47.59° N · 1.33° E · Loire Valley
The most comfortable stage for trying La Loire à Vélo without a car. You hire the bike a few steps from Blois station, set off along the river's south bank and in a little over an hour you are beneath the Château de Chaumont. You return the same way or carry on to Amboise.
Part of Loire Valley
Who offers it
Independent companies: you book with them, on their terms. Prices are as they publish them and may change.
La Loire à Vélo runs for about 900 km alongside the river, but you do not need to ride all of it to understand it. The stretch from Blois to Chaumont-sur-Loire is the perfect gateway if you arrive by train: the hire agency is a few steps from Blois-Chambord station, the stage is short and almost flat, and at the end a château on the river awaits.
You leave Blois along the south bank. The official stage, according to the region's cycle-tourism portal, is about 20 km and takes an hour and twenty at an easy pace. It passes through vineyard slopes as far as Candé-sur-Beuvron, follows the River Beuvron to its mouth and returns to the Loire, opposite the château of Chaumont. The route is waymarked as La Loire à Vélo, alternating paths beside the water and quiet roads.
At Chaumont you can:
Détours de Loire has its Blois agency at 39 avenue du Docteur Jean Laigret, between the station and the château. In 2026 it charges €18 for a leisure bike for the day and €15 for a half day; an electric bike, €40 a day and €30 for a half day. The bikes come with a pump, repair kit and lock, and the helmet is free if you book. For children there is a child's bike from €16 a day, a child seat at €4 and a trailer at €12.
In winter, from 1 October 2026 to 4 April 2027, the Blois agency opens only Tuesday to Saturday: if you do the route on a Sunday or a Monday, pick up the bike on Saturday. Book on their website or by phone.
From April to October, with long days and the terraces open. In autumn the river and the vineyards change colour and there are few people; in winter it can be done, with warm clothes, but the days are short: set off before ten.
More to do
Itineraries
Tips
If you are going to do the round trip, 40 km, or continue to Amboise, the electric bike saves your legs on the hills of the second stage.
In low season do not count on everything you see on the route being open.
In November it gets dark early: plan to be back in Blois before five.
Questions
About 20 km, a little over an hour by bike.
At Détours de Loire, next to the station: €18 a day for a leisure bike, €40 for an electric one.
Yes, it is almost flat. There are child bikes, child seats and trailers.
Tuesday to Saturday, from 1 October to 4 April.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/france/centre-val-de-loire/loire-valley/things-to-do/loire-a-velo-blois-to-chaumont
