In Family

The Loire by Bike is a huge touristic cycling route totaling 800 kilometers. A one of a kind cycling road for France, it spans both directions and connects Cuffy (around the height of Nevers) to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (opposite Saint-Nazaire). It also crosses the regions of Centre and Pays de la Loire, all the while accompanied by the longest river in France, the Loire. Only one word can describe the Loire by Bike: it is an escape.

Most of the recommended levels do not surpass 40 km, a distance that's suitable for everyone and corresponds to a maximum 4 hours cycling per day, which can be split as desired.
Elevation accessible to all: 190 m for more than 700 km.
Route fully equipped with signals.

If you don't possess a bike, you can always rent one in a Détours de Loire point. This network allows you to discover a multitude of sites without the constraint of having to return the bike. In every network point found along the Loire valley, close to train stations, you will find quality equipment and the same exact prices.
The nearest agency can be found in Saumur, 10 rue de Rouen, 300 meters from the station.

Opening hours:
▪ From April 1st to October 31st: Monday to Saturday, from 9h30 to 12h30 and from 16h30 to 18h30.
Sundays and holidays: Reservations only.
▪ From May to September: Monday to Saturday, from 9h30 to 13h00 and from 15h30 to 19h00.
Sundays and holidays: from 9h30 to 12h30 and from 18h00 to 19h00.

Découvrez une savonnerie familiale à 5 minutes de l'Abbaye Royale. Ici, tout est artisanal, de la pesée des huiles végétales à la réalisation des emballages dans du papier à la cuve, en passant par le tour de main qui transforme les huiles en savon grâce à une base caustique. Les mains s'appliquent dans le menu détail à observer un processus qui se prolonge par une longue pose dans l'atelier de séchage. 

Respectant les exigences de la réglementation cosmétique afin de toujours proposer des produits de haute qualité, les savons sont réalisés à partir de matières premières uniquement végétales.

La savonnerie Martin de Candre est l’histoire d’une aventure familiale et artisanale qui a débuté en 1974 et qui maintient et préserve un savoir-faire pratiquement disparu de nos jours en France.

Address & contact:
Savonnerie Martin de Candre, Domaine de Mestré 49 590 Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
☎ +33 (0)2 41 51 75 87
Website: www.martin-de-candre.com/en/

Discover in Saumur the Armor Museum, which retraces the birth, history and technological evolution of this spearhead of modern armor all over the world, from 1917 to present time. Young and old will be amazed by the museum's tank and vehicle collection, which today totals 800 engines, 200 of which are in perfect working order. All this constitutes the most significant armor collection in the world.

Address: 1043, route de Fontevraud, 49 400 Saumur
☎ +33 (0)2 41 83 69 95
Website: www.museedesblindes.fr

Opening hours:
From January 2 to March 31, from October 1 to October 19, and from November 3 to December 31: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm. Saturday, Sunday & bank holidays from 11am to 6pm.
From April 1 to June 30, in September and from October 20 to November 2: everyday from 10am to 6pm
From July 1 to August 31: from 9:30am to 6:30pm

30 kilometers from Fontevraud, in the heart of the region's natural park Loire-Anjou-Touraine, wander through the woods in a height of 20 meters while fully secure. A wonderful natural playground awaits you: 1 initiation route, 3 "Kids" routes, as well as 12 other routes, in more than 3.5 hectares of maritime pines and oaks, with over 140 thrilling aerial games and 38 zip lines.
Picnic area, refreshments, ice cream, picnic baskets (July and August). Trained instructors on location.

Address: Saint-Benoît Aventure, La Métairie aux Moines, 37 500 Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt
☎ +33 (0)6 89 07 18 96
Website: www.saintbenoitaventure.com

Destination Amboise, 100 kilometers from Fontevraud, to discover the final dwelling of Leonardo da Vinci: the castle of Clos Lucé. Previously a summer residence for the kings of France, you will enter among others the bedchamber of the Italian master, in which he worked for the French king François the 1st. Young and old will be equally amazed by the machines installed in Leonardo's Garden and in the Park Leonardo da Vinci, which are life-sized reproductions of the inventions the artist had filled his notebooks with.

