/ Elena Riatti / to cycle to know bike paths family reading tips
Loire castles by bike with children
In 2019 we chose for our spring vacation a family cycling trip with Adriana, almost 3 years old. So in May we cycled for a week following the Loire à Vélo, the Castles of the Loire, France’s most beloved bike route. It was not the first cycling vacation for us but, after others in Italy and Austria, we can say it was the most beautiful. Here I tell you about what we were left with. Not a list of the most beautiful castles or a kilometer-by-kilometer description of the route, but hints and tips for families who have never tried this experience.
In the company of the river. The Loire is a living river: that’s what Leonardo, the Girolibero contact person who greeted us at the first hotel in Blois, told us right away. He was right: at the restaurant we eat its fish, the surrounding countryside is sprayed by its waters, boat companies offer boat or kayak trips, the large Aquarium de la Touraine, a must for those traveling with little ones, is not a tourist attraction but a place where you can see up close the species that inhabit it.
A bike trip along the Loire is surprising for this: the castles are magnificent, but cycling along a river so full of life is really exciting. And you don’t get lost! Maps and roadbooks will help you follow the route easily; it is very difficult to lose your bearings.
Loire castles by bike with children: our tips
But will my child fit a whole day in the cart/seat/seat?
Our experience was with an almost 3-year-old girl: we chose to rent a baby carriage to shelter her from sun and rain, which was also useful during “nap” times. We also chose a back seat, to allow her to make her sightings and give her endless cues for her “why…?”
For younger children the same set-up will be fine.
Older children, on the other hand, from 5/6 years old, can try their hand at pedaling: the distances in the roadbook are not too long and will be broken up by many stops. Perhaps for the younger ones you can rent the family-tandem or followme-tandem. For older children and teens a regular bike of the appropriate height will do just fine.
What if it rains?
You go anyway: we rode in a somewhat dreary May, in which the skies alternated between clouds and rain and broad flashes of sunshine. Taking off and putting on the k-way was habit, and conquering the stage at the end of an uncertain day gave extra satisfaction.
On days of heavy rain, a plan-B can be envisioned: the stage can be covered by train because it is easy to find local trains here that allow bike transportation. What’s more, some stages are circular so, in case of bad weather, you can forgo the bike altogether and enjoy the city center on foot or the surrounding attractions by public transportation. Very often Girolibero, in fact, recommends locations where it is easy to get around by finding an alternative to biking.
In case of puncture or other problems?
Another advantage of the organized trip: the rented bikes were in excellent condition, serviced and running smoothly. The bike path along the Loire is well maintained, so the chances of punctures are reduced to a minimum. If it ever happens, however, don’t worry: you will always have a repair kit and service number with you. Indeed, in cases of more serious breakdowns you can request on-site assistance from the tour operator, which is present in the Loire with its own base of operations. Of course, you can also travel with your own bicycle: just make sure it is in top condition, perhaps with a good overhaul by the mechanic before you leave.
During the day where do you eat?
You will learn at the first stop that on a cycling vacation there are never three meals…but many more! After breakfast at the hotel, you will naturally stop at the first boulangerie or epicerie, the local bakeries and grocery stores. Load your groceries into your bike side bags and your snack is ready!
Visiting the castle of the day makes you hungry, including stairs, immense gardens, long avenues, labyrinths and more. So you enter the bar or sit at the village bistro and a hot dish will give you the energy to end the stage.
Then suppose that, almost to your hotel, the bike path passes right along the river, and that the guinguette, the quaint kiosk-bar on the bank, often with a small beach and playground, has just brought out tables and chairs–do you want to not stop for an aperitif?
Arriving at the hotel, here is a well-deserved rest: “but do you know that the shower made me hungry?”
A map of “our places”
We cycled for a week between Blois, Amboise and Tours: an itinerary slightly modified at our request from the classic Girolibero tour. In this map the places where we stopped and that we can suggest to you
To complete the list, here’s a tip for families like us flying into Paris: beguile your wait at the Gare d’Austerlitz with a visit to the very nearby Jardin des Plantes with botanical gardens, a horse carousel and playground. You can also visit the amazing National Museum of Natural History-what child doesn’t like dinosaurs?
The video account of the trip
Consigli di viaggio
