Loire Valley, France (2022) - Itinerary

Please note: our week in the Loire Valley was built around a bike tour in which we followed a guided route to multiple locations each day. The details of those routes can be found in the travelogue.

Tuesday, May 2, 2022

• Check in to hotel: Château de Beaulieu

• Stroll around the neighborhood and nearby parks - get walking rec from concierge

• Hotel includes access to the spa for 2 hours

• Dinner at hotel (included – restaurant closed Monday but room service available and included?!?)

• Dinner in Place Plumereau

  • Walk to Guinguette de Pont Wilson on the banks of the river

  • Patio with river view, bar, and entertainment

• Sleep in Joué les Tours

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

• Breakfast at hotel

• ORIENTATION AT 10:00 AM in hotel lobby

• Taxi to Les Halles de Tours for light lunch

  • Indoor marketplace with gourmet food stalls

  • https://goo.gl/maps/ja3faNbH6KthBoU9A

• Walk 15m to Cathédrale Saint-Gatien

  • Gothic cathedral with construction spanning over 300 years

  • Also visit the neighboring cloisters with temporary exhibits

• // Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

  • Art seized during multiple waves of conflict compiled in an archbishop’s palace

• Chenonceau / Amboise ?!

• Dinner in Place Plumereau

• Walk to Guinguette de Pont Wilson on the banks of the river

  • Patio with river view, bar, and entertainment

• Sleep in Joué les Tours

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

• Check out of hotel

• Check in to hotel: Le Grand Monarque

• Sleep in Azay-le-Rideau

Thursday, May 5, 2022

• Check out of hotel

• Check in to hotel: Hotel Diderot

• Patisserie: Fournil du chateau

• Dinner at one of the cafes on Pl. du Général de Gaulle

• Sleep in Chinon

Friday, May 6, 2022

• Check out of hotel

• Check in to hotel: Hotel Anne d’Anjou

• Dinner at Bistrot de la Place, Cuisine de bistrot maison et bar à vins

• Sleep in Saumur

Saturday, May 7, 2022

• Morning - Sparkling Wine Houses:

  • Ackerman, Saumur’s oldest sparkling wine producer (established 1811)

  • Bouvet Ladubay (11 Rue Jean Ackerman; bouvetladubay.com; open daily; tours €2, second oldest), which has some striking sculptures in its underground cellars, and many an award-winning Brut to sample

• Farmer’s Market in central square - gather lunch here! Then picnic on the grass by the chateau.

• Chateau, on a bluff overlooking the river (chateau-saumur.com; €5/£4)

• Afternoon - Distillery

  • Combier (48 Rue Beaurepaire) is a tiny, boutique operation that uses a fascinating array of traditional copper equipment to distill its liqueurs. Pre-dating Cointreau by several decades, it has been revitalised with some wonderful, inventive flavours. The Royal Combier and the rose liqueur are personal favourites, but making up your own mind is part of the fun.

• 7.30pm - Dinner along the river - Crêperie Côté Jardin

• Sleep in Saumur

Sunday, May 8, 2022

• Check out of hotel

• Train to Paris