The Loire Valley Itinerary

Downstream Must Mean Downhill - Right?

Well, sadly, nobody explained this to whoever designed the route of the Loire cycle path into Amboise with the result that one or two lumpy climbs feature in an otherwise easy ride into Amboise.

However, before that, we will visit and taste the wines at Vignoble Tevenot, a very traditional family winemaker in Cellettes, just on the edge of the enormous forests that surround Chambord.

The final destination of our tour is Amboise, where the setting of the château overlooking the Loire is one of the most used images of the Loire valley.

The town has a medieval centre, largely pedestrianised and full of bustle. There are a number of bars and cafes sitting directly beneath the huge château walls, and I reckon we've usually earned a sit-down and a glass of the local Touraine or Vouvray.

For anyone who hasn't visited Leonardo's place at the Clos-Lucé, it's well worth it. Many of the original furnishings are still in place, including the great man's bed, and there is a permanent exhibition of his inventions and writings including several exquisite scale models. Leonardo invented wings that didn't work, helicopters that didn't work and airplanes that didn't work. To be honest, they're nothing special, but he did so much more than we generally associate with him. There are touching examples of his philosophy, and wonderful models of inventions that did work, like an ingenious water pump. Definitely worth visiting.

Tonight we are staying at the Hotel Vinci and we eat at the Lion d’Or.

Distance = 33 miles / 52 Km