you to discover all the facets of this legendary cycle route. Châteaux, tastings, museums, picnics, accommodation, activities, restaurants... Choose your itinerary between Tours and Orléans and take advantage of the many offers and benefits selected for the 48-hour Pass!   Suggested itineraries from Tours: > Day 1: Leave Tours for Villandry, this time following the Cher river. On the way, don't miss a visit to the Petrifying Caves of Savonnières. Then on to the Château de Villandry and its famous gardens. Before starting your tour, take time out for lunch at the foot of the château at La Doulce Terrasse, overnight stay recommended. > Day 2: The following day, cycle to the châteaux of Langeais or Azay-le-Rideau to discover these jewels of the Loire Valley. On your return to Tours, you can discover the ‘special sports’ snacks concocted by Au Tour du Vrac and then enjoy the city's many museums. Or   > Day 1: To get the day off to a good start, pick up a picnic prepared by the Chez Monsieur Henri restaurant in Tours, just a stone's throw from the bike hire points. You can enjoy it on a beach on the banks of the Loire before heading off to Amboise to visit its royal castle and medieval town. You can spend the night at the hotel La Maison Rabelais. > Day 2: First stop at Maison Bigot, a renowned establishment that will have prepared a packed lunch for you. Then, from Amboise, set off to conquer the ‘ladies’ castle’ of Chenonceau. Back at the starting point, those with a sweet tooth can try the snack option at Maison Bigot, with a view of the château! Find all the Pass offers and practical information here. This Pass includes bike hire, visits and activities as well as lunches and snacks at the following partners:  Bike hire: Roue Lib, Détours de Loire. Lunches and snacks: La Fourchette Paysanne, Chez Monsieur Henri, Maison Bigot, Le checkmate, La Doulce Terrasse, Sushi Shop, Cordier Traiteur, La Maison Rabelais, Popé coffee spot, Autour du VRAC, Le Cubrik. Places to visit: Domaine National de Chambord, Châteaux of Chenonceau, Beaugency, Domaine de Chaumont sur Loire, châteaux of Meung-sur-Loire, Villandry, Amboise, Clos Lucé, Azay-le-Rideau, Château and park of Langeais, Prieuré Saint-Cosme, Hôtel Goüin, CCC OD, Château de Tours, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours, Musée du Compagnonnage, Cloître de la Psalette, Tours Natural History Museum, Tours guided tour and coming soon, Orléans Fine Arts Museum, Balzac Museum, Savonnières petrifying caves, Orléans Floral Park, Hôtel Cabu - Museum of History and Archaeology, Orléans Museum for Biodiversity and the Environment, Joan of Arc House. Tastings: Maison Lacheteau, Les Fromages de Camille, Cave des producteurs de Vouvray, Vinaigrerie Martin Pouret. Sports & leisure: Petit train Orléanais, Petit train de Tours, boat trip in Orléans.

Duration: 1 day - Price: 59€ Pick up your bike at the start of one of the 4 ‘stopover towns’ - Tours, Amboise, Blois and Orléans - and ride like a youngster! The first of its kind in France, this Pass allows you to discover the riches of the Loire à Vélo at your own pace and in complete simplicity. It includes bike hire, lunches and snacks, Loire Valley wine tastings, as well as visits to museums and some of the Loire's greatest châteaux: Villandry, Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chaumont, Chambord, Langeais, etc. You'll also benefit from preferential rates at major sites, restaurants, hotels, wineries, food outlets and leisure activities. Suggested itinerary from Tours : Pick up your bike in Tours and pick up your picnic at the Fourchette Paysanne before heading off along the Loire to visit the Prieuré Saint-Cosme. You can then cross the river for a wine-tasting stop and a visit to the troglodytic cellars at the Grandes Caves Saint Roch in Rochecorbon or the Cave des Producteurs in Vouvray. On your return to Tours, round off your day in style with a visit to the CCC OD or a gourmet stop-off at the Les Fromages de Camille shop. Find all the Pass offers and practical information here. This Pass includes bike hire, visits and activities as well as lunches and snacks at the following partners:  Bike hire: Roue Lib, Détours de Loire. Lunches and snacks: La Fourchette Paysanne, Chez Monsieur Henri, Maison Bigot, Le checkmate, La Doulce Terrasse, Sushi Shop, Cordier Traiteur, La Maison Rabelais, Popé coffee spot, Autour du VRAC, Le Cubrik. Places to visit: Domaine National de Chambord, Châteaux of Chenonceau, Beaugency, Domaine de Chaumont sur Loire, châteaux of Meung-sur-Loire, Villandry, Amboise, Clos Lucé, Azay-le-Rideau, Château and park of Langeais, Prieuré Saint-Cosme, Hôtel Goüin, CCC OD, Château de Tours, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours, Musée du Compagnonnage, Cloître de la Psalette, Tours Natural History Museum, Tours guided tour and coming soon, Orléans Fine Arts Museum, Balzac Museum, Savonnières petrifying caves, Orléans Floral Park, Hôtel Cabu - Museum of History and Archaeology, Orléans Museum for Biodiversity and the Environment, Joan of Arc House. Tastings: Maison Lacheteau, Les Fromages de Camille, Cave des producteurs de Vouvray, Vinaigrerie Martin Pouret. Sports & leisure: Petit train Orléanais, Petit train de Tours, boat trip in Orléans.

Price: €8 (public price: €9) The Fortress of Montbazon, the stronghold of the terrible Count of Anjou, Foulques III Nerra, dominates the Indre valley and the town of Montbazon from the top of its rocky spur. It is one of our oldest military constructions. Home to the oldest keep in France still standing, its history stretches from the end of the 10th century to the 15th. As well as a particularly immersive guided tour, you can discover the trades of the Middle Ages through skits and demonstrations: war machines in action, weapons master, stone cutter, potter, herbalist, calligrapher...  Children can try their hand at a host of medieval games, and leave with their knight of the fortress diploma! The fortress tavern serves fouées, salads, planks and other delicacies.