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Starts from Mer station, accessible by TER on the line between Tours and Les Aubrais or Orléans.
‘Vélo’ signposts are present at major junctions – except between (14) and (32).
(S/E) With your back to the station, head straight along Avenue du Maréchal Maunoury, taking the clearly marked cycle path on the right-hand side of the pavement.
(1) At the roundabout, cross the D2152, continue straight ahead towards the gendarmerie and immediately ignore a street on the right.
(2) Go round the next roundabout to the right and take the second exit towards the Loire à Vélo cycle route.
(3) At the roundabout shortly afterwards, cross the D112 and turn right onto the cycle path running parallel to it.
(4) Shortly afterwards, turn left towards Blois. Carry on straight ahead along the D112, which is on your right.
(5) Cross the D112 with care and immediately turn left towards Muides to take the bridge over the Loire, following the cycle path on your right-hand side.
(6) On the other side, turn left onto Avenue de la Loire. Then turn right onto this main road.
(7) You’ll come out onto the D951; follow it to the left, using the cycle path running parallel to it on your left-hand side.
(8) Continue along a gravel track, still running alongside the D951.
(9) Note the Church of Saint-Aignan on the left and carry straight on along the D951.
(10) Join a cycle path on the left-hand side of the road and continue in the same direction for approximately 1.750 km.
(11) At a small ‘Stop’ sign, turn left towards Port de Cavereau. Head down Rue de la Loire to reach the riverbank very quickly (stunning view).
(12) Turn right and cross the hamlet. Continue along a dirt track, then turn right onto Rue du Pont Noir and head uphill.
(13) Join a cycle path alongside the D951 and follow it to the left. Carry on straight ahead for about 3 km, until you reach the town hall of Saint-Laurent-Nouan.
(14) Carry on for a few dozen metres and turn left into Rue de l’Église.
(15) Turn right, leaving the church on your left. Follow the main road, Rue des Juifs, and ignore any side streets.
(16) At the junction, turn left onto Route d’Orléans. At the Stop sign, cross the D951 carefully and follow it to the left.
(17) You’ll come to a cycle path on the right-hand side of the D951.
(18) The cycle path ends at the next junction: continue along the D951 itself, passing a sports complex on your right. Proceed with caution along this busy road for approximately 1.250 km.
(19) Turn left onto a smaller road where the speed limit is 50 km/h (take care when crossing the D951).
(20) At the Stop sign, follow the D925 to the left. Again, take care on this busy road.
(21) At the first junction, after about 600 m, turn right onto a very narrow road. A little further on, ignore a road coming from the right and you’ll soon come to a Fork in the road.
(22) Keep to the right towards La Fin de l’Amérique (sic). Continue straight on until you reach the next junction.
(23) Then turn left. Ignore another road on the right and, at the next junction, carry on straight ahead.
(24) At the Stop sign, cross the D925 at the pedestrian crossing and turn right onto a cycle path running parallel to the road.
(25) At the end, take the bridge to cross the Loire.
Between (26) and (32), in the medieval town of Beaugency, you’ll cycle along several streets that are one-way for cars but open to cyclists.
(26) On the other side, carry on straight towards the medieval town and pass by the apse of Notre-Dame Church. Take the first left, Rue de la Coordonnerie, and head slightly uphill.
(27) Turn right into Rue du Change. Pass by the Renaissance-style Town Hall. Go under the Clock Tower and, at the junction immediately ahead, carry on straight ahead.
(28) Take the next left onto Rue Porte Vendômoise. After about a hundred metres, turn left into Rue du Physicien Jacques Charles. At the end, turn right into Rue du 8 Mai 1945, passing the market square on your left and Saint-Étienne Church on your right.
(29) At the Fork in the road, turn left onto Rue du Chat qui Dort. Turn left onto this street and follow it to the end. Then turn left onto Rue Porte Tavers. This will take you to the foot of the very tall Saint-Firmin bell tower (opposite, with a view of the castle’s keep).
(30) Carry on straight ahead (ignore the cycle sign pointing to the right) and pass the statue of Joan of Arc on your left. Head slightly downhill to the entrance of the Abbey Church of Notre-Dame.
(31) Then turn right and head down a fairly steep slope.
(32) At the bottom, follow the quay to the right along the banks of the Loire and rejoin the cycle signs. Go straight on, pass the Théâtre de Verdure (on your right) and continue straight on along the Loire.
(33) At the end of the tarmac, carry on along a gravel track.
(34) At the junction, turn left. Then turn right as the path curves.
(35) At a three-way junction, carry on straight ahead towards Blois. The two tall cooling towers of the Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux nuclear power station can be seen opposite. Further on, turn right and head away from the Loire. Cross a stream and you’ll immediately come to a junction.
(36) Then turn left onto a tarmac road. Ignore a street coming from the right and carry on straight ahead.
(37) At a fork in the road (Stop sign), keep left. Shortly afterwards, take the first turn right then left and head slightly uphill to reach the Loire embankment (a protective dyke against the river flooding). Continue straight on.
(38) Pass a chicane and turn right onto a very narrow road, still on the embankment.
(39) At a junction, carry on straight ahead towards Blois. Continue straight ahead all the way to the Muides bridge, which you crossed at the start of the route.
(5) Then turn right and take the cycle path running parallel to the D112.
(4) Turn right.
(3) Go round the roundabout on the right.
(2) Go round the next roundabout on the right as well.
(1) Cross the D2152 and head up Avenue du Maréchal Maunoury to Mer railway station (S/E).
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