LOIRE FESTIVALS
The Festival International des Jardins, held at the beautiful Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, is the leading garden festival in France. Every year, the top international names in garden and landscape design are given carte blanche to let their imagination run wild. Held from May till November, the festival is renowned throughout Europe for the extraordinary quality of its exhibits.
domaine-chaumont.fr/en/international-garden-festival
Each year the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire Centre d’Arts et Nature invites internationally acclaimed artists and photographers to create original, site-specific works on the theme of nature. Set within the château and across its 32 hectares, you’ll discover top artistic talent alongside the château’s exceptional permanent collection.
domaine-chaumont.fr/en/centre-arts-and-nature
Orléans’s biennial Festival de Loire is Europe’s largest gathering of traditional riverboats, and it magically recreates the bustling 19th-century port life along the Loire, featuring maritime exhibitions, regattas, live performances, rowing races, boat jousts and local gastronomy.
www.tourisme-orleansmetropole.com/en
Held each autumn, the AR(t] CHIPEL contemporary art festival, in partnership with Paris’s Centre Pompidou, pairs artworks from the Pompidou collection with works by local artists at historic sites across the Loire Valley, many of which are normally closed to the public.
www.centrepompidou.fr/en/lieu/artchipel-festival
CYCLING
Among the world’s most beautiful cycling paths, Loire à Vélo’s 560 mile (900 km) route runs past storybook châteaux, scenic rivers, and the beautiful UNESCO-designated landscape of the Loire. Along the way, cyclists can enjoy hotels at every comfort level, food, wine tastings, repair stops, parking and a special transport train. Check the website for bike rentals.
Circuit_gravel_et_bickepacking-Copyright-Dorothee_Mouraud___Destination_Angers
Every year, gravel cycling enthusiasts flock to Angers to participate in the Nature is Bike festival, held in late May. This citywide celebration highlights the 1,000 km of gravel paths that lead from the centre of Angers to the sea and beyond.
VINEYARDS & TASTINGS
The Loire Valley is one of France’s most diverse wine regions and scores of winemakers offer tastings and wine experiences. The Vins de Loire website is an excellent resource to find a tasting, tour or other wine-themed activity along the Route de Loire or near wherever you plan to be.
Château d’Epiré©Portrait Paul Bizard 5th generation winemaker
Wine tasting in a troglodyte cave is an experience not to be missed while in the Loire.
GUIDED TOURS
Bilingual guide Aurzelle da Silva leads tailored tours, spinning bygone times into a riveting story – with a refreshing sense of humour. With a master’s degree in medieval art history, and articles published in French scholarly journals, Da Silva can get as fascinatingly geeky as you like.
BOAT TOURS
For 80 years, La Bélandre -Chenonceaux en Bateaux has navigated the romantic River Cher. Boats cast off near the village of Chisseaux, 2km from Château de Chenonceau. Join a tour on a sightseeing boat or hire a silent electric boat for four to meander under the château’s arched bridge and view its famous reflection. Parking is plentiful and boats leave frequently.
HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
Positive Altitude’s balloons take you over Cheverny, Chambord, Chaumont-sur-Loire, or Chenonceau, depending on the wind direction, as well as many other gems. Flights cost from €200 to €680 for a private VIP tour.
Mongolfière Loire, Wiki Commons
From France Today Magazine
Lead photo credit : Meta-Nature AI, installation de Miguel_Chevalier au Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, 2025 © M. Chevalier
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