Wine tours and castle tours are the heart of any Loire Valley visitor’s plans. But our region has so much more to offer in terms of one-of-a-kind experiences. Les Sources de Cheverny is at the heart of the Loire Valley’s vibrant cultural scene and surrounded by the prolific nature that the Loire river’s very water creates.
Here are five of the top picks to discover the Loire region with a twist.
HOT-AIR BALLOONS AND VINTAGE SIDE-CARS: SIGHTSEEING IN STYLE
The city of Amboise, close to Les Source de Cheverny, is one of the best places to visit in the Loire Valley, for it is the gateway of two adventurous ways to tour the Loire Valley region like no one else.
“Bird’s eye view” is only an idiom in the English language, yet it actually takes its literally sense when embarking on a hot-air balloon that departs from Amboise and flies above the Loire river for its passengers to be stunned by the vineyards’ colors, the castles’ stupendousness and the nature that surrounds them - all at once. Time is suspended, and everything is, quite literally, ‘up in the air’.
For those scared of heights or who simply prefer a more ‘down-to-earth’ approach but still looking for a timeless excursion, riding aboard a comfortable vintage sidecar will be the ultimate experience. A gentleman glides the roads, touring the Loire Valley’s unmissable spots and taking secret detours for the side passenger, comfortably seated in a side-car, to get a privileged view of Amboise’s surroundings, its vineyards and its historical architecture.
BEAUVAL ZOO
One unmissable place to visit when touring the Loire Valley region is the ZooParc de Beauval. Only a thirty-minute car ride away from Les Sources de Cheverny, the Zoo de Beauval holds the promise of an amazement of a life-ime. Home to more that 35,000 animals, including endangered species, who all live happily across forty four acres of land, Beauval has been named the 4th most beautiful zoo in the whole world. The zoo is divided into various areas and greenhouses to respect each animal’s specific needs, but also for visitors to take a trip through different continents depending on the animals’ natural habitat: koalas, sloths, reptiles, white rhinos, giraffes, white tigers and of course, their shining stars, the giant pandas born in 2021.
THE CHER BRANCHES AND ITS WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES
Les Sources de Cheverny’ takes its very name from the water springs of the Loire River and its branches, thanks to which guests’ lodges and suites are nestled amongst growing and lavish nature, trees and vines. When exploring the incredible tours in Loire Valley it would be a pity to miss out on the exciting activities based around the Loire river and its branches that meander its infamous valley.
One of the best places to bathe in its crystal clear water and enjoy water-based activities is the Montrichard beach on the riverbank of the ‘Cher’ river branch. A half-hour drive away from Les Sources de Cheverny, Montichard sand beach offers a wide range of activities such as canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and paddle boats - also known as ‘pedalos’ - for the sheer enjoyment of visitors on a Loire Valley tour.
When staying at Les Sources de Cheverny, guests benefit from a concierge service which is devoted to inform and guide them on the best places to visit during their stay, and arrange for them bookings for these five picks, and many more. Anything for a tour of the Loire Valley that will be nothing short of unforgettable.
