The best road cycling routes around Santeau

The Cheval Blanc has good country food in a rather uninspiring interior. The patron is very friendly though and the food tasty and portions generous. Table wine disappointing.

A nice place to ride peacefully

Nestled on the edge of the Orléans forest, the Château de Chamerolles is a magnificent Renaissance castle which retains its medieval heritage. It was built between 1500 and 1530 on the site of an old medieval fortress by Lancelot du Lac, chamberlain of King Louis XII and Governor of Orléans. He wanted to make the old medieval building into a real pleasure castle responding to the architectural fashion of the time. With its polychrome brick decor and its open gallery, the Château de Chamerolles is inspired by the Louis XII wing of the royal Château de Blois. It retains its moat and its layout of corner towers from the medieval period. During the wars of religion, Lancelot's grandson, Lancelot II, transformed the castle of Chamerolles into a center of Protestantism. From this period remains the chapel whose painted tables of laws are the oldest in France. Chamerolles remained in the du Lac family until the end of the 17th century. In 1672, the castle belonged to Jacques Saumery, brother-in-law of Colbert. A century later, the castle passed into the hands of the Lambert family and in 1924, into those of Gaston Jessé-Curély. Occupied, ransacked, stripped during the Second World War, the Château de Chamerolles was put up for sale in 1970. In 1976, the city of Paris found itself in charge of Chamerolles. Abandoned, the Château de Chamerolles fell into ruins. In 1987, it became the property of the Loiret Departmental Council which then undertook an ambitious restoration program. The five years of work allow us to discover a transitional architecture, between the medieval heritage and the innovations of the Renaissance. Today, the Château de Chamerolles is dedicated to the history of perfumery and offers a historical and heritage showcase to the Cosmetic Valley, located in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Chamerolles offers a visual and olfactory journey, in pieces reconstructed from the 16th century to the 18th century, allowing you to discover the history of toiletry and perfume. The castle is surrounded by a large park and a charming Renaissance garden, created by Lancelot II du Lac, after a trip to Italy. A garden where it is beautiful to stroll in the summer.

Pretty village in Natura 2000 zone.

Vitry-aux-Loges was for a long time a royal residence, its castle welcoming the kings who came to hunt in the forest of Orléans already before the year one thousand. Time did its work and after a fire and then a storm, this castle was finally destroyed in 1767. From the 15th century, several lordly residences made of bricks were built around the remains of the royal castle and the castle of Plessis: the castle of La Motte, surrounded by water moats, the castle of Vaux and that of Jarnonces which has now disappeared. The construction of the canal and the arrival of the train would subsequently revitalize Vitry-aux-Loges. Note that the town is now located in a Natura 2000 zone.

The castle was built between 1500 and 1530 on the site of an old medieval fortress by Lancelot I du Lac, chamberlain of King Louis XII. It is surrounded by a large park and a charming Renaissance garden, created by Lancelot II du Lac.

This greenway follows the canal from Orléans to Montargis, passing through forests, ponds and farmland. You can enjoy water views, wildlife and historic locks along the way. The route is largely flat and shaded, making it suitable for all levels of cycling. The total distance is 85 kilometres, but this shorter section allows you to discover the canal and the surrounding countryside.

Towpath along the Orleans canal (peaceful, fairly rolling and very pleasant)