Cycling the Loire Valley

Cycling in the Loire Valley of France is one of the best experiences for cyclotourists anywhere. Famous for its castles, green countryside, wine, cuisine, gardens, and more it also happens to be mostly flat and criss-crossed by small paved roads ideal for cycling!

The region covering the "Loire Valley" is the Centre for the most part, and is easily accessible from Paris. One hour on the TGV to Tours from Paris and you are there! Direct trains to Paris CDG airport are also available. Its the perfect place to add on to a Paris visit.

One of the most popular villages in the region is the town of Amboise. Below is more information about some of the sites that draw cyclists to the region:

Amboise – some history
In 503, Amboise entered into history when Clovis, King of the Francs and Alaric, King of the Visigoths met here. After the troubled period of the Norman invasions, the power of Amboise spread over the lands of the Counts of Anjou, then those of the house of Amboise-Chaumont.
In 1214, Touraine was invaded by Philippe-Auguste, King of France. The family of Amboise-Chaumont became his vassal.
But in 1431 Louis d'Amboise was condemned to death for his part in the plot against La Trémouille (Arthur de Richemont), the favorite of King Charles VII.
Eventually pardoned, Louis d'Amboise still had to renounce the Château d'Amboise, which was confiscated by the Crown.



Then, when his father, Louis XI, was king, the future Charles VIII spent his childhood at Amboise in an effort to keep the heir safe from plagues and intrigues.

Despite his isolated childhood, Charles VIII retained a fondness for the chateau and after his marriage in 1498 took his young queen Queen to see a tennis match there. On the eve of Palm Sunday 1498 Charles VIII hit his head on the door to a gallery to a lavatory and died nine hours later on a straw mattress in his path, no one having dared to move him.

Louis XII reserved Amboise for his queen, Louise of Savoy and her children, one of whom Francis, Count of Angouleme, became Francis I. If you have visited some of the chateaux, you will remember Francis I as the king whose symbol was an ermine. That symbol decorates many of the chateaux, especially Amboise and Blois.

The chateau figured in the religious wars in France and in 1560 was the scene of horrendous retribution by the Catholic king after the Protestant Hugenots tried to seize power. For a solid day beheading after beheading occurred in front of the entire Court, including the king Francis II. It is thought that about 1,500 people were killed. The heads were mounted on pikes on the battlements overlooking the Loire. Others were hanged from the grated wrought iron balconies. This grisly affair is the most important historical event to take place at Amboise.

The castle was on and off by royalty. In the 19th century it was briefly confiscated after the fall of Louis-Phillipe. Eventually the d'Orleans family--a branch of the French royal family--obtained possession of the castle. They still own it.

Loire Valley Wines
Val-de-Loire boasts twenty-two world-class wines. Loire wines are known, near and far, for their light, fruity flavor and bouquet. Some of the more noted are: Sancerre, Valencay, Montlouis, Pouilly Fouisse and of course, one of our favorites, Vouvray

The Loire River ensure that the wines will always be just right, and ready to enjoy while they are young. The Loire River is the last wild river in Europe, and a designated UNESCO world heritage site. It has played a key role throughout French history.

From the latest update of National Monuments in France, here is some info concerning upcoming events at specific monuments:

Re-opening of the colonnade at the Pantheon from 1st April to 31st October 2006, from 10 am to 6.30 pm.
From the top of the dome, discover unparalleled panoramic views of Paris across the Latin Quarter, the Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Luxembourg Gardens !
Tel. (33) (0)1 44 32 18 00
Rate for adults: 7,5€ / Rate for tourism professionals - groups: 5,7€

The towers of Notre-Dame, night visit until 11 pm every Saturday and Sunday in July and August in 2006.
As night falls, climb up to Chimeras Gallery, past the famous Great Bell to the top of the South Tower some 70 metres above the streets and enjoy superb views of Paris by night. .
Tel. (33) (0)1 53 10 07 00
Rate for adults: 7,5€ / Rate for tourism professionals - groups: 5,7€






Arc de Triomphe. Night visit until 11 pm every day from 1st April to 30th September.
After dinner on the Champs-Elysées, climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe to watch the sun go down on the world's most beautiful avenue.
Tel. (33) (0)1 55 37 73 77
Rate for adults: 8€ / Rate for tourism professionals - groups: 6,2€





