More than 1,200 kilometres of marked tourist cycling routes give you plenty of choice for cycling in Loir-et-Cher. The Châteaux de la Loire à Vélo network includes 15 loops in the département, with more than 500 kilometres of marked routes in total. Sologne à Vélo offers a distinctive landscape: its 140 kilometres of marked routes pass through forests, alongside ponds and half-timbered houses, and across clearings where wildlife lives. You can explore Sologne à Vélo from Lamotte-Beuvron railway station. This lets you compare an extensive cycling network with a route that showcases Sologne’s distinctive landscape. Check route information and access from the station before setting off.
Between the Loire landscape and Sologne
The landscapes offer a striking contrast. The Loire in Loir-et-Cher forms part of a river landscape that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. Sologne is characterised by forests and around 3,000 ponds. The focus is therefore on two distinct landscapes: the Loire river landscape and the forests and ponds of Sologne. If you plan your trip around landscapes, you can take this contrast into account when choosing what to explore.
Nature also meets a specific opportunity for exploring on foot in the park at Chambord: more than 30 kilometres of paths run through the park. Check access and the route before your visit. The information about cycling routes and paths in the park describes different ways to explore the landscape, so consider each in light of your own plans.
Châteaux, history and wildlife
UNESCO lists Chambord and Blois among the Loire Valley monuments that illustrate medieval and Renaissance history. At the Château royal de Blois, the HistoPad brings the past, architecture and court life into focus. The visit includes the royal apartments and the Museum of Fine Arts. Château de Cheverny adds six themed gardens to the châteaux landscape. Check the gardens’ opening arrangements before your trip.
The ZooParc de Beauval offers a different focus: across 46 hectares, it is home to 35,000 animals from 800 species. This makes wildlife a distinct theme to explore alongside architectural history, gardens and landscapes. These different highlights can help you shape your trip around the interests that matter most to you.
Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire and the history of the river
Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire links a former river port with the building history of Chambord: the port transported building materials for the Château de Chambord. On request, the Maison de la Loire can put together tailor-made programmes for Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire. These include a guided walk through the village, a guided nature activity and a trip on a traditional boat. If this combination appeals to you, ask about a suitable programme. The village, nature and boat trip offer different ways to experience the area.
Wine and regional cuisine
Regional cuisine offers a variety of ways to explore the area. Cheverny is a dry still wine produced south of Blois, near Sologne, the Loire and the châteaux of Chambord and Cheverny. The cuisine of Loir-et-Cher includes Loire wines, goat’s cheese, seasonal produce and local expertise. AOP Selles-sur-Cher is known for its creamy texture and delicacy. Wine, cheese and seasonal produce are among the regional themes to discover alongside cycling routes, landscapes and history.
Discover more destinations: Villeny, Millançay, Angé, Blois, Cheverny, Fougères-Sur-Bièvre, Maves, Méhers, Mont-Près-Chambord, Montrichard, Ouchamps, Pontlevoy, Saint-Gourgon, Sasnières, Vallières-Les-Grandes, Chouzy-Sur-Cisse, Crouy-Sur-Cosson, Mesland, Selles Saint Denis, Lignières, Pierrefitte-Sur-Sauldre, Villeherviers, Josnes, Montoire-Sur-Le-Loir, La Chaussée-Saint-Victor, Vouzon, Vineuil, Vendôme, Thésée, Saint-Ouen, Saint-Gervais-La-Forêt, Montlivault, La Ville-Aux-Clercs, Chitenay, Chissay-En-Touraine, Chaumont-Sur-Tharonne, Bracieux, Villexanton, Troo, Champigny-En-Beauce, Averdon, Monteaux, Suèvres, La Ferté-Saint-Cyr, Chaumont-Sur-Loire, Mer, Cellettes, Onzain, Villerable, Saint-Laurent-Nouan, Cellé, Salbris, Neung-Sur-Beuvron, Saint-Aignan, La Ferté-Imbault, Saint-Denis-Sur-Loire, Saint-Georges-Sur-Cher, Cour-Sur-Loire, Villebarou, La Colombe, Cour-Cheverny, Les Hayes, Sassay, Soings-En-Sologne, Souvigny-En-Sologne, Veilleins, Meusnes, Huisseau-Sur-Cosson, Muides-Sur-Loire, Saint-Romain-Sur-Cher, Candé-Sur-Beuvron, Maray, Mondoubleau, Gièvres, La Fontenelle, Seillac, Sainte-Anne, Avaray, Saint-Julien-De-Chédon, Lamotte-Beuvron, Selles-Sur-Cher, Chémery, Contres, Noyers-Sur-Cher, Saint-Claude-De-Diray, Maslives, Chaon, Chambord, Yvoy-Le-Marron, Cormeray, Monthou-Sur-Cher, Montrouveau, Tour-En-Sologne, Montrieux-En-Sologne, Orchaise, Bourre, Theillay, Santenay, Saint-Avit, Nouan-Le-Fuzelier, Romorantin-Lanthenay, La Marolle-En-Sologne, Couture-Sur-Loir, Courmemin, Pouillé, Chambon-Sur-Cisse, Oisly, Authon, Thoury, Dhuizon, Séris, Mulsans, Sambin, Feings, Saint-Léonard-En-Beauce, Couffy, Lunay, Couddes, Vievy-Le-Rayé, Veuves, Souesmes, Saint-Viâtre, Valaire, Châteauvieux, Mur-De-Sologne, Saint-Amand-Longpré, Lorges, Châtres-Sur-Cher, Chailles, Prunay-Cassereau, Beauchêne, Monthou-sur-Bièvre, Droué, Mennetou-sur-Cher, Thenay, Seigy, Fossé, La Ferté-Beauharnais, Saint-Lubin-en-Vergonnois, Lassay-sur-Croisne, Faverolles-sur-Cher, Vernou-en-Sologne, Landes-le-Gaulois, Saint-Bohaire, Oucques, Choussy, Villavard, Mareuil-sur-Cher, Concriers, Lavardin, Seur, Molineuf, Renay, Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire, Fortan, Briou, Talcy, Saint-Rimay
For the regional travel overview: Centre.
