You travel independently to Nevers. Check in at your hotel and take a walk through the charming town centre. Visit the potters, known for their faience pottery, a skill introduced by Italian craftsmen in the 16th century. Palais Ducal with its renaissance façade is also worth a visit. It’s one of the first castles that was built along the Loire. Nevers is a stop on the well known pilgrims’ route to Santiago de Compostella.
You leave the Burgundian town Nevers and you go on your way to the village of Cuffy, the place where the Loire and the Allier unite. This is the official start of the long ‘Loire a Vélo’ route, 800 km in total, ending after 13 stages at the Atlantic Ocean. You travel on to the monastery town Charité-sur-Loire where you approach the magnificent Roman church ‘Notre Dame’ via the oldest bridge (16th cent) across the Loire. This monastery church, included in Unesco’s heritage, is certainly worth a visit.
Challenge: 45km, 20m ascent, 48m descent
Cycle through the beautiful natural reserve ‘Loire Valley’ through vast, undulating vineyards. Admire the lovely bell tower/belfry of the church in Pouilly-sur-Loire. You go on through the woods and fields to the famous Sancerre wine region. Take a break on the way to taste a local wine grower’s (white) ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, of course this should be accompanied by a Chavignol goat’s cheese. Enjoy the magnificent view of the Loire Valley from Sancerre situated somewhat higher and dominated by its 15th cent donjon.
Challenge: 27.9km, 253m ascent, 110m descent
Leave Sancerre via the tow path along the ‘Canal Latéral’ and go via Bannay to the flower-bedecked town Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, beautifully situated on the right bank. Then go to Belleville-sur-Loire, Beaulieu-sur-Loire and finally the small town Briare. Admire the metal canal bridge, a monumental piece of hydraulic engineering, realized at the end of 19th cent. It crosses the Loire river and connects the 2 adjacent canals. With its 72 lampposts and decorated pilasters a beauty of traditional engineering/construction.
Challenge: 51.2km, 65m ascent, 215m descent
Cross the Loire river via the canal bridge, the ‘Pont Canal de Briare’, and cycle to Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire with its medieval castle, which specialized in catapults and cannons!!! This is followed by the lively town of Gien with its panoramic views. Here too is situated the castle of Anne de Beaujeu, built about 1500, and the beautiful 18th century bridge with its 12 pillars. Your destination is Sully-sur-Loire with again a remarkable medieval castle, completely surrounded by canals/moats and with a gorgeous view of the river.
Challenge: 41.7km, 152m ascent, 168m descent
Today you continue your route to Orléans. Enjoy the grand views on the way to Saint-Benoit. Once there visit the 11th-13th cent abbey that belongs to one of the most remarkable Roman churches in France. Then go on to Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, one of the important ports of the Loire in the 18th cent. You then get the first sight of your destination: Orléans, the town of ‘art and history’, liberated from the English (rule) by Jeanne d’Arc. Be sure to take a walk through the beautiful, historic centre.
Challenge: 51.1km, 73m ascent, 85m descent
End of your trip after breakfast. We advise you to extend your stay in order to take the time to visit the beautiful city of Orléans. Once it was the capital in the early French Middle Ages, but nowadays it’s a lively, modern town where there’s a lot to be seen.