"Dessein d'eau" (Water Sketches) , Domaine de Saint-Cloud, from 15th April to 15th July 2006 This outdoor modern art exhibition is spread over five kilometres from the Ville-d'Avray ponds to the Grande Cascade waterfall in Saint-Cloud park. "Dessein d'eau" also hightlights the remarkable hydraulic system designed to power the fountains and water features so beloved by Monsieur, brother to King Louis XIV, who made his home in the now destroyed château of Saint-Cloud. The exhibition itinerary encompasses a series of contemporary works by artist Agnès Pezeu including large canvases hanging in the trees and in the fountain pools, carved glass blocks set into the ground etc.
Tel. (33) (0)1 41 12 02 90
Free admission

Normandy Region , Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel : night visits from 1st juillet au 31st August 2006
As the crowds leave and Mont-Saint-Michel finds peace and quiet at dusk, the Abbey invites visitors to enjoy an unaccompanied tour through its many vast rooms. Astutely placed mirrors reflect the ruined and unfinished parts of this architectural marvel while magic lanterns evoke the shadows of those that have lived here over the years set against an enchanting background of atmospheric cello and harpsichord music. .
Tel. (33) (0)2 33 89 80 00
Rate for adults: 8€ / Rate for tourism professionnals - groups: 6,2€


Centre / Val de Loire Region
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau : "Songes et Lumières" (Dreams and Lights) in July and August 2006

The Centre des monuments nationaux presents a new son-et-lumière evening discovery tour to celebrate the harmonious marriage between nature and architecture. This show of lights and music combines poetry and state-of-the-art technology and will delight both young and old alike.

Stroll through around the château grounds and discover a world of dreams where flora and fauna in both real and imaginary forms meld with buildings and woodland.
Tel. (33) (0)2 47 45 42 04
Rate for adults : 9€ / Rate for tourism professionals - groups: 7€



Château de Châteaudun : "Les Estivales", from July to September 2006
The château de Châteaudun, in Eure-et-Loir department, was built mostly in the 15th century by Jean de Dunois, a faithful companion of Joan of Arc.
This summer, as in previous years, the château's kitchens and halls come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of princely banquets accompanied by period music to evoke the true splendours and art de vivre of grand dinners in the Middle Ages. Diners are cordially invited to the "Table de Jean de Dunois" to savour authentic dishes made according to original 15th century recipes.

Information and reservations at the Chartres Tourist Office:
(33) (0)2 37 84 01 01


Burgundy Region : Abbaye de Cluny presents "Maior Ecclesia" and "Fenêtre virtuelle"(Virtual Window)
Cluny is one of the finest examples of Romanesque religious architecture. The "Maior Ecclesia" film height of its glory, was the largest church in Christendom.
From June 2006, this 3D film is complemented by a new projection display featuring a virtual reconstitution of the lost parts of the abbey. The projected images will be constantly adapted to the level of natural lighting to ensure perfect continuity between the real and the virtual.
Tel. (33) (0)3 85 59 15 93
Rate for adults: 6,5€ / Rate for tourism professionals - groups : 5,3€



Rhône-Alpes Region , Monastère Royal de Brou near Bourg-en-Bresse To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the building of the monastery by Margaret of Austria, the Centre des monuments nationaux presents the exhibition "Brou, the masterpiece of an Emperor's daughter" from 1st July to 15th October 2006



The Royal Monastery of Brou was built by Margaret of Austria, ruler of the Netherlands and governess to future Emperor Charles V, to honour the memory of her dead husband Philibert II, Duke of Savoy. This masterpiece of the Flamboyant Gothic style encapsulates the hugely rich yet ultimately tragic life of its founder.
Tel. (33) (0)4 74 22 83 83
Rate for adults: 6,5€ / Rate for tourism professionals - groups: 5,3€

Release: Debunking Self Guided Travel

Discover France Takes the Mystery Out of the New Popular Trend of Travel

FRANCE—What inside travel secret have the Europeans known for so long that seems to have escaped North America travelers? It’s the understanding and utilization of self-guided touring.

“Self guided travel is a growing trend due to the flexibility it presents and the extraordinary price that accompanies it,” states Discover France founder Loren Siekman. “It applies primarily to bicycling as well as walking tours, but certainly to many other activities as well. Because it offers support as well as independence, guests don't have to put forth any effort in order to generate a relaxing and memorable vacation.”

