Where to stay?

Tours - a spacious lakeside campsite partly set amongst woodland and in the grounds of a beautiful château.

Day 9

Arrive at Tours and check in. Spend the evening having a walk around the lakeside at the campsite before enjoying an evening meal on site.

Day 10

Heading north east will lead you to another of the Loire's best châteaux - Château de Chenonceau. Its construction was exclusively controlled by women over four centuries with the château now under the ownership of the Menier family. The château is often featured in print, simply due to the River Loire slowing down to a passive pace through its exquisite arches and offering an almost perfect reflection in the waters. For the best view, make your way to the château through the maze and along the river. The view is simply stunning.

A little to the north is another fine town trading on its past glories - Amboise. Being home to Leonardo da Vinci's residence of Clos-Luce and its superb exhibition on his work, Amboise retains a star element today as the home of a certain Mick Jagger who claims Amboise as one his favourite foreign residences - simply because few people recognize him. The real star turn of Amboise are the remains of the château which was once a vast and luxurious palace built by Charles VIII and further enlarged by Louis VII and Francois I. Tour des Minimes is the focal point of any visit and offers one of the best panoramic views of the Loire Valley.

Day 11

Heading north west just a few kilometres from the campsite is the delightful village of Azay-le-Rideau and its glorious château. Set on an island on the Indre, it offers visitors one of the loveliest views in the Loire and should be considered an absolute must see with its Renaissance styles and architecture. Inside, the portrait gallery is another must see with its entire range of sixteenth century Loire royalty. In the afternoon, it is time to absorb a little bit of gardening and see how cabbages and roses, carrots and ornamental boxes go hand in hand at Château de Villandry gardens. A perfect Renaissance garden, the garden is like a time lapse picture where the colours change with the seasons. Time your visit right and you can sample some of the garden produce to complete your visit to this delightful scene.

Day 12

Heading directly north into the regional capital of Tours will both delight and inspire you with its old quarter, museums, St Gatiens cathedral and some delighful wines. Starting in the centre of Tours with the impressive Cathedrale St Gatien gives you an overdose of gothic designs in France and a kaleidoscope of colours through its impressive stained glass windows. Just outside the cathedral in the Musee des Beaux-Arts is the original "Flight into Egypt" by Rembrandt. In the afternoon, head over the Old Quarter with its characteristic half timbered houses and stairway towers where you can visit several museums, although the one must see is the Hotel Goiun and its awesome Renaissance facade.

If you need to recover and gain your strength back, the old quarter is awash with quality cafes and restaurants for you to rest your feet, or simply people watch. In the evening, head out of town a few kilometres to the east into the picturesque village of Vouvray, an appelation for one of the most delightful white wines of the Loire. Here there are several vignerons to choose from, however, make sure you climb the steep hills as the view of the valleys, with all of the vineyards is quite something, especially with the sunset.

Day 13

Check out from Tours and head a a little west towards your last campsite just on the outskirts of Saumur.