The best road cycling routes around Luynes

Further information at the following link: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Martin_de_Tours

Romanesque church with medieval frescoes in a nice village.

The Hôtel Goüin is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Tours. Its richly sculpted façade and typically Italianate loggia are reminiscent of the grand Florentine palaces. Located in the heart of the historic center, it's the perfect place to combine culture and leisure. 🔹 Remarkable architecture: sculpted details, elegant archways, coats of arms, pilasters... A truly postcard-perfect setting. 🔹 Free admission: access to temporary exhibitions is free (Wednesday to Sunday, 2 p.m.–6 p.m.). 🔹 Quiet setting: on a semi-pedestrian street, ideal for a break in the shade, away from the hustle and bustle.

The absolute highlight for me was the park! The way you can "hide" vegetables in the beautiful flowerbeds was unique. Afterwards, a little siesta in the provided lounge chairs, shaded by large old trees, was priceless.

ancient Gallo-Roman aqueduct bridge located in Luynes

This impressive suspension bridge spans the Loire between La Chapelle-aux-Naux and Langeais and was originally completed in 1849. The bridge has been repaired and rebuilt many times and has a two-lane road over the Loire. On the Langeais side, a walk along the banks of the Loire, on both sides of the bridge, is highly recommended. The Langeais bridge is a stubborn bridge. It has been rebuilt five times! The story begins in 1848, the year in which King Louis Philippe authorised the construction of a "wire bridge", as it was then called (bridge 1). But wires are excellent lightning conductors! And 10 years after its opening in 1859, the bridge collapsed into the Loire after a heavy storm, its deck and suspension elements. Two years later in 1861, the bridge was repaired and operational again as a toll bridge (bridge 2). But shortly afterwards, in 1870, war broke out and the advance of the Prussian enemy had to be slowed down. Boom! Bridge was blown up (bridge 3) The fourth was completed in 1914, but then came the... car! They were heavy, they came and went! The bridge therefore had to be extensively rebuilt to bear the weight of modernity. This happened in the 1930s, and the opportunity was taken to decorate the bridge with its very special Gothic pillars, which reflected the Gothic style of the castle; the two form a mirror image. Bridge 4 was built! All is well, all is well... but then it is June 1940. And this time it is the Germans who have to be stopped. To stop the invader, the bridge was blown up again. After first using a ferry and then a temporary footbridge, the inhabitants waited until 1949 for a bridge over the Loire (bridge 5). The bridge of Langeais is the only bridge between Tours and Port Boulet. It is now a rather imposing bridge with a turbulent history.

The Château de Langeais , a former royal estate and property of the Institut de France, is one of the major sites in the Loire Valley . Near Tours , in the heart of the Loire Valley , it offers a guided tour of fifteen rooms, decorated with richly carved medieval furniture . You will discover a collection of tapestries and the reconstruction of the royal wedding of Anne of Brittany, told by Stéphane Bern . Langeais, a Renaissance Loire castle, will surprise you with its park planted with cedars and sequoias and its playful elements. More information on https://chateau-de-langeais.com/

Beautiful view of the castle and its gardens. Repair stop, I think, for the bikes.