Address: Le Château du Clos Lucé - Parc Leonardo da Vinci, 2 rue du Clos Lucé 37 400 Amboise
☎ +33 (0)2 47 57 00 73
Website: www.vinci-closluce.com

Open all the year round, every day, except 25th December and 1st January
January: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
February - June: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm
July - August: 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
September - October: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm
November - December: 9.00 to 5.00 pm

30 kilometers from Fontevraud, discover the Biopark of Doué-la-Fontaine and its 123 different animal species. From the giant Seychelles tortoise to the griffon vulture, from the okapi and the Sumatra tiger to the hippos, you will be absolutely amazed during your visit.
Its troglodyte landscaping, inside old subterranean stone quarries, makes the Biopark a place absolutely worth visiting.

Address: BioParc of Doué-la-Fontaine, 103 rue de Cholet, 49 700 Doué-la-Fontaine
☎ +33 (0)2 41 59 18 58
Website: www.bioparc-zoo.fr

Opening hours:
From february to March: from 10am to 6pm
From April to June: from 9am to 7pm
From July to August: from 9am to 7.30pm
In September: from 9am to 7pm
From October to November: from 10am to 6.30pm
Closed on December and January

À 30 kilomètres de Fontevraud, à Doué-la-Fontaine, partez à la découverte de galeries souterraines hautes de 15 à 20 mètres. Classé site environnemental remarquable, le site des Perrières est constitué du falun, roche coquillière locale, déposé par la mer il y a 10 millions d’années puis creusé par l’homme aux XVIIIème et XIXème siècles. Le résultat donne des galeries extraordinaires, qui resplendissent d’un nouvel éclat grâce à une scénographie féérique, le Mystère des Faluns, à parcourir à son rythme.

Address & contact:
Les Perrières – The Mystery of the Falun scenography
7 rue d'Anjou, 49 700 Doué-la-Fontaine
☎ +33 (0)2 41 59 71 29
Website: www.les-perrieres.com

Opening hours:
- du 26 mars au 14 juin : de 10h à 12h30 et de 14h à 18h tous les jours, sauf le lundi
- du 15 juin au 14 septembre : de 10h à 19h tous les jours
- du 15 septembre au 1er novembre : de 10h à 12h30 et de 14h à 18h tous les jours, sauf le lundi
Ouvert les jours fériés et les 11, 12 et 13 novembre, de 10h à 12h30 et de 14h à 18h.
Dernier accès au site 30 minutes avant la fermeture.

Tarifs visite:
- enfants (moins de 12 ans) : 4,50 euros
- 12/18 ans : 6 euros
- adultes : 7 euros
- gratuit pour les moins de 5 ans
Visite libre

Durée : 1h environ

Parcours entièrement accessible aux personnes à mobilité réduite.

In Angers, the Terra Botanica botanical garden offers you a chance to experience the riches of Anjou, capital of plants and ancestral land of multiple cultures. Discover and admire the splendor of 275,000 plant species as well as the exceptional collections of orchids, roses, palms... Terra Botanica is also an excellent place for playing and entertainment: the Elves' Island with its hanging towers, dynamic projections in 4D, wanderings in the air with tethered balloons or in the treetops, bucolic boat rides... Between fun adventures and botanical discoveries, young and old will definitely find their calling in the first botanical garden in Europe.

Open all weekends from 10h to 19h, April to October. Open for the entirety of July and August, from 10h to 19h. Open on specific weekends in March and October. Closed from November to February.

Address: Terra Botanica, Route d'Épinard 49 000 Angers
☎ +33 (0)2 41 25 00 00
Website: www.terrabotanica.fr

At 25 kilometers from Fontevraud in village Saint-Martin-de-la-Place, Anjou Canoes propose a variety of excursions on the Loire by canoe, kayak and stand up paddle. Participate in short routes or camping trips spanning multiple days. Experience the heritage of the Loire from a unique point of view, as well as the fauna and flora of the region's natural park Loire-Anjou-Touraine.
The main watersports center is situated in Saint-Martin-de-la-Place and the main reception point in Gennes.

Address: Canoës d'Anjou, 3 rue des Mariniers 49 160 Saint-Martin-de-la-Place
☎ +33 (0)6 69 41 27 04 / +33 (0)6 58 61 27 05
Website: www.canoes.fr

Opening hours:
From July to August: 7d/7
April, May and September: on Wednesdays, weekends and bank holidays
The rest of the year, on reservation