Castles · Tour

Chambord by E-Bike from Amboise, with a Stop at Château de Villesavin

The most renowned castle in the Loire Valley, reached by electric bike rather than by coach. Château de Chambord is known for its Renaissance architecture, and the approach matters: the building appears across open ground, and on a bike you watch it grow for several minutes instead of stepping out of a car park in front of it. A knowledgeable guide leads the way to panoramic spots that stay off the standard route, with the history of the French kings and nobles who lived here and the anecdotes that go with them. Electric assistance does the work on the inclines. Nobody needs to be a cyclist for this, and the day is spent looking around rather than at the handlebars. The route also takes in a stop that has nothing to do with royal grandeur: a snack and a drink at a private, family-owned château, well away from the crowds at Chambord. The group forms in Amboise, in front of the tourist office, where the guide is easy to pick out.