Cycling with Kids in Touraine

Morning — 9:00 AM

Bike Rental & Departure from Tours

Start at one of Tours' Loire à Vélo rental shops. Détours de Loire (several locations) is the most reliable, with excellent family equipment including child trailers, tag-alongs, child bikes, and helmets. Reserve 24–48 hours ahead, especially for summer weekends and school holidays.

Recommended pickup location: Their Tours–Gare location is convenient if arriving by train, or the Quai de Portillon location is better if staying in central Tours.

Equipment checklist before departing:

• Water bottles for everyone (refill in Savonnières)
• Sunscreen and hats (no shade on much of the route)
• Small first-aid kit (rental shops provide basic kits)
• Phone with route downloaded offline (the Loire à Vélo app is excellent)
• Snacks — fruit, granola bars, etc.
• Light rain jackets (Loire Valley weather changes quickly)

Mid-Morning — 9:30 AM

Tours to Savonnières (7 km, 30–40 minutes)

Exit Tours heading west on the dedicated Loire à Vélo path, which parallels the river's south bank. The route is clearly signposted with bright green Loire à Vélo markers every few hundred meters — getting lost is nearly impossible.

The first 3 km pass through Tours' western suburbs and riverside parks before opening into genuine countryside. You'll ride through:

• Pont de Fil riverside park (good early bathroom stop)
• Open farmland with Loire views to your right
• Occasional vineyards (this is the edge of the Touraine AOC zone)

Kid-friendly feature: The path has regular distance markers counting down kilometers to major destinations. Make a game of watching the numbers decrease.

After 7 km, you'll reach Savonnières, a small village built above prehistoric caves.

10:15 AM

Savonnières Village Stop

Take a 30–45 minute break in Savonnières. This is your halfway point to Villandry and an excellent opportunity to regroup.

Main attraction: Grottes Pétrifiantes — These are "petrifying caves" where mineral-rich water gradually encrusts objects in stone. The 30-minute guided tour is genuinely fascinating for kids (objects turn to stone! science!), and the caves stay cool even on hot days. Tours run every 30 minutes April–September.

Alternative if skipping caves: The village has a small playground next to the church, a bakery for snack resupply, and public bathrooms. The Loire views from the village overlook are lovely — a good photo stop.

Practical note: If you have younger children or want a shorter ride, you can start your cycling day in Savonnières (parking available) and ride just 8 km each way to Villandry. Détours de Loire has a rental point here in summer.

11:15 AM

Savonnières to Villandry (8 km, 35–45 minutes)

Continue west from Savonnières. The path now runs even closer to the Loire, with frequent openings to the riverbank — perfect for impromptu stone-skipping stops.

Landscape features on this segment:

• More dramatic Loire views, especially as the river widens
• Traditional toues (flat-bottomed Loire boats) moored along the banks
• Bird-watching opportunities — herons, egrets, and kingfishers are common
• The distinctive silhouette of Villandry's towers appearing ahead

After 8 km, you'll see signs for Villandry village. Follow the Loire à Vélo signs directly to the château — the entrance is well-marked and has secure, free bike parking.

Midday — 12:15 PM

Lunch & Villandry Gardens

You have two lunch options:

Option 1: Picnic on the château grounds (recommended for families) — Villandry has designated picnic areas with tables in the shade near the parking area. If you picked up supplies in Tours or Savonnières, this is the most economical and flexible option. Kids can eat quickly and start exploring.

Option 2: Restaurant at Château — Domaine de la Giraudière on the grounds serves simple lunch (salads, sandwiches, daily specials, €12–€20 per person). Efficient, kid-friendly, nothing fancy.

After lunch, explore the Château de Villandry gardens. Entry is €8 for gardens only (skip the château interior unless weather is terrible).

Why kids like Villandry:

• The ornamental vegetable gardens are genuinely striking — huge geometric patterns of colorful vegetables. Even non-garden kids find this visually compelling.
• The hedge mazes in the Ornamental Garden are navigable and fun
• The upper terrace offers views over the entire garden layout — satisfying sense of scale
• The gardens are active — gardeners working, ducks in the water garden, plenty to watch
• Multiple fountains and water features (avoid touching, but fun to observe)

Budget 60–90 minutes for the gardens. There's a small playground near the parking area for post-garden energy burning.

