La Loire dans le Loiret
Discover the Val de Loire, UNESCO World Heritage Site, along the banks of its river during a jolly weekend with family and friends or a romantic break. There are so many ways to explore the river, on foot along paths, by bike along the Loire à Vélo cycle route or on the water in a canoe or traditional Loire river boat.
Make the most of the tranquil banks of the Loire and stroll along the last untamed river of Europe !
What to see and do along the river
Breathtaking scenery ! The Loire shapes the landscape and sets the tempo as it flows through towns and villages of Loiret, with meanders bordered by flooded forests, golden brown sandbanks, unspoilt islands and historic quaysides. Its waters, sometimes calm and languid, at other times lively and turbulent, reflect the blaze of colours in the flaming skies at sunset.
What to do around the River Loire
There is no better way to appreciate the immensity of the river and its ever-changing scenery than to set sail and let yourself go with the flow ! Board a traditional boat like a ‘fûtreau’, ‘toue’ or ‘gabare’ for a cruise with commentary about the heyday of river transport along the Loire, its folklore and the life of river boatmen in days gone by.
To get really close to nature, canoeing is the perfect way to blend into the landscape, glide along the water, weave between islands and feel the rhythm of the river. Play at Robinson Crusoe on an island picnic or camp overnight to watch the magical moments around dawn or dusk, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A total change of scene !
The Loire – biodiversity… and entertainment !
The Loire has an extraordinary variety of wildlife which can be observed at close quarters by walking along specially-made paths or cycling along the levees of La Loire à Vélo. You may pass sheep grazing peacefully beside the river, catch sight of the handiwork of a beaver or observe terns, egrets or little ringed plovers. Everything points to the Loire and its tradition of navigation : ports and stone quaysides, slipways and mooring rings, clusters of old boatmen’s cottages and lots of traditional boats tied up along the banks.
The banks of the Loire are very lively places with numerous riverside bars and cafés to spend time with friends or family. Every 2 years, the Festival de Loire takes place on the quaysides of Orléans when a great armada of traditional craft and an enthusiastic public celebrate the river and its history day and night for 4 days.
Travel around Loiret with Gîtes de France Loiret : Parc Floral de la Source, Musée de l'imprimerie, Briare Aqueduct.
How to get to the banks of the Loire
Just 1 hour south of Paris, Loiret is the gateway to the Val de Loire and the ideal département to make the most of the banks of the river and the surrounding countryside.
By road
A10 Chartres, Paris, Lille, Brussels
A10 Tours, Bordeaux, Spain, Portugal
A6, N60 Lyon (liaison A10- A6 via A19)
A71 Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand, Spain, Italy
A77 Dordives, Briare
By rail
From Paris (gare d’Austerlitz) to Orléans, Les Aubrais, Meung-sur-Loire or Beaugency.
From Paris (gare de Bercy) : to Briare, Gien.
By air : Aéroport du Loiret , 15 minutes from Orléans
By bus from Paris region : Ouibus, Flixbus and Isilines"
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