The differences between group travel and self-guided travel are quite vast. With the most obvious being that with group travel there is a fixed date that vacationers must fit into their schedule, as opposed to being able to choose departure dates and trip duration with a self-guided trip. In addition group travel tosses guests into a pool of fellow travelers that will not be known in advance, and of course there is a colossal difference in price.

Self guided biking and walking can be characterized by the following benefits:

Flexibility - Durations can be modified to meet a clients needs, hotels are available for many budgets and there is no minimum participation, eliminating the threat of cancellation by the operator.

Affordability - Prices are amazing by comparison to the group guided option, yet worth the extra it might cost over doing it all yourself in a self-contained concept.

Support - Most operators offering the self-guided programs also provide baggage transfers, emergency support, orientations, transfers, and add on services. Often, these support services are extremely beneficial because they are founded on expert knowledge of the region, and therefore a very reliable source for finding and offering unique properties, routes, and visits.

Individuality - Many of the tours follow themes, and are created with a unique vacation experience in mind. Off the beaten path routes are well chosen and naturally provide for a lot of interaction with the locals and their culture.

As with all other types of travel, there are a number of questions guests need to ask themselves before deciding if self-guided travel is right for them. It’s an individual case each time, and the team at Discover France will be glad to help travelers make a decision.

Guests should first ask themselves if they are fit enough to accomplish the requirements of the trip they are contemplating. Cycling or walking tours always require some minimum level of fitness; however, on a self-guided trip local support contacts would have to be notified in the event that a participant can’t finish the stage.
Secondly, travelers need to know if they can get by in a vernacular that is not their primary language. This doesn’t mean they have to speak a second language, just simply get by. For example, will phrasebook pronunciations and charades be enough? If this causes panic to the traveler, it may not be an ideal fit. On the other hand, many good experiences result from these types of cultural encounters.
Finally, guests will need to be able to read a map and follow road signs. This is generally an easy task, but if travelers are not comfortable with the interpretations, it again may not be an ideal vacation plan. Nearly all self-guided trips will have this little “adventure” built into it, so guests should count on it with any tour.
The routes, the organization and logistics, as well as the services that accompany self-guided travel have been in place and operating in Europe for many years. The team at Discover France is hopeful that North American travelers will now make an informed decision to join the many who have gone before, and continue to go self-guided touring year after year.

For a list of available self-guided packages, pricing, and booking information call 800-960-2221 or e-mail info@discoverfrance.com .

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Scottsdale Grand Prix - criterium organized by our team.

Here is a short note to announce our support for a big amateur race we are behind coming this Saturday April 15. Our brands all support the local youth racing team Racelabu23. The team's main sponsor is Waste Management, and this Saturday it is our turn to put on a USA Cycling event. We are expecting up to 350 racers and have lots of good primes and cash prizes as well as fabulous trophies for every category.
www.scottsdalegrandprix.com

Our Under 23 athletes are competing in various categories. Our strongest rider Ulric DeYoung is currently racing in Europe for Discovery Channel U23.

Full details available at the above link.

French Gov. Caves!

Jacques Chirac, President of France, has capitulated on a poorly written but well intended law to ease employment for young people in France. He torpedoed the Prime Minister's political ambitions, (oh well), and set precedent for future protests.

Several issues irk my ire and that of my French colleagues. First, the precedent issue. It is already too much the way of life that people want to organize and protest more than they want to work. That is a bit of a generalization, because obviously many do want to work and work hard. But nobody can deny the path placed by reversal.

Second commentary is the work attitude and intransigence in France and Europe to get on the stick and learn to be competitive workers. This means earning your wages and negotiating your careers. A first step however is deregulating laws imposing overwhelming burdens on employers with respect to employment. This means some serious union busting, but at the moment no government can take that on. What will it take, an economic collapse or other catastrophe, war, or revolution. (ahh, the glorious revolution....) We work with primarily small businesses in France and Europe and these tireless entrepreneurs work massive schedules to cover the time that could have been filled by new hires were it not for crippling taxes and employment burdens. How can those in the travel industry - which is primarily seasonal - meet the unbending employment laws? They do it by long days in season, closing their establishments part time, and other means.

Third, more protests mean more disruption and bad publicity. Despite a blood thirst for publishing bad news about France here in the USA by media freaks, it is hard to deny that disruption to travel and tourists is now increased with each successful strike campaign. The few ugly serial protesters who cause violence and get the media glory give a much distorted view of the facts on the ground. Nonetheless, we in the travel industry will continue plan for and around what has become a cultural right of passage - la greve!

L