Afternoon — 2:30 PM

Return Journey to Tours

Retrace your route 15 km back to Tours. The return ride is slightly faster as you're (usually) riding with the prevailing westerly wind rather than against it.

Optional stop: If kids still have energy, the village of Savonnières has a riverside beach area (really more of a gravel bank) where locals wade in summer. Not a formal swimming area but good for dangling feet in the Loire for 15 minutes.

Expect to arrive back in Tours by 4:00–4:30 PM depending on pace and stops.

Late Afternoon — 4:30 PM

Return Bikes & Celebrate

Return bikes to your rental location in Tours. Most rental shops close at 6–7 PM, so you have comfortable margin.

Post-ride reward: Tours has excellent ice cream shops near Place Plumereau in the old town. Glacier Pinocchio (local favorite) or Amorino (Italian chain but high quality) are both within 5 minutes of most rental return locations.

If staying overnight in Tours, the old town (Vieux Tours) is lovely for evening exploration — half-timbered medieval houses, lively squares, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants. Kids who've cycled 30 km will sleep very well.

Age & Ability Considerations

Ages 6–8: Can complete the full route on their own bike if they're comfortable riding 5 km without stops. Otherwise, use a tag-along attachment or trailer. The route's flatness is the key — no hills to defeat young riders.

Ages 9–12: The full ride is very manageable. Most kids this age find 30 km over a full day achievable and rewarding.

Ages 13+: Honestly, they might find this pace slow. Consider the longer Tours–Amboise route (40 km round-trip) for teens.

Under 6: Trailer or seat-mounted child carrier required. The ride is long for toddlers — bring toys, snacks, and patience. Or start in Savonnières for a shorter day.

Best Times to Go

Ideal months: May–June (spring flowers, comfortable temperatures, gardens in full bloom) or September (still warm, fewer crowds, harvest colors)

Summer (July–August): Crowded but infrastructure handles it well. Start early (8:30 AM departure) to avoid midday heat. Villandry gardens are spectacular in summer.

Spring/Autumn (April, October): Lovely cycling weather but some facilities (caves, restaurant) may have reduced hours. Check ahead.

Avoid: November–March (cold, many facilities closed, gardens dormant)

Safety Notes

The route is exceptionally safe: 95% traffic-free dedicated paths, clearly marked, with Loire à Vélo signage every 200–300 meters. The remaining 5% uses quiet rural roads with very light traffic.

Helmets: Required by French law for children under 12, included with all rentals. Adults should wear them too.

Emergency contact: Save your rental shop's phone number. They can arrange pickup if you have mechanical problems or a tired child gives up.

First aid: Minor scrapes are the main risk. Rental shops provide basic kits. For anything serious, Savonnières and Villandry both have pharmacies.

Weather Contingencies

Rain: The route is rideable in light rain (pack jackets), but not pleasant. Check forecast before renting — most shops allow you to reschedule without penalty if weather is bad.

Heat: July–August can be hot (30°C+). Start early, bring extra water, use sunscreen liberally. The route has minimal shade.

Wind: Loire Valley can be windy. Westerly winds are most common, making the outbound leg harder and return easier. On very windy days (20+ km/h), consider starting in Savonnières for a shorter ride.

Alternative Shorter Route

If 30 km feels too ambitious, start in Savonnières and ride just 8 km each way to Villandry (16 km total). This cuts the distance in half while keeping the best scenery and the destination reward of Villandry gardens.

Parking is available in Savonnières village (free, near the church). In summer, Détours de Loire operates a rental point here, or you can pre-arrange pickup from their Tours location.

Extending the Adventure

If your family loves this ride, the Loire à Vélo continues for hundreds of kilometers in both directions:

• East to Amboise — 40 km from Tours, passing Château d'Amboise and Clos Lucé (Leonardo's home)
• West to Azay-le-Rideau — 30 km from Villandry, another stunning château on the Indre
• Multi-day touring — Many families bike Tours to Saumur over 3–4 days, staying in gîtes and small hotels along the route

See our full Loire à Vélo cycling guide for more family-friendly routes.