Читать книгу The Loire Cycle Route. From the source in the Massif Central to the Atlantic coast онлайн

4 страница из 51

Stage 6 Feurs to Roanne

Stage 7 Roanne to Digoin

Middle Loire

Stage 8 Digoin to Bourbon-Lancy

Stage 9 Bourbon-Lancy to Decize

Stage 10 Decize to Nevers

Stage 11 Nevers to La Charité-sur-Loire

Stage 12 La Charité-sur-Loire to Sancerre

Stage 13 Sancerre to Briare

Stage 14 Briare to Sully-sur-Loire

Stage 15 Sully-sur-Loire to Orléans

Lower Loire

Stage 16 Orléans to Beaugency

Stage 17 Beaugency to Blois

Stage 18 Blois to Amboise

Stage 19 Amboise to Tours

Stage 20 Tours to Bréhémont

Stage 21 Bréhémont to Saumur

Stage 22 Saumur to Angers

Stage 23 Angers to Montjean-sur-Loire

Stage 24 Montjean-sur-Loire to Ancenis

Stage 25 Ancenis to Nantes

Stage 26 Nantes to St Brevin-les-Pins (St Nazaire)

ssss1

ssss1

ssss1

ssss1

ssss1

ssss1

Notre Dame church towers over Marillais hamlet (Stage 24)

INTRODUCTION

To best discover a country you need to travel to its very heart and do so in a way that exposes you to the life going on around you. The River Loire passes through the heart of France and there is no better way of experiencing life in this great country than mounting your bicycle and following this river as it flows from the volcanic landscape of the Massif Central to the Atlantic Ocean. Its length of 1020km makes it the longest river in France. Here you will find a gentler and slower pace of life than in the great cities of Paris, Lyon or Marseille; and although there is some industry, it is less evident in the Loire Valley than alongside France’s other major rivers. Rather this is a land of agriculture and vineyards. The Beauce, north of Orléans, has some of the most fertile arable farmland in the country, while the rolling hills of the Auvergne and Burgundy produce high-quality meat and dairy products. The plains of Anjou grow much of the fruit and vegetables found in the markets and restaurants of Paris, often consumed with wines from premier Loire wine-growing appellations like Muscadet, Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé and Vouvray. All this great food and drink can also be found in restaurants